sofasurfers

Couchsurfing Guilt Syndrome (CGS) Part II
One couchsurfing given is that before long, the host’s computer comes
out and a slide show of their life’s photographs begins. I wondered at
first if it were a couchsurfing ritual by decree, but even our virgin
hosts would sooner or later (usually sooner) pull out the laptop for
our pleasure. Then I thought it must just be a Russian thing, but it
happened in Mongolia too. For it was in Begzsuren’s Mongolian ger
(complete with all mod cons, including a keyboard, a TV and a washing
machine) that I learnt of my terrible failing as a couchsurfing guest.
“Here is the Danish couple building shelves for our ger. Here is the
French guy making sushi for us [sushi?! In Mongolia?!]. Here are the
Canadian boys making apple cake. Here…” Oh no! Thus far, I had been
singing for my supper with gifts (I had bought Kinder-esque eggs for
the kids, and posh-for-Mongolia chocolates for the parents, plus
offered to do the washing up). Oh no! My domestic shortcomings just
can’t make amends, and yet the couchsurfing host is surely all too
aware that the gift of time is of infinitely greater value than a (not
very) glorified box of Fererro Rocher. Oh no!