In a nutshell: K. made me realize how addictive it gets to have a companion on the way.
Wien
Couchsurfing
K.
Schnicky & Spider
I’m not a shy person. Nor too picky. That’s why usually on my trips, a good place to sleep at nights are usually: affordable, and…well, I don’t have any specific requirements lol.
Before I started this trip, a bro recommended me to try Couchsurfing, an app where people will host each other during trips, and it’s usually for free, and you can have a chance to meet real locals, and so on.
I gave it a try. For me, a first impression about a stranger varies based on how that person behaved. So I was quite careful when writing request for hosting.
I failed with Czechian hosts, as they were either not in town, nor not hosting people without verification.
To Wien, I found K. And she accepted me. So this would be the only host in my trip.
Schnicky and Spider
Well, the first impression when I texted K. is quite good, as K. seemed to be a normal, chill student like I do. So we kept in touch prior, during my trip, and on that day when I arrived to Wien.
Going on the staircase to her apartment, I heard door clicking: she has opened it.
And this was who I saw first:
My heart melted. Every single sight of tiresome flew away. Have I mentioned I’m a cat person? Not only Schnicky, there was also a black cat – Spider – looking at me curiously. Then there was K. behind the door.
And we spent the next 20 minutes in the pathway. Me, petting the cats with my bags scattered around, smelled like a hobo, getting to know my host.
K. was quite cautious at first. Even though she attempted to hide it, I still recognized by the way she asked many questions to make sure I’m not a psychopath who would be very likely to die at her house. Later on, I got to know why she had to be so sure, due to some weird experiences took place since she started using Couchsurfing.
But anyway, I wasn’t planning to die in Wien. So I kept on living and being decent.
K. as a host
Being a host/hosted many times, K. knew what to do to support her guests. During my days in Wien, she helped me dealing with my stinky travel clothes, how to buy train tickets, where I should and should not be in Wien. I was also provided with a bed to sleep on, a bathroom to clean myself, breakfasts on bed, and most importantly, the safe feeling at the end of the day. Had it not been for K., my trip in Wien would have been much more messy and costly.
K. as a friend
“What does it taste like?”
“Disgusting. Wait, are you asking about the food or the cigarette I’m smoking?”
“Your cigarette”
“Yea, then it’s disgusting”
“Then why you keep smoking it?”
“Because it always tastes the same. No matter which continent or country you are, cigarettes always taste the same disgusting way. Sometimes, you need something familiar to hold back the pieces of you, and for me it’s cigarette”.
I have never heard that kind of answer before. And I’m sure K. is not the only one.
In a conversation, the more experienced the person is, the more interesting it will be. And K. is one of the most interesting people I have ever talked to.
“Are you also 21? Like really?”
“Yes…?”
“Well, I don’t know. It seems like, we are both 21, but you have been through much more than I have”
“Maybe a bit too much haha”
“…So, in the worst case, what would you do?”
“I don’t get into that stage quite often, but once I did, sometimes I tell people stories in return of cigarettes or money so I can buy food and water”.
“Tell me a story”
“…have you ever tried to commit suicide?”
Then she showed me her arms. I looked and nodded.
“How about you?”
“Yea I did. And it will be the most hilarious story you’d hear today”
I like the way we can express freely what we think – we are friends without any mutual connections. Thus, speaking our mind has never been easier.
I like the way K. constantly “dispute” all the things she disliked, with a good explanation. Wienese are famous for being kind-hearted and grumpy, don’t you know?
I was amused by how polite K. is. Even I overslept and we were almost late for the morning, K. would do anything but to kick my ass to wake me up. Knowing that she had spent half an hour murmuring “Khanh, wake up please” cracked me up.
I like the way K. insisted on the existence of ghosts and how serious she spent time capturing them.
And most of all, I enjoyed our time in the kitchen, where K. would be sitting by the window smoking, while I would be standing by the cupboard. Knowing that the time we had for this amazing person is running out made me cherish it even more.
“So, remember to be at the bus stop on time. Don’t die on your trip. And see you next time in Hallstatt.”
“Thanks. And hey I have a question.”
“Yea?”
“Have I somehow regained your trust from the humanity? After all what you have been through?”
“Yes you have.”
That was our last conversation.
Khanh Tr.
moink20.com 