John Nayler Home    World Trip    John's Blog Pre 2008   Current location   Whitsundays map    ChannelWhitsundays.com    About John 10:00am, Thu 22 Oct 2009 :  Tips for first time couch surfers I frequently get messages from first time couch surfers requesting some couch-sailing  :)  Its nice to receive these requests and there is a certain amount of honour and responsibility in hosting for the first time. I seldom take on this responsibility as I have so many people with excellent references who have hosted others and been vouched for. This makes it hard to fit in the first timers. Cripes, these days I am so flattered to have people planning their trips to Australia based around staying with me! I should be so lucky. There is also the fact that newbies sometimes don't understand the culture of couch surfing. I have had examples where there the gap betweeen taking and giving is distant, where the guests head to town to drink heavily and view my place as somewhere to sleep through the hangover. There is also the problem when the guests don't engage in cultural exchange or worse still ignore the host and talk amongst themselves in their own language. These problems aside, I personally have to watch out that I am not going to have my reputation tarnished with accusations of goodness knows what from people with ill placed intentions... and the reference system is a great way to get a feel for the real people and potential trouble makers... Referenced people can be trusted more, simple. A final concern is that people might come to expect every couch to be like mine... I do go out of the way to show people my home, my backyard (the Whitsundays) and teach them some sailing. I am pretty sure that my couch is something out of the ordinary and as such first timers are going to get the wrong impression about the "norm" with CS. Anyway that aside lets write up some things that can help first timers. 1. Write a complete reference, in the target language. Don't worry if your skills in that language are not that good - at least you are trying and the little mistakes are often funny. 2. Load some fun photos. Show a sense of humour or fun in your pictures to ensure that the hosts think you are going to be good fun to have around. 3. Have an opinion. In the interests section, take the opportunity to make a stand on your favourite subject for better connection with potential hosts that think the same way as you. 4. Make a donation, or start the "verify" process. Even if you are on the road, you can get the postcard sent to your parents to get the verification code. The reason for this is that you get a extra icon / badge on your profile to say that you have financial contributed to CS. I don't know about other hosts, but I count this as important. The CS web site would cost heaps to create and run - and their funding is donation based! 5. Get ready to make an effort. I have already blogged about "being a good guest", you can find that story separately. Your early references will be important, so make sure you put in a huge effort to impress your early hosts! 6. Get vouched for. Once you get rolling with CS, you will connect with hosts as friends. If they are prepared to vouch for you (don't ask - its not polite), then great, you have an extra tick on the list. Once you are vouched for 3 times, you can then vouch for others.... and that is something you can use to reward hosts that become friends. Finally, have fun. CS is a great way to connect with locals. Whether hosting or travelling, I have had the most amazing experiences. To travel with CS, you get to be part of people's lives even more so than reality TV - you get to experience the world through people, and for mine that is better than "self-portrait" photos in front of world icons any day. CS bringing together France, USA and Australia Help out with the odd jobs Jump into the experience Other Stories   01 Jul 2010 Open Letter to Adobe   11 Jun 2010 CS Marinya becomes super model for a day   10 Apr 2010 Return home from Fraser   21 Mar 2010 Mobile internet to the rescue   15 Jan 2010 Pray for Northerlies - Maryborough delivery   24 Dec 2009 What a Year, what a Whitsunday!   01 Dec 2009 Julia Gates wants her own best job in the world   22 Oct 2009 Tips for first time couch surfers   08 Aug 2009 John, Marie, Tracey and Mark went for a sail   20 Jun 2009 Yamaha 9.9 hp high thrust 4 stroke engine electrical problems.   19 Jun 2009 ChannelWhitsunday.com coverage of Seawind regatta   03 May 2009 The best couch in the world   28 Apr 2009 Superb: Dean, Clare, Hannah   20 Apr 2009 Priya   12 Apr 2009 Catrin and Marcella   09 Apr 2009 Vanessa and Romana   05 Apr 2009 Perfect sailing conditions   31 Mar 2009 Sail with Tyson   28 Mar 2009 Hayman Island with Rotary and Airlie Beach History   21 Mar 2009 Hamilton Island Wedding Cruise + 3   19 Mar 2009 Travelling Home   11 Mar 2009 LA, town of movies and bears   07 Mar 2009 Back to school in Edmonton   04 Mar 2009 Vancouver   01 Mar 2009 Ottawa, national capital of Canada   28 Feb 2009 Toronto, Ontario, Canada   25 Feb 2009 Being a good guest with Couch Surfing.   