Would you offer your couch to anyone?
By JB_girl
@sol_cee (38669)
Philippines
March 23, 2017 7:59am CST
On the textbook I'm using for my class, I came upon the term 'couch surfing'. I've heard a few things about it before but wasn't interested enough to dig deeper. So to prepare an interactive, anti-yawning/anti-snoring English lesson for a group of 20 year olds, I actually registered an account on its website to complete my couch surfing experience.
I didn't know that there are many people in the Philippines who offer their free couch/sofa/extra bed to tourists who are looking for free accommodation. Some hosts even take their guests out, if they aren't busy, to introduce local food and scenery. Hospitality is abundant. Everyone's happy.
Though I have mixed feelings about this, I can't wait to listen to my class' opinion about sharing a room with a complete stranger.
How about you? Would you offer your couch to anyone?
Photo is of Starbucks' Cherry Blossom Frappuccino you can take a sip with. For free.
21 people like this
26 responses
@JudyEv (382271)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Mar 17
If you search for 'couch surfing' on this site, you'll find a number of posts that I've written about our experiences as hosts. We have had a lot of young and not-so-young people stay with us over the years. It has been a positive experience for us.
6 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
23 Mar 17
Cool! Can I come stay with you for awhile? Just kidding....
2 people like this
@allen0187 (59828)
• Philippines
23 Mar 17
As long as the necessary background check has been done and the visiting tourist shows that he/she isn't an ax murderer, I'm down for it. I'm from the Philippines but haven't done this though. Some friends have done it though and yes, they do take their visitors to some of the spots and places that would make these tourists feel like locals.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
25 Mar 17
where are your friends based - metro manila or the province?
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
24 Mar 17
Yes I would, if they clean, do the garden, the laundry, the cooking and other chores .. but my husband won't agree to that .. so there could be a problem ..lol
2 people like this
@AnthOcean (407)
•
23 Mar 17
yes, i would offer it conditionally i.e. after proper investigation that this person can be trusted, if i have extra couch with extra rooms and if this person prefers my house 
2 people like this
@AnthOcean (407)
•
23 Mar 17
@sol_cee ofcourse, Why can't you. Just that you should have the channel in my tv
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28761)
• Mauritius
24 Mar 17
@sol_cee oh yes. And nowadays its so difficult to trust people. There was a couch surfing incident lasy year where a nepalese host actually killed an american traveler who was staying with him. The way she was murdered too thats too heinous to describe
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
23 Mar 17
My husband and I have opened our home many times to people that needed it-for free. Usually it doesn't end well since it's not easy living with other people but we try to help when we can.
2 people like this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
23 Mar 17
@sol_cee,Thank you for that sip of Cherry Blossom Frappuccino .That was really nice.Especially as it was free.
I do not think I would offer my couch to anyone.
I do not think I would offer my couch to anyone.2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
23 Mar 17
My daughter was couch surfing for one summer. She stayed for a week or two with her siblings and then moved on to the next. It was supposed to be for a week to 10 days....but ended up being for almost three months.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
24 Mar 17
@sol_cee she didn't stay anywhere for more than two weeks.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
23 Mar 17
I would if I want to get rid of a couch better than going to a landfill
But I would accept a couch from anyone unless I know who it belonged to & I like it which has not been the case
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
23 Mar 17
I'm an introvert, so I wouldn't, unless it was someone in case of emergency or for very limited time. Safety makes me wonder if it is a good idea. But I think it is wonderfully kind of the people who host in the Philippines - I would like such an arangment I think if I knew that they weren't violent or criminal.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
24 Mar 17
@sol_cee Alas! But what a cool experience. SO interesting that this is a common thing in Philippines
1 person likes this
