By Said El Azhary
By Said El Azhary
Morocco World News
Fez, February 11, 2012
Do you know that Couch Surfing, also known as CS, has become the world’s largest travel community? This point has been raised so many times by Couch Surfing users(CSers) that I have met, just to show that Couch surfing is really an amazing platform for strangers to become friends, even close friends, through language as well as cultural exchanges. To make you understand this, I am going to let you know about the Fez Group supervised by Kiven bella, who brought the spirit of CS to the spiritual capital of Morocco.
Firstly, “Starting as strangers ….End up as Friends,” this is our mission for CS here in Fez. When you give someone a home away from home, it does not mean that a Cser can’t stay in a hotel, but it means that CS helps to pave the way for a person to get a couch as a kind of hospitality through which a Cser tastes the life of locals. In this respect, people start to meet lots of people in person and learn new cultures as well. Gatherings, parties, events and searching for travelers nearby are the affective means to get in touch under the auspices of Couch surfing. Moreover a real Cser is the one who respects all the rules of CS as a non-profit organization. An active Cser can host people from all over the world for free and also surfs as much as possible when the opportunity to travel exists. Therefore, hosting is a pure hospitality because no money is involved.
Secondly, having attended seventeen events since March 2011, I discovered that Kiven bella, the CS Ambassador living in Fes, must be a friend of the world. He is an open-minded, friendly, easy-going and helpful person. When I want to have a brief look at the world and its people, it’s easy for me because I need only to check his well organized profile. , He has one hundred and nineteen positive references and one hundred and forty-one friends from all over the world. He organizes most of the weekly and monthly events. During meetings, we welcomed all the attendees, both local and non-local Csers. We discussed the most interesting principles and experiences in CS. Also, we shed light on the problems and false use that may exist, and, detailed advice for new travelers, particularly in Morocco and generally in Africa.
Slowly and surely, CS will expand and spread its kindness, joy and friendship throughout the world. The CS Project totally fits its Mission, ‘a world without strangers.’
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