sofasurfers

“OK, I’m just going to come right out and say it,” said my latest ally, the girl from San Francisco (her travelling companion and her had to separate in Urumqi because the former had had her passport (and all the visas), money, tickets, you-name-it, nicked, while the clock was ticking on the Kazakh visa). “Do you think I could stay with your couchsurfer in Almaty?” She’d made her own requests on couchsurfing.com, but none had come good. Why not? Well who could say for certain, but there was clearly some confusion from the outset: “How do you get to the point where it’s actually OK to ask to stay with a couchsurfer?” she’d asked. Eh? You just click on the bit that specifies you’re looking for a couch. “Oh I’ve just been seeing if they’ll meet up for a drink and then get stuck when it comes to asking to stay - I think I’ve been too passive.” (FYI, it should be pretty foolproof – you say what you’re looking for, ergo they know exactly what you’re looking for.) Anyway, the social experiment will be taking on an extra dimension in Almaty. After all, in the spirit of couchsurfing, how could I very well say no? And besides, it will most likely be more fun and less strange to have an ally again – for all of four days. However, my hosts say on their profile they are happy to receive one couchsurfer and no more – so is this a liberty too far? Still she is slight and supersweet. I have texted my hosts, a Russian couple – and they have said “Welcome”.