I wish it were me going to a wedding somewhere outside Budapest. Yeah, okay, that sounds strange. But I recently met Hayden, a Servas member who lets visitors from other countries stay at his house in Washington, D.C.
The relationships he forms turn into wedding invitations and vacation stays in places that might not be at the top of the greatest hits lists that travel magazines promote. But they're amazing places for him because he has friends there.
His two favorite countries are Hungary and Romania. A lot of that has to do with the people he hosted at his home, when they were on their vacations. And what led to the Hungarian wedding invitation.
I met Hayden because I've decided to join Servas. Unlike couchsurfing.com, which I wrote about in February, Servas requires letters of recommendation and an interview before you show up at someone's house. Travelers must be interviewed by a Servas member as part of the application process.
I haven't finished my application but I've got grand ideas about how to travel as a Servas member. Just as I had grand ideas back in February when I wrote the first entry on it. Although after meeting Hayden, the travel thoughts have expanded.
I imagine going to a country like Colombia, a place I don't otherwise picture visiting on my own. If I had a family or two waiting for me, I could see doing it. And practicing my Spanish with them.
I think about visiting Romania, where one of my grandfathers was from. I, too, could meet the hosts Hayden has met and found so charming. Although, he's liked about everyone he's met through Servas.
I could travel solo to someplace like Finland, not a first-thought travel destination for most Americans. How cool would that be to experience Finnish culture, food, attitudes and traditions by staying with several families?
Servas asks travelers to limit their stays to two nights, although families are welcome to offer extensions to guests who request them.
Anyway, I could spend hours thinking about interesting places to visit and the people I'd get to meet. But first, I'll finish filling out the paperwork. Then I'll start making plans. Anyone got any spare frequent flier miles to lend me...?!
Photo: Budapest at night. From wikimedia commons. By uzo19
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