Going Back Home Guide

Yes, your trip is over. That might have been the best time of your life, probably you met the coolest people ever, but it's over... Now you have to go back home, and face the (now-not-so-)good'old routine. Look forward and don't get depressed.

Facing Your Job

Going back to work is not that easy. And the worst, sometimes you have to go back straight to your job. Try to set a few days for yourself at home, hear the news, get some prints of your photos. Then when you're back to work, you'll probably be better prepared for the routine, and will have great pictures to help you telling the stories about your journey, and, of course, telling all your friends how great it is to couchsurf.

Facing Sedentary Life

Living at one place is evolution (I sometimes doubt that). Humans, as they discovered they could grow vegetables and raise animals, have chosen to settle in one place and call that land theirs. Human genetic memory has probably incorporated this, but I am pretty sure most of the CouchSurfers lack that gene. Since we are still under the lash of society we have to keep quiet for a (good) while.

You might try to see your new life as a different kind of journey. Explore the town you live in, its surroundings, even if you think you know it by heart. Take on new activities. Meet new people, keep yourself busy or enjoy the rest. It will take time. If you travelled for a long time, chances are you got deeply transformed, and some of these transformations will still be developing for months after you return.

Keep on CouchSurfing: Couch hosting is actually travelling without moving. - the World, staying for the night.

Don't Forget Your New Friends

Remember, your trip was incredible, and most of it was due to your new friends, CS hosts, who made it special. Write them a message, send them snail mail, a postcard, a gift. Call them. It feels great to feel loved. Very important, leave them references, that will not only make the person feel well, but also help other couchsurfing connections. Remember, this is all about sharing.

Spread The Word

Don't forget we're building a better world, one couch at a time. Maybe CS is not for everyone, in a first moment, but it's great that people get to know your experiences, and the lessons you learned about sharing and trusting. Tell everybody, and encourage the ones you think have the right profile to join CS. Write about CS and your experiences in your blog, school newspaper, fanzine, website, or take the story to local newspapers and magazines.