by Venera Fileva

Created on: May 07, 2007

"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land"

~ G.K. Chesterton

In the past three years, new words have been added to the dictionary of adventurous travelers such as couchsurfing, vouching for friends, and the Island Project Group.

All of them can be easily explained by visiting the website of the non-profit organization CouchSurfing International, Inc. on www.couchsurfing.com. The original founder Casey Fenton launched the site on January 1st, 2003 with the help of several other founders. Ever since then, this unique virtual community of more than 2,000 members has been growing by hundreds per week.

The idea behind the project is simple: to create a global on-line network of travelers who want to participate in cultural exchange. At no cost, members of the community offer accommodation or look for a couch to surf. Since CouchSurfing is a non-profit organization, it is illegal to charge someone for staying at one's place.

In the beginning, it all seems too good to be true. But all it takes for it to become reality is a registration on the site. Each profile consists of photo(s) of the person, short personal description, interests, personal philosophy, and languages spoken. Members may leave address or a phone number for connection, but most share only their e-mail address.

After a profile has been created, the couchsearch can start. The only requirement needed is the desire to travel. After that it is all about choosing an interesting country, an intriguing host, and some comfortable cloths for the trip. The first contact with the host is usually by e-mail.

Evgenia Pendeva (Jeni), Admissions Counselor at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG), says that staying at someone's house when visiting a foreign country is very different than staying at a hotel. "You don't only offer accommodation, you open up your home for the guest," Jeni says. "Plus, you show your guests around the town and make them feel the local taste of it," she adds.

Jeni believes that CouchSurfing helps promoting small countries like Bulgaria. "You do something good and in return, you receive positive emotions, full satisfaction, and unforgettable experience. Once the people go home, they will tell what a nice time they had in Bulgaria and how hospitable people were."

Jeni is a very energetic and positive person, and it is hard to guess her age (around 50). Her smile is contagious and her personal philosophy wise.

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