In the Couch Surfing Site, we have travelers and those who Host Travellers. I joined Couch Surfing since 2012. I have used Couch Surfing as a Host more than as a traveler. I have heard many amazing stories and learned great Lessons.
In this article, I will share some of the amazing stories of the travelers which I have hosted. And I will also share some of the Lessons I have learned through hosting travelers for free in my house which is in Mombasa , Kenya.
The Deaf and Mute Travellers.
One day we hosted two ladies coming all the way from Denmark, who were both deaf and mute. At first, I thought to myself, it’s going to be very crazy and bad experience. But when they arrived they had devised a way of communicating with us. We communicated through text Messages. They would write something on their phone and show us and then give us their phone and we answer, by text message in their phone.
Actually, it was very interesting. One day I directed them to a Diani beach, which was very far from my house. For them to reach to that Beach, they had to take four different Vehicles besides crossing the ferry to be in that beach. Now, how they managed to go and come back late in the night was not only surprising but very amazing. One night I saw them in their room watching a Movie, and they seemed to be enjoying the movie so much. What had attracted me to their room was I heard them laughing.
I learned that God is a wonderful God. It was amazing that I and my family could communicate with these beautiful ladies each one speaking their languages but we understood each other. It reminded me of how children sometimes communicate with each other when playing regardless of the Language each one speaks. So it does not matter whether you are dumb and mute, you can travel overseas and get people who can host you in their houses absolutely for free.
The Hitchhikers Travellers
We have hosted some travelers who came to our House through hitchhiking. Hitchhiking is the travelling by asking free lifts or free ride. There were these particular travelers who were young at their 20’s. It was a lady and her cousin who came from Russia, hitchhiking. It was very interesting to hear their stories on how they traveled from Russia to Mombasa, Kenya.
They hitchhiked through many countries, touching all these European countries, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain. Then down to African countries, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya on their way to South Africa.
The most amazing part of their story was how they came to Mombasa. They came in through the following towns, Isiolo from Ethiopia, passed through Mandera, Garissa, Tana River all these town border Somalia where there’s high alert of the Al Shaba one of the Terrorist Gang. They came down to Malindi and finally to Mombasa, it was not only amazing, wonderful but very crazy. And in all these places, they just asked well-wishers to allow them to sleep in their homes or outside their houses.
Life is all about taking the risk. I learned that everything is Possible. If you want to travel and don’t have enough funds, that does not mean you cannot do so. This world is full of people who can help, can offer their motorcycle, Lorry, Trailer to carry you for free to your destination. You don’t need a Plane ticket to travel to another country; you can risk and try Hitchhiking.
The Cycling Travellers
These particular travelers who were young at their mid-20’s. It was a man and his girlfriend who came from Poland. They were cycling from Jinja Uganda to Mombasa Kenya. They decided to follow the Rift Valley down to Mombasa.
They passed many villages and each day they cycled 30Kilometrs and then rested. Some of the town in Kenya, they passed through were, Kitale, Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha, Narok, Loitoktok, Taveta, Mwatate, Kwale, and Mombasa. The amazing thing was every day they found someone to host them either in their house or outside the compound where they pitched their tent.
They told us the one day they were trying to pass through the Tsavo National Park, where we have the Big Five, Elephants, Giraffe, Buffalo, Lion and Rhinos, but they met the Rangers and could not allow them to cycle through the park because it was very dangerous. They had to be carried in the Lorry with their bicycles.
Life has many beautiful slides. Through these travelers, I learned that it takes determination to succeed in life. Do you know how to cycle? If yes then you can cycle your way to wherever you want to go. It’s amazing that you will also meet many people who will be willing to open their doors to host you. And also give you a safe place to put your bag and your bicycle.
All Kind of Religion Travellers
I have met many travelers who have openly told me that we don’t have religion. Particularly I’m interested in this young man who came and told me, “I don’t believe in Religion and I don’t believe in God”. To me this was very strange but, what amazed me was, his story on how he became an Atheist.
As we talked and shared many stores, I came to do that discover deep in his heart he does not hate God but He hates Religion called Christianity and even Islam. I discovered it was the way he was handled by the religious leaders of the day, and how these Religious Leaders have presented God to him, the community and the nation at large.
Because traditional he grew being taught the ways of God by his grandmother and his mother. But when he reached the age of Majority he rejected that “Kind of God”, he saw presented by the Church. However, deep in him, he had a longing of touching God. I learned a very big Lesson that even those who say they don’t have a religion or they don’t believe in God. Deep inside their hearts, they cannot resist Gods love, if demonstrated in the right way.
Conclusion
All humans are the same in terms of Need. It doesn’t matter whether someone is black, white or any color; they all have the same needs. It doesn’t matter whether one is an Atheist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu etcetera, they all are looking for people to love and care for them.
All travelers who I have hosted they had one common thing. They were looking for security, love, and care. When they felt safe with me, some even extended their say with me.
It doesn’t matter whether one can afford a plane ticket, or not, or one is hitch Hiking or cycling, they all can travel and reach their destinations. You can travel and experience other people culture. Why don’t you try Couch Surfing, it will connect you with people all over the world.
We have people who are amazing and wonderful in Couch Surfing. People, who are willing to offer their couches, bed, floor, and compound to be used by a traveler who is traveling, at zero cost. Don’t Hesitate!
Remarkable H Word 