Couchsurfing is a project designed to bring people from different nationalities, cultural backgrounds and outlooks on existence together. Having couchsurfed myself for almost three years now, I can honestly say that it has widened my world in so many respects. Not only in the forming of friends all over the world, but also in my own knowledge of other people's lifestyles and ways of living. Some of my nearest and dearest have been people I have met on the site, and for this, I shall be forever grateful.
'On the couch' is an astonishing read, because despite her 10 weeks of travel, we find in the end that ultimately, the protagonist has failed to grow at all. She remains, in her own words,'neurotic, highly-strung and, like so many girls, prone to overthinking'. She remains, in her own words, 'selfish, private and guarded.' She claims to have grown. We see no evidence of it.
I think this ultimately comes down to her behaviour during her travels. She is awkward, unsure of how to react to her hosts, frets constantly about the quality of her present to her host instead of just relaxing and enjoying their company and spends the majority of her time on Wi-fi moaning to her now absconded travel partner about the hardships of couchsurfing and simpering to her fluctuating love (who is mentioned throughout the book, where we get glimpses into his life through such messages as 'it's cold in England. I'm wearing two pairs of socks'. This, it appears, throws Fleur into a storm of confusion about where they stand. She calls him the emperor. Need I say more. We just don't care).
The questions she asks her hosts, when stretching beyond weather talk, are either vaguely disguised research for this book: 'Have you ever slept with a couchsurfer?' Any negative experiences? etc. or culturally insensitive observations:
Joe: no, they didn't sell birds or flowers here, but they did sell dogs.
Fleur: To keep or eat?
J: To keep.
F: Had Joe eaten dog?
...
F: Had Joe eaten cat?
It is no surprise that Fleur was often met with indifference, contempt and even hostility during her CS experience. She made no true effort to involve herself in the project other than to mete out her chocolates as a pay-off for a place to sleep. She hates traveling alone yet she instantly gets tired of having to converse with her hosts. She moans about the food. About the sleeping arrangements. About what her hosts wear. About what they say. About their apartment and about their country.
'On the couch' is an experiment in bigotry and cultural insensitivity wrapped up in, unfortunately, a book about a website that is a sworn enemy of such characteristics. It is no surprise that Fleur has now deleted her profile and, after attempting to host once, refused to delve into the CS scene further. If she had, she may have found real gems. I am, however, overjoyed that she has not.
The arrogance of having this rubbish published is admirable. It is the only admirable thing about it. My only hope is that this will act as a deterrent for people like the author, who, wrapped up in their own conceit and limited outlook on life, will steer clear of CS altogether. The two are just not compatible.
p.s
Did I mention it blatantly insults the people she stayed with? I might not have. It also blatantly insults the people she stays with. For shame.
