Backpackers and a petanque game
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
Rockingham, Australia
April 3, 2019 7:22pm CST
In our time at this house we’ve met a lot of backpackers as we used to belong to a group called Couchsurfers. Mostly it was composed of young people and we hosted quite a few over the years. We had some really interesting guests stay with us and I thought you might like to hear about some of them.
One young couple came from San Francisco. The girl worked for a company which organised concerts for entertainers such as Boz Scaggs. While they were here, an Austrian was also in residence. He worked with disabled children and had a myriad of clever little tricks with strings and pennies. We had an International Bocce/Boule/Petanque match between Australia, the US and Austria. Luckily we won two games each and thought it best not to have a decider.
The photo is of the Intenational Bocce match.
22 people like this
21 responses
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Apr 19
If we had a couchsurfer group here I can guarantee it would be filled with weirdos and serial killers.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 19
@DianneN Mostly they're only there one night. They often bring a small gift or they'll offer to cook a meal if they are there long enough. Mostly it's young people sleeping on couches, floors at other young people's houses/flats/apartments. The idea is to interact and share about the other's lives, countries, etc. I'm sure I'm more tolerant from listening to these people and getting to know them.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97957)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Apr 19
Looks like everyone was having fun. I have never played such games.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 19
That's a hard one isn't it? I'm not sure how I can answer it. I guess 'pet-tonk' would be as near as I could suggest.
@Deepizzaguy (122076)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4 Apr 19
You had some very interesting guests in your home. I have never heard of Couchsurfers before. It is be an exciting game to play.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 19
Many young people join couch-surfers and they get to meet lots of other young people in this way.
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
4 Apr 19
You had real interesting guests. I have never heard or played this game. It is not common in our country.
3 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
5 Apr 19
Never played any such games but the photo shows it resembles 'Seven Tiles'
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 19
@allknowing Thanks for the link. That's looks a much harder game than what we were playing.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
4 Apr 19
Working for Couchsurfers,you have to deal with all kinds of Backpackers.I haven't seen Petanque before.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
5 Apr 19
@JudyEv I know you are kind to them and call on some of them sometimes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 19
@changjiangzhibin89 There are a few we have stayed in touch with. We'll be visiting one in Vienna in June.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Apr 19
We're getting ready to start constructing a new city park near my house, and the plans call for bocce courts. I saw on the park plans that they have Petanque listed next to the bocce courts, so I guess we're going to have that too. I have no idea what Petanque is. I know what Bocce is.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Apr 19
@JudyEv I thought they were the same too, but apparently there is a group here in our city that were pushing for pétanque courts to be added next to the bocce courts. So I guess there is a different, although I have no idea what the difference is.
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 19
@noni1959 You have to suss out (investigate) the people. A lot of single girls won't couch surf with single guys in Spain and Portugal because of too many issues but all in all, it's a good thing. Surely it has to be spreading goodwill (mostly) between countries and cultures.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
4 Apr 19
You say you "used to belong"...so no more couchsurfers for you?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros You won't know yourselves when you eventually get back to two.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
5 Apr 19
@JudyEv I understand. Houseguests can take a lot of time and energy.
One more night and I have my house back to it's normal 6 people. By August we'll be down to 5 and possibly 4 before the end of the year.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
4 Apr 19
Sounds like an exciting game. I can see you had fun.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 19
It was good that we won two games each so no one 'country' won.
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Apr 19
I would be afraid to let people here stay. But glad you have good memories from that.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Apr 19
@JudyEv - What fun! Opening your home up has certainly enriched your life! Thanks for sharing this with us.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40844)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Apr 19
@JudyEv - Yes, it is hard to have children who live a long way from you. Two of our daughters live on the other side of the US, and we are always a little sad after their annual trip to see us. We try to go once a year to see them, too, but that is not the same as having them nearby. I can understand why you enjoy having young adults come to visit.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Apr 19
I don't think we were ever true hippies but I don't mind being considered a has-been hippy.
