So it's the first morning of my couchsurfing experience, and i have to say it has been pretty interesting so far. Late on tuesday night i sent an email to the guy who i was supposed to be staying with, he replied the next morning - only hours before i was due to leave - "oh shit, i completely forgot". Yep. That happened.
He said that he wasn't really going to be home much the next few days, so i should just go to his mates' place instead. Right. So, nervously, i took his advice and headed out to Brunswick to stay with these people that i knew nothing about.
I arrived at the house - no one home. Great start. Luckily, i had bought a case of beer so at least i had something to do while i waited; I parked myself down on what appeared to be the back seat of a car and cracked my first beer.
I don't know how long i sat there for (it was only around three beers) before Liam, the organiser of couchsurfing at this house rocked up home. This was how our conversation went.
Me: Hi, I'm alex, did jeff tell you i was coming?
Liam: Oh yeah, i think he mentioned something about that
Me: I brought beer
Liam: Awesome, stay as long as you like
Stepping inside the house is like entering a CouchSurfing Mecca. Since opening their doors in December, the three housemates have not had a single night without a couchsurfer. The longest someone stayed here was three and a half months! The place has the feel of a mini hostel, with a communal computer area as well as a whiteboard detailing who is arriving and where they are from. Sitting on the front bench is a 'comments' book where people write their thanks etc. There is even a fridge with a coin tin selling carlton colds for $1.50!
Also staying here at the moment are Julien (from France), Xavier (Taiwan) and Britany (Canada). The latter two are relatively new to the house but Julien has been here for a couple of weeks now, and is currently trying to find work. This isn't an uncommon occurrence apparently, as Liam tells me that they now have many friends across Melbourne who they originally hosted when they first got to the city.
The three housemates have never tried out couchsurfing themselves, but absolutely love hosting - as Liam says "otherwise we'd just be sitting at home bored". The house has now hosted in excess of 100 travellers and, as they boast, they are now quite well connected for when they head off to europe at the end of the year. Germany, France, Sweden, New Zealand, England and even Madagascar - they have welcomed tourists from all across the world with an attitude of 'if there's room we'll take them'.
It really is like nothing else i have ever seen.
Anyway, I'm off to go do a bit more exploring of Melbourne - i think a couple of English guys are arriving here today as well so that should make things a bit more interesting.
until tomorrow x
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