Couchsurfing: Introduction to New Way of Traveling

The first time I heard about Couchsurfing was way back in 2005 or something. I had this crazy friend, who told us about his trip to Morocco and Greece and Egypt and staying in, well, other people's homes.

Are you flippin' nuts? I dismissed it as a crazy idea for people with no common sense and risk their lives to becoming targets for serial rapists and killers.

Fast forward to 2008, in my self-rediscovery phase, I had always wanted to travel but my excuse was always the same: I didn't have anybody to go travel with, I suddenly decided that I was just going to do it with or without people. I signed up for a work-travel volunteer vacation program with CADIP to go to Greece. I love ruins.

I joined Couchsurfing in August 2008, taking this opportunity, with the intention to make new friends and network with local people and to opt for their less creepy option: To meet people at events or for coffee and/or tours (without the sleepover part). This was also a popular option in places where culturally people stayed with their parents or lived in small quarters and could not host guests at their homes.

I was surprised to find this whole new world open up to me with open arms. Not only did I meet amazing people through Couchsurfing, but also made me look at strangers in a different way.

We are not strangers in the world but we are friends who don't know each other yet.

99% of the time, this is true.

I'm not going to say that it is completely safe to trust strangers on the internet, but with a little practice and common sense, you will be able to quickly discern what kind of situation you're in and what kind of person you're talking to.

So far I have only surfed officially 3 times, once in Athens, once in Recife Brazil and once in my own country in Langkawi, Malaysia.

I have hosted 20 official Couchsurfing guests in my home and a few other friends of friends, from all over the world. Germany, France, Canada, Spain, San Francisco, Washington DC. I think I like hosting more than surfing :)

Other times I have used this network to meet up with locals when I have a long layover such as in Amsterdam and Istanbul.

So far I have had the chance to visit my Couchsurfers home, and also hosted one of my previous host in Chicago... and made some great friends around the world.

Ever since Couchsurfing has become more and more popular, I have become more wary about the new members. It used to be an alternative means of travel, and works on the basis of trust and vouching system, like nomads and bedouins do. Now that it is in the mainstream news, I am concerned that it might attract the creepy people and people with less than good intentions. But at the same time, I am still open about it and I hope my sensible rationality and instinct serves me well.

If you are too lazy to learn or read about Couchsurfing, here is a good comic about it.
Recently a bedouin from the southern part of Jordan was featured on CNN for his 'cave' surfing
More about safety can be found on Couchsurfing.org and on their Safety FAQ page

My Couchsurfing philosophy:

• My home is not a free hotel or free guesthouse
• My home and couch is a place of cultural exchange and learning
• I want to spend quality time with my guests
  Couchsurfing is not a dating site
• New members are encouraged to participate in hosting or local activities to familiarize with the community

I am currently planning my next trip to Spain (Madrid, Zaragoza and Barcelona) and I hope to utilize Couchsurfing as part of my learning. I think I have earned my badge and collected karma points that I can hopefully redeem. So far I have been accepted in all three places, from couchsurfers, offers for place to stay, coffee, breakfast and salsa dancing.

*Happy camper*

More upcoming posts on how to write requests and how to host. But for now I will say that I highly recommend Couchsurfing as a way to see the world!

Sebastian and Matthias on their cross-America road trip

Maryanne visited for 20 hours we had jam packed activities

Erick giving me a special historical, cultural and gastronomical tour of Amsterdam

Chris and Kuno cooking dinner in my kitchen! And did the dishes too!

I hosted Celine in Chicago so when I had a long layover in Amsterdam she sent me so much information and guides and sent me off at the airport

Anya and Steffi from Germany at Chicago Gay Pride Parade. We watched the World Cup together and went to Summerdance Salsa!

Apartment Moving: The Grown Up Edition

I'm a veteran mover. I've moved apartments over 10 times in the past 10 years. I know all the ins and outs and pains and sufferings of packing, moving, unpacking by yourself.

During undergrad, the Malaysian student community was tight knit and it just goes without saying that you would help each other move apartments. Post-college was a bit tricky, but Adam was always there to help. If that wasn't tricky enough, post-relationship-dependent-stage was more difficult to move. I had managed with the help of good friends (bribing them with pizza and beer). This year, I called it quits. I've been a grown-up for a while now, it's time I do it the grown-up way, which is called paying-someone-else-to-do-it-for-you. I hired professional movers.

Although the real grown-up way is to buy-a-condo-and-never-look-back-at-rentals... I'm not ready for that yet.

Moving can be a crazy ordeal. Here are some measures you can take to maintain your sanity.

Step 1: Planning
Avoid confusion, tears, hair-pulling scenarios by thinking ahead:

• Make an inventory of your possessions. Do this by rooms and categories. Makes it easier to pack/unpack and for movers to estimate.
• Find out the cost of movers. I looked up reviews on yelp (or similar online reviews) of movers and advertisements on craigslist, sent a few emails, called them and gave them my inventory and made a comparison. Shop around
• Check that your movers are legit business not just a couple of inexperienced college kids looking to make a quick buck. That is okay too if you're on a budget. But expect the unexpected. Make sure they have a record of showing up on time.
• Have a backup plan. Can you call friends? Do you know if you can get a truck rental at last minute if you had to move yourself.

Step 2: Downsizing

• Cleansing is good for you
• Anything that has not seen the light of day for the last 8-12 months must GO.
• Sell your gently used clothing or things on craigslist or thrift stores. Donate the rest to Salvation Army or Goodwill.
• Moving objects from point A to point B consumes energy, time and money. 
• Downsizing makes your moving more efficient and cheaper, and will help cover some of the costs of moving. Hey kill 2 birds.

