It’s hard to believe that we spent 5 years in Brisbane and the number of friends we had we could count on one hand and that included their partners. We just buried ourselves into our work ever since arriving into the country and our lack of new friendships built was the payment for all the hard work and sacrifices we had made leaving all our friends behind in New Zealand in 2005.
I wasn’t until we decided to registered with an on-line community called Couch Surfing did we realise how many new friends we could make in just over 18 months.
I guess that because we are so travel minded it’s hard to talk to people about our passion when all they want to do is talk sport and local politics.
Our plan was not calculated but it just seemed to fall into place, this was the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and one day the knowledge shared would come in handy if we were ever in their part of the forest
after hosting a few people in our own home we discussed a trip to Russia to see Elena’s family and as soon as it was mentioned to a few of our newly acquired friend in Germany we were urged to change our journey to include a side trip to visit them.
This was the start of something bigger, and over the last year the promises made by travellers that we now call our friends has grown.
Without mentioning too much these are the interesting people we have met so far.
Karen & Rene – from Lauchhammer Germany. Our very first couple that we met and had the opportunity to visit in their village in East Germany. This was a place that few tourists would come to, but we were fortunate to see the real countryside of the country.
Nina & Hans – From Mainz, Germany. It was so cool to host and then travel to Germany and arrive in their home just one day after their 1 year journey around the globe. We were fortunate and privileged to meet the families of both of them and consider them our extended family in Germany.
Justin from Taipei, Taiwan – He just loved our pets and is a hard working young man who aspires to be a Judge and is currently a criminal Lawyer. Such a warm and honest guy. Really hoping to meet up again in Taiwan.
Jennny from Wisconsin USA – OMG what a bubbly personality and such a great person to have around. Arriving with Lot (from Belgium) the two of them were fantastic travelling companions. Jen was a park ranger who was looking to get in the the Peace Corps.
Lot from Belgium – The other half of Jenny, the tow of them were the greatest of friends. Electric and vibrant. We loved having them in our home. Each night we couldn’t wait to get home. Hopefully Lot will be back to Australia soon and we’ll get the chance to catch up again.
Britta from Germany was our secret biker chick and it was the greatest send off for her to take her to the Airport with our big touring bike and trailer in tow.
Tim & Meg from Canada are a couple who really know what they want in life an literately go out and get it. We were the first people that they had Couch Surfed with and came to Brisbane on a two year working holiday. There plans were to work in administration on mining projects. Their claim to fame was to run a marathon on The Great Wall of China!
Valery & Victoria from Russia were awesome, learning about another Russian couple that wasn’t part of Elena’s family was great and gave us a view of another city Vika grew up living on an oil rig of all places! – see interesting people we meet.
Sylvie from Switzerland was on her way to the local folk festival held at Woodford each year north of Brisbane. She is so much into Folk music and has her own Folk Cafe in her home town.
Lara from Austria had a great time with us as we shared a little of Brisbane with her, travelling on her own and enjoying every moment was the way she travelled. like so many others in Europe we have to meet again once we hit the continent.
Stefan from Heidelberg – our very first time at being hosted in Germany. With his lovely wife Vic (who is from Nepal) they made their home open to us and shared in German beers while I managed to get a BBQ going on the back yard. Our time meeting was too short and hope to catch up on our next trip to see the new hideaway up in the hills above the city.
Mags & Kevin from France wow so cool to have them stay twice with us during their journey around Australia. They left us bound for New Zealand.
Amaille from France – employed to house sit for us while we were in Phuket and now after 5 months of living with us in Brisbane and Tony and Mags on The Gold Coast has become a great friend.
Aurielle from Brest, France is our little Crepe expert and has inherited her parents business in her home town making … you guessed it Crepes and they are the best ever! .. (sorry to our other French friends)
All of these people and more have left great impressions on our lives and it may be some years before we meet again but with the beauty of social media we are always in touch.
This is a tribute to all our friends and an urge for those who are yet to discover new contacts and relationships along life’s road.
“There are no strangers in this world… Only friends yet not met”.
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