Seeking An Extraordinary Life - A Travel Journal

Back in March I posted briefly about Servas, the worldwide network of travellers and hosts I was hoping to join. Well, I had my introductory interview booked around the time of the great course collapse, and what with all the upheaval at the time I cancelled it, and only got round to revisiting the idea recently. So tonight I finally got my introductory interview, and I'm now (bar some paperwork and fees) a confirmed traveller member.

Servas is an extraordinary organisation. Set up after the Second World War by an international group of friends, it has grown to include over 13,000 hosts in more than 100 countries. The premise is simple: promote world peace by enouraging people to learn about other people and other cultures, through travel. Servas hosts take in Servas travellers, generally for two nights. No money changes hands (that's a fundamental principle of the network) - only knowledge about each other and better understanding of the world.

It's a beautiful, simple premise, and a truly independent positive force - there's no political or religious agenda, just the intention to make the world better through better understanding. The Servas system is maintained by a set of protocols, kept simple but carefully chosen to ensure that no-one feels uncomfortable or put-upon at any point. Travellers are expected to be respectful and helpful to their hosts, and to really be there with them (not treat the house as a hotel). Hosts have a simple set of commitments too.

All in all I'm really excited about getting involved with this network. The local coordinator who interviewed me (a teacher who, with his wife and family, has been a traveller previously and is now a host) was very helpful and clear, asked all the questions I would want to have asked, and it was clear that his concerns were very much like my own. And it was clear that the things which excited me about the network - the chance of finding new experiences and becoming a bigger person - would make me very much at home with Servas.

Labels: hosting, servas, travel