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Home » Couch Surfing, Family Travel, Global Citizenship, Guatemala, PodCast, Podcasts, Show Notes Page

Podcast Episode #8 – Sleeping with Strangers

12 August 2010 17 Comments
Podcast Episode #8 – Sleeping with Strangers [ 30:20 | 27.77 MB ] Play NowPlay in Popup | Download (408)
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The Couchsurfing Project.

In Episode #8 Lainie & Miro talk about their experiences with the global project known as Couchsurfing.com As longtime Couchsurfers & hosts, they have made many significant friendships through the project, experienced a global community, and provided & received the economic benefits associated with Couchsurfing during travel.  Also in this episode, Lainie interviews Tom, Couchsurfing Ambassador from Bonn Germany about his role in the project.

“In a world of war and prejudice, Couchsurfing encourages tolerance and understanding.”

“In a world of greed and avarice, Couchsurfing stands for sharing.”

“In a world of selfishness and individualism, Couchsurfing advocates generosity.”

~Abilio M Godoy (Brazil)

Ever thought about Couchsurfing? Wondered what all the fuss was about? Interested in surfing someone’s couch on your next trip?

Couchsurfers in the Park

Couchsurfers Lauren, Lainie, Katka & Miro

In Episode#8, Lainie and Miro share  insights into the Couchsurfing mission, provide real world tips to make all Couchsurfing experiences positive,  and addresses  safety issues surrounding “sleeping with strangers”. Lastly, both Lainie, Miro and Tom, share real-world stories from the couch-a-sphere, including the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you haven’t already tried it, sign up at Couchsurfing.org and connect with Lainie and Miro there.

Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch at a Time.

What is Couchsurfing?

It’s a community of people, not to be confused with simply a , free accommodation. It is true that one of the many benefits of Couchsurfing is that it can make your travels more affordable, however the most meaningful benefit is the connection you make with other Couchsurfers.

Dutch Couchsurfer Martin, showing his new tattoo of Miro's drawing

Miro and Lainie share some of their stories and experiences surrounding the Couchsurfing project. They address the human and cultural cultural exchanges made that make this world a better place to live in. The Couchsurfing project helps to raise the collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate greater cultural understandings. All that, by opening up one’s personal spaces, hosting & being hosted and sharing what it means to be a global citizen.

Lainie and Miro have been involved in Couchsurfing since 2007, when they hosted their first guest in their Los Angles  loft. They  continued to host many people over the year before they left the country, somewhere around 30 guests over that period of time. After that, the two Couchsurfed in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, until finally settling in Antigua, Guatemala for 6 months where they became one of the only couchs available and ended up hosting well over 50 travelers during that period of time.

Next, Lainie interviews, Tom Asten,a long-time Couchsurfer, Ambassador to Bonn, Germany & Couchsurfing evangelist. Tom shares some of his experiences hosting & on the road.

Listen to Tom as he shares some of his experiences hosting and being hosted. He also addresses some of the other ways he participates in the Couchsurfing Project as an Ambassador. Last, Tom shares a couple humorous horror stories, “tales of a few naughty couchsurfers”.


RESOURCES

Couchsurfing:

At CouchSurfing International, we envision a world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter. Building meaningful connections across cultures enables us to respond to diversity with curiosity, appreciation and respect. The appreciation of diversity spreads tolerance and creates a global community.

References from the Podcast

articles:

Couchsurfing the World

Lisa Lubin – July 6th, 2009

Surfing the World Wide Couch

By PENELOPE GREEN – September 20, 2007

CouchSurfing: Tips for a Smooth Experience

By Katie Hammel   |   June 19th, 2009

  • Mention of Couchsurfer Christopher who is walking from Los Angeles to Brazil, meditating on prayers. His web site is here.
  • To connect with Laine and Miro through Couchsurfing, their profile can be found here.

other posts:

  • May Day Couchsurfing Potluck in Antigua

  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life Podcast Episode #1 featuring Couchsurfer Roxanne

  • Podcast Episode #3 – Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Gender in Guatemala featuring Couchsurfers Cassandra and Katja

  • Podcast Episode #4 – Bicycling Across the Globe- 2 Amazing Stories featuring Couchsurfer Hanna

  • Podcast Episode #5 – Community, Sustainability & Alternate Forms of Energy Exchange featuring Couchsurfer David + discussion on Couchsurfing as a sustainable community model

  • Podcast Episode #6 – Modern Day Nomads, Nomadic People and a World of Travelers featuring Couchsurfer and Nomadic Ambassador Joe

  • Podcast Episode #7 – The Art and Zen of Motorcycle Guidance featuring Couchsurfer Chris


Support Raising Miro!

If you are interested in learning more about ways to support Raising Miro, including donating money or sponsoring our travels please click on this link. If you are interested in finding out about advertising opportunities for our podcasts or website, please on the site, please send a note here or use the donation form in the sidebar.

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((Like how did Miro get stuck in his chair…) If you have comments or have a question you’d like to have answered in an upcoming podcast, please use send us an email using this contact form. We promise, we answer all of the questions we relieve and we love hearing from you.

 


Special Thanks

To those of you who have supported us so far on this journey, the donations we’ve received (yes, thank you so much Sonia Kim!!!) and the wonderful words of encouragement. Thank you all for your comments and feedback, and please keep them coming.

Thank you Hanna for giving us a wonderful professional boost with the intro & outro, engineered by Hanna Jakobson, music “Multilayered Timbres” by Dr. Pimp courtesy of CC (creative commons) license.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has…”

About the Author:

Lainie and her son Miro are living a location independent lifestyle, slow traveling around the globe and living in the present moment. Lainie writes about staying inspired, participating as a global citizen, volunteering, unschooling and natural learning. Guiding their experiences is the empowered choice to experience in the world without fear.

