Traveling abroad, how to integrate into the lives of local people as quickly as possible?

I wrote this article today because I saw a question and answer in the hornet's nest: What are some small ways to integrate with the locals during the trip?

In other words, why should travel be integrated into the lives of local people? Because traveling is not just about seeing the scenery, it will be more interesting and meaningful to know the most distinctive places and lifestyles in the local area than to see the scenery. So I thought about it carefully and found that there are two ways that are the fastest and truly integrated into local life: surfing on the sofa and staying in a homestay.

Of course, today I'm going to talk about couch potatoes, a super grounded way of traveling. What is a couch potato?

As the name implies, "couch surfer" means "sleeping on someone else's couch".

This is superficial, but not necessarily sleeping on the sofa. If the owner has an extra room or bed, the "couch surfer" will sleep comfortably. If you meet a better host, you will even take you to visit scenic spots and taste local food. Of course, while enjoying these, you should also contribute your "sofa" in exchange.

But I don't recommend you to try this kind of trip! Because there are risks, just because I'm not in trouble doesn't mean you won't be in trouble. I have written too many safety tips about sofa potatoes, so I won't repeat them here for the time being.

Next, it is my sofa travel adventure, to see how I integrate into local life step by step, resulting in a very local travel experience.

A 600-day sofa trip around the world, with 86 tomatoes and scrambled eggs to establish global friendship, the journey is not just to see the scenery, but to feel the beauty of the world.

Ok, the sofa owners I met on the road are very friendly. Their family and friends warmly received this woman from the East and shared her happiness, life and dreams. Traveling for so long, there is no accident, because this is not a trip, but living in every corner of the world, a warm family.

29 countries, 86 friendly sofa owners, 1000 Chinese dinner.

July 20 12, Rome. The first sofa owner, he opened an Italian restaurant, greeted friends all over the world with delicious food, opened his home and shared his dreams. At home, we receive gifts from couch surfers all over the world.

20 12 August, Budapest. "Do you like Chinese food? I can cook it for you. " This is the stunt of being a couch surfer: inviting friends and family of the couch owner to come over for a taste, and the friendship established at the dinner table is very strong.

September 20 12, Paris, with the care of this big brother next door, Paris became no stranger at all.

20 12 June 5438+00, Manhattan, new york. Because of them, new york is as important as life. They were there at the lowest point of their work in new york.

20 13, March, San Francisco. Only five days together, but in exchange for a lifetime of good memories, a lifetime of sincere friendship, a team, a home. Two brothers left America, one taught English in Korea and the other lived in the Philippines. The two brothers live in three places, and their friendship has always been close.

April 20 13, Mexico city. It's warm here. Some people are willing to be my sister, some people are willing to be my big brother all my life, and some people are willing to support me to the end. We wait for our friends to come to dinner at home. This is a loving home.

20 13 may, Belize. Thanks to the sofa owner, I became a Chinese teacher, haha. These children are curious about everything in China. When they had their own Chinese names, they all laughed from ear to ear.

20 13 June, Costa Rica. As soon as they arrived at the home of these college students, they packed my room without brushing their teeth and talked about various topics about China.

20 13 June, Panama. Island owners who live on an isolated island for three days, visit other islands by speedboat, and fish on private docks in their spare time.

20 13 July, Peru. We went camping together and cooked nine dishes and one soup to entertain these friendly friends before we left. They brought me endless retail on the road.

September 20 13, Santiago, Chile. We all like fashion. That weekend, on the street, we should be the trio with the highest rate of turning heads.

September 20 13, Valparaiso, Chile. I like to take a group of people out to take photos, set up an album on Facebook and share it with everyone in the photos. Even if we leave after a week, we won't cry badly, because we still have contact, because we like each other.

20 13 September, Argentina. Four days of small town life, their dreams, their lives and their friendship have all been experienced.

2013165438+10 month, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Eight months ago, the same sofa owner in San Francisco received us. Eight months later, I was accepted by them, and later, they were accepted by me.

20 13 12, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I am their matchmaker, because of my appearance, they always have a chance to be together. On the 500th day of traveling around the world, they helped me celebrate. She likes the Chinese food I cooked, and she lost 5 Jin after eating it for a week. After I returned to China, they bought a new house. When painting the wall, he asked her if she knew what color Ella liked. Through the microphone, my heart churned for a long time. Friendship has no national boundaries, no color, no you and me.

20 13 12, Tanzania, Africa. He comes from Uganda, and his monthly salary is only 100 USD. He goes to work at 5 every morning. He has a dream that $6,000 will enable him to get married, have children and open a small shop selling water. He is very hospitable and never lets his guests wash the dishes. At Christmas, we want to make a splash.

2014/month, Tanzania, this is a 25-year-old birthday present: he drove from the seaside to Mount Kilimanjaro to escape the blackmail of the police, look for crocodiles and enter the community. He has a Hope Primary School and goes to America to share his charity plan.

On February 20 14, they learned that I was going to "marry the world" in front of the pyramid the next day, and went to the old street for a wedding overnight, and secretly arranged a photographer friend to attend the wedding the next day. They open their doors and welcome wonderful stories from the world into their families and lives.

I want to say that the 600-day round-the-world trip of couch surfers is a valuable asset in my life. I have explored the world and made many pure friends. Only by exchanging sincerity can we gain the most sincere friendship.