Charlotte sets up to begin working on dinner
Charlotte and Stephan, the Danes, left early this a.m. We were happy to have them extend their visit to four nights – they’re fabulous people and it saved them hotel fees, and it gave us more time to get to know each other.
On Sunday night, they fixed dinner. What a treat to be cooked for in your own house! I think they said that the meat (like mini-meatloaves) and potatoes were very Danish, and we also had tzatziki and beautiful steamed asparagus. We played a game at the dinner table – basically asking each other animal sounds in our different languages. Cows go “moo” in both Danish and English, but roosters, sheep, dogs, and ducks have completely different sounds!
If you’re just tuning in, you may want to read this post where I talk briefly about Servas, the international hosting program. I have friends who don’t understand why we would do this – how we have time to host random strangers in the house. But I find that even when we’re busy (which we weren’t this weekend) it’s never too much trouble to put down the futon, get out some towels, and enjoy at least one meal with visitors from somewhere else.
Our guests may benefit from our “insiders’ knowledge” of the city and a place to lay their heads, but we benefit just as much from the connections, camaraderie, and conversation.
And someday, we’ll tour the world and be the guests!
Great post. I hear you and we used to do the same for EF students visiting to learn English in the US. We had lots of students from around the world and we are still in touch with some of them today.
Cool, Elizabeth!
I’d never heard of Servas. Sounds similar to the couchsurfing organization. I like the idea of getting to know individuals from around the world. It really makes the world seem not so big.
Do they reciprocate if you take a trip to Denmark?
Yes – Servas has been around longer and there’s a little more paperwork involved – travelers bring special papers from the organization. Charlotte and Stephan definitely invited us to stay with them when we finally get to Denmark. We can also sign up to be Servas travelers and then make arrangements to stay with hosts in countries around the world.
Do you feel like the paperwork makes the exchange ‘safer’? (Both for you and for the guests…)
I haven’t ever tried couch surfing, so can’t speak to that, but the paperwork means that they were interviewed by Servas people in their own country and approved to travel, though honestly I don’t know who wouldn’t be approved! The reality that we’ve found is that the world is full of honest lovely people and that this is a great way to meet and host them. I imagine that this is true for Couchsurfing too. What I like about Servas is there’s an expectation that visitors stay two nights and interact with their hosts, sharing at least one meal and promoting peace through cultural exchange. So they’re not just using the place as a B&B or place to crash. We’ve never felt unsafe. Our first guest had no paperwork because her car had been broken into in Tennessee before she got here and she lost her passport and paperwork, and most of her clothes. We happily hosted her for five nights while she got everything in order. We still exchange holiday cards. I imagine both organizations are really safe.
Carla, this does sound lovely; and I also like the idea of the guests being ‘required’ to do some interaction, so that it really is an exchange instead of just a free place to sleep. “promoting peace through cultural exchange” – beautiful.
Perhaps you can look into hosting or traveling with Servas sometime!
foods. i never get tired of food posts. i mean…EVERYONE can cook except for me.
I love food posts too. Keep trying cooking – I didn’t really know anything about cooking when I began living on my own, but it’s actually not too complicated and fun! It’s never too late to play around and try it if you want. Enjoy!
What a great idea in how to meet new people and get new insights in how they live and experience life
It really is fun. We’ve had visitors from Sweden, too!
The spread looks fabulous! And the conversation sounds very fun.
Thanks! We did have a fun dinner!
Reminds me when I was in high school. My mom used to host exchange students for a week or so then I get to visit them in return too. Great experience
Cool! Maybe someday we’ll host exchange students. That could be fun!
How fun, and what beautiful food! This whole idea (Servas) is fascinating. I would love to try it.
Definitely look into it. There are host all over the US, so you can definitely do it as a host or as a traveler!
The minimeatloafes is called frikadeller – a very danish dish!
Many danes coming to your house…mabye its a sign you should go to Denmark!
So glad you reminded me – I had forgotten the name. It was delicious! Yes – I do think it’s a sign that we need to travel, including to Denmark!