Step 3: Packing

• Pack heavy things in smaller boxes (books, canned food, weights)
• Start with things you need the least: Books, waffle maker, decorations, extra towels and linens
• Label each box with the room names and short descriptive note of what is inside
• For multiple people moving, label personal boxes with your initials
• Plastic bags make awesome cushions for fragile items like dishes and mugs. I save a drawerfull of shopping bags and I use these crushed together to give extra padding to my dinnerware.
• Things not to pack: extra tape, plastic bags, scissors, screwdrivers and hammer in case you need to dismantle things AND to reassemble things when you get to your new place.
• Pack a full week of regular work clothes and living essentials in one suitcase. Pretend you're packing for a week's business trip.
• Put important documents and last minute things in one place, preferably a backpack that is ON you all the time during the move.

Step 4: Cleaning ALL the THINGS
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

This is the cleanest my apartment has EVER been

I miss this bathroom

Spotless!

Got my security deposit back 100%

Step 5: Moving Day

• Get enough sleep
• Eat something in the morning
• Take the day off
• Call the movers
• Help carry small items and give directions
• Get children/pets out of the way
• DON'T PANIC

Disaster zone

Step 6: Making yourself comfortable

• aka $500 later (between 2 people)
• unpack your box of tea, mattress, towel, and a set of clothes for the next morning.
• Set up electricity, heat, cable, internet at your new place (make this step 1)

Thank you neighbor's free unsecured Wi-Fi!

From Fashionista to Frugalista

Hell if I know of a better stress cure than retail therapy!

The problem with retail therapy is that you get the high from hunting things from the rack and making that transaction, and not necessarily the merchandise itself.

The other problem with retail therapy is that it hurts... in other ways (I learned it the hard way), often like drugs, you're addicted to spending. The more you spend, the more unhappy you become. 

Fashion blogs and magazines are always touting words like 'classic', and 'timeless' and 'investment pieces'. Investment? Bull shit. Clothing is meant to be worn, and once you've handed over your cash (or swiped that plastic), it is what economists call 'sunk cost'.

It is just like what it sounds like. Sunk. Cost. Gone forever.

I was once caught up in a cycle of buying shoes and more shoes, and clothes and more clothes. But then, that guilt started creeping up on me. 

I started hunting in thrift and vintage stores to clear my conscience, and I swear this is the best kept frugalista secret, ever.


The treasures I've found, I'll have to save for yet another future post. Lots of pics required. For now, I want to share my most recent trip to my neighborhood Goodwill. [non-profit organization that sells donated clothes and housewares] 

Aquascutum Linen Button Down Shirt - $7

I was looking for some new shirts because in light of my professional exam, I had felt the need to dress up more... professionally to work. I'm sort of digging that chambray shirt trend so I headed off to the blue shirts rack.

Aquascutum? Never heard of it, but the fabric was extremely nice. "100% linen" says the label. Perfect for spring/summer.

Whoever made this shirt was definitely into details... I thought, as I inspected the checkered lining on the collars and cuffs, and see here, engraved buttons!! I later found a matching one in off-white on the other rack. They were $6.99 each. What the heck, can't go wrong with that, right?

I got home and googled "Aquascutum" and turns out it's a top UK luxury clothing manufacturer that had dressed british royalty, aristocrats and all that. A brand alongside Burberry, except sadly it had very recently gone bankrupt.

Meh. All I know (and care about) is that I got two fabulous summer shirts for less that what it would cost to get them dry cleaned! 

I foresee this becoming a segment on this blog.. more frugalista posts to come!

For now, here are some more Aquascutum prints:

Kate Middleton:

Goodwill Store (Near West Side)

1201 W Washington St
Chicago, IL 60686
(312) 563-1187

See yelp reviews

xo
Kakjah

#1 Sayang

Source: Wiktionary

Sayang: 1. (noun) love

              2. (synonym) darling, sweetheart

              3. (verb) to love

And it also has a meaning in Tagalog, but no direct translation in english. In Tagalog, 'sayang', is used as an expression of failure to capitalize an opportunity.

When i was in highschool, my Malay Language teacher told us to try and say the word 'sayang' 11 times to make a sentence. Try it.

sayang-sayang, sayang sayang sayang? sayang sayang sayang, sayang sayang sayang?

understand?

to those who havent.

the first 2 'sayang' indicates the first person calling out to the second person as their beloved.

the 3 'sayang's after that, is a question which directly translates to "darling, do you love me?" whereby the first person has already acknowledge that he/she is the beloved. It's more of a rhetorical question if you ask me.

the next 3 'sayang's simply means "i love you". (noun first person)(verb)(noun second person)

the last 3 'sayang's is just the same question, but asked again as a reinforcement. 

So basically, the direct translation of the whole sentence means:

"darling, do you love me? i love you. so, do you love me?"

It is interesting to note that the word 'sayang' can be use to describe both parties. It is like, both of them are already in love, which is why i think it is a bit rhetorical.

In Malaysia, 'sayang' is also used as a way to express when you don't want to throw something away due to its preciousness (as was explain by one of my sister below). And it can also be used the same way it is use in Tagalog, which is to express the failure to capitalize an opportunity.

The examples of this, respectively:

Situation 1: "Sayangnya nak buang makanan ini" which roughly translate to "it is going to be a waste to throw this food away", but 'sayang' here is use as the expression

Situation 2: "Sayangnya, awak patut dapat kerja itu" which roughly translate to "you should have gotten that job", again 'sayang' is use as the expression.

Sayang,

Iman

p.S: no, 'sayang' cannot be use to denote "love," in this case. Well, maybe you could, but i'm not too sure. It sounds a bit weird