Lainie Liberti – who has written 394 posts on Raising Miro on the Road of Life - Travel Podcast.


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17 Comments »

  • Anonymous said:

    Excellent podcast! I can’t wait to hit up the Couchsurfers once I hit the road in a few months. Lovely getting to see your blog, too! :-)

    [Reply]

    # 19 August 2010 at 1:24 am
  • ilainie (author) said:

    Thank you so much Kate! Loved your article too on CouchSurfing! I look forward to following your adventures as well!nnhttp://www.adventurouskate.com/how-to-couchsurf-without-couchsurfing/

    [Reply]

    # 19 August 2010 at 3:47 am
  • Anonymous said:

    I just wanted to say that something about hearing Miro describe his favorite Couchsurfers made me tear up. The girl from Greece misses you a bunch.

    [Reply]

    # 22 August 2010 at 9:26 pm
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » Podcast Episode #14 – Swashbuckling Tales of Carnage, Adventure & Love! said:

    [...] Lainie interviews Paul, a friend from couch surfing who stayed with the duo for a week in Guatemala. This is where Paul  first shared his adventure, [...]

    # 27 November 2010 at 8:09 pm
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » The 1st 500 Days in Pictures, Part 4 said:

    [...] A spunky Canadian couchsurfer who stayed with us in [...]

    # 10 December 2010 at 6:26 am
  • Tour Absurd said:

    Hahaha, “not a dating site.” My husband and I tell that to people all the time. We were both living in the same city, hosting people separately, but met at a local CS meeting. CS-ers often find it much easier to live with other CS-ers who already understand the lifestyle and the amazing people you get to meet — but that was not our motivation for joining!nnI, too, am a bit of a CS evangelist. Nice to hear you are, too, and about all your lovely experiences. *hugs*nnps: Maybe we’ll meet at BRC, or Nowhere (the playa’s European cousin; goingnowhere.org), one of these days. :D

    [Reply]

    # 30 December 2010 at 10:15 pm
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » Podcast Episode #16 – Unschooling, Discovering No Difference Between Living & Learning said:

    [...] fights, group dinners, 2 -1/2 hour shuttle bus rides that turned into 30 hours, puppy dog feet, numerous couchsurfers, 8 countries and many many card games. There have been so many things, so many memories (which [...]

    # 30 December 2010 at 9:04 pm
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » Magic in the Mangroves & a Little Angel on the Beach said:

    [...] CS (couchsurfing) host Rafe recommended we spend the day at the local playa and fishing village just out of town [...]

    # 14 January 2011 at 10:22 am
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » 8 Empowering Ways A Traveling Single Female Can Celebrate Valentines Day said:

    [...] you are traveling, you should already be a member of Couch Surfing. If you are not, join right now! Couch Surifng is a great way to connect with locals and other [...]

    # 13 February 2011 at 10:31 am
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » 10 Uncommon Travel Tips from Pooping to Unschooling said:

    [...] to stay with a family that have  similar age children. If you are even more adventurous, try Couch Surfing. There you will create a free profile page for you and your family and then start searching couches [...]

    # 2 April 2011 at 11:27 am
  • 10 Uncommon Travel Tips from Pooping to Unschooling | We Blog The World said:

    [...] to stay with a family that have  similar age children. If you are even more adventurous, try Couch Surfing. There you will create a free profile page for you and your family and then start searching couches [...]

    # 9 April 2011 at 2:09 pm
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » 7 Links – 7 Up said:

    [...] 2. Most Popular: [...]

    # 24 July 2011 at 9:41 am
  • Drina Murphy said:

    Couchsurfing, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it but what a great idea:)

    [Reply]

    # 27 October 2011 at 1:00 pm
  • Raising Miro on the Road of Life – Travel Podcast » Blog Archive » Couch Surfing – Still Not Sure? said:

    [...] Sleeping with Strangers [...]

    # 28 November 2011 at 12:26 am
  • Bucketlist said:

    I Love your post very much. Keep it up i will come again.

    [Reply]

    # 20 February 2012 at 2:30 am
  • Amazing People You Meet On Your Travels | We Blog The World said:

    [...] A spunky Canadian couchsurfer who stayed with us in [...]

    # 26 July 2012 at 3:38 pm
  • Vagobond | Vagobond Travel Musuem – Couchsurfing Around the World Around the World said:

    [...] Raising Miro is one of my favorite Travel/Parenting Blogs. Here are a couchsurfing post and a couchsurfing podcast. [...]

    # 12 October 2012 at 12:29 am

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welcome to RaisingMiro.com

lainie and miroA single mom & son's travel blog & podcast, chronicling their nomadic adventures as they travel around the world together; Raising Miro on the Road of Life.

Miro & Lainie (mother 46 and 13 year old son) share their adventures from the Road of Life, discussing issues of humanity, global citizenship, unschooling, slow travel, family travel, volunteering, travel inspiration & living in the moment as they explore the big beautiful planet, they call home.

Three and half years, 12 countries and many personal changes later, Lainie & Miro continue to slow travel around the globe, living an inspired possession-free-lifestyle, volunteering and learning naturally. They are following their interests on the road, as the planet has been transformed into their classroom. Often you will hear Lainie say “we are blessed to be accidental unschoolers” and has become and an advocate for “life learning” at any age. Lainie & Miro describe their greatest accomplishment as the ability to participate in the world without fear.

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