22 Feb 2009 St Thomas. Time with friends   20 Feb 2009 Viarail, Canada - Travelling from Montreal to St Thomas to stay with friends.   13 Feb 2009 Montreal - top right corner of France   11 Feb 2009 Day in London   10 Feb 2009 Sarah Simpson, Best job applicant   09 Feb 2009 Gourge, France to UK   08 Feb 2009 Gourge - French countryside   02 Feb 2009 Best job in the world video making   31 Jan 2009 Paris in winter   31 Jan 2009 Hot Koalas   29 Jan 2009 Isle of Wight and Falmouth   22 Jan 2009 Turin in snow.   17 Jan 2009 Best job in the world for Ema Q   16 Jan 2009 Rome - Old city   15 Jan 2009 Vatican and first day in Rome   13 Jan 2009 Just keep flying...   08 Jan 2009 Racha   07 Jan 2009 Phi Phi Don   06 Jan 2009 Phuket Arrival   06 Jan 2009 Phi Phi Lei   05 Jan 2009 Locked and loaded   31 Dec 2008 Woodford 2008   24 Dec 2008 Hamilton Island staff escape   10 Dec 2008 Randy and Shazza   18 Nov 2008 Grand Adventure   27 Oct 2008 Tigra takes a crash   12 Oct 2008 Mandurah Boat Show 2008   29 Sep 2008 5 from France   13 Sep 2008 Sailing South with Tracey   02 Jul 2008 Don't tell them its winter!   01 Jul 2008 Another   18 Jun 2008 Zineb and Ester   12 Jun 2008 Anna   05 Jun 2008 Lenni and Denis   22 May 2008 Dent to Dunk   13 May 2008 Is it winter yet?   08 May 2008 Whitsunday Private Yacht Charters   25 Apr 2008 And that's a wrap   19 Apr 2008 6 up for adventure   10 Apr 2008 Gloucester Island Assault   09 Apr 2008 Restocked and roll'n   06 Apr 2008 Sail to Nara Inlet Waterfall   31 Mar 2008 Antifoul is best on the hull, not in the tin!   29 Mar 2008 Cinetech from Hong Kong   24 Mar 2008 Dinner with friends... But what's for dinner   21 Mar 2008 Now that is a big screen!   17 Mar 2008 New office at the marina!   23 Feb 2008 Woody Head Camp Ground, Bunjalung National Park, Iluka   21 Feb 2008 Kiama, New South Wales South Coast   20 Feb 2008 Diamond Head Camping Ground   19 Feb 2008 Yagon Campground, Myall Lakes National Park   18 Feb 2008 Gillards Beach, Mimosa Rocks National Park   14 Feb 2008 Congo Point, Moruya NSW Southern Coast   12 Feb 2008 Greenpatch Campground Booderee National Park   11 Feb 2008 Camping Gear for sale, Car included.   01 Feb 2008 40th Birthday Tour   29 Jan 2008 Top Gear Australia Audition   05 May 2004 New Zealand #5   04 May 2004 New Zealand #4   30 Apr 2004 New Zealand #3   29 Apr 2004 New Zealand #2   28 Apr 2004 New Zealand #1 Where is John now? Map Location Layout Check out the layout Quote from Ghandi I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. Pretty much my life... and I love it. John's world trip Where did I go on my recent round the world trip. Click below to see it on a world map.   Check the stop overs The Dot Com Story Read how Dot Com came to be Netcomm N3G002W Netcomm N3G002W providing Hot spot internet via 3g / Next G Read more Next G Coverage Telstra Next G coverage continues to impress. Using my Tu500 handset, I have been able to get on the net at high speed at various places. The latency of the network also seems very low when I get on. Very nice. Coverage Test List Weather Summaries Moreton Bay Hervey Bay Bundaberg Gladstone Keppel Island Percy Islands Mackay Come stay on my cat using Couchsurfing.com Couch surfing is a world wide network of free beds and a great way to meet people and emerse yourself in the local culture. I offer accommodation on my sailing catamaran through this great web site:   John's Couch Surfing profile John speaks about Telstra Next G Says it all : "Sailing" by Christopher Cross It's not far down to paradise At least it's not for me And if the wind is right you can sail away And find tranquility The canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see Believe me It's not far to never never land No reason to pretend And if the wind is right you can find the joy Of innocence again The canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see Believe me Sailing Takes me away To where I've always heard it could be Just a dream and the wind to carry me And soon I will be free Fantasy It gets the best of me When I'm sailing All caught up in the reverie Every word is a symphony Won't you believe me It's not far back to sanity At least it's not for me And when the wind is right you can sail away And find serenity The canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see Believe me Whitsunday Guide Visit the Cumberland Charter Yachts Site for the most comprehensive online area and anchorage guide. Second only to "100 Magic Miles".   www.ccy.com.au/area Sony HDR-SR1 My camera of choice, with some great customisation for even more flexibility. Read more Dot Com John Nayler PO Box 1039 Airlie Beach Q 4802 P: 0407 15 13 11 www.nayler.com   Links.    Privacy.    Disclaimer. Queensland time: 9:58am.