Rural Couchsurfing in Spanish

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Bienvenido a CouchSurfing rural!

Definición de "Rural"
Las áreas rurales se encuentran apartadas de ciudades o centros urbanos. Tales áreas son diferentes en diversos aspectos y están mucho menos habitadas y, generalmente, están en contacto con la naturaleza de diversas formas. Los habitantes de ellas viven en pueblos, pequeñas comunidades, granjas u otro tipo de alojamientos específicos del área.

See the discussion about it here: 1

Información general
Las personas que viven en áreas rurales tienen un estilo de vida muy diferente de sus vecinos/as urbanos. Por muchas razones éstos últimos tienden a ser más accesibles con los viajeros. La mayoria de las experiencias fuera de las ciudades requieren que el viajero/a alarge su jornada hasta llegar a la población.

Es conveniente aclarar que la experiencia en un área rural es diferente a la de un area urbana en tanto en cuanto las realidades de un area rural son diferentes. La gente de areas rurales suelen tener una conexion mas fuerte con la naturaleza. Genrealmente tienen más tierra o superficie y frecuentemente la utilizan para obtener algun producto de ella, bien usandola directamente en cultivos o para generar ingresos de alguna otra forma.

“''Having traveled around the world and been to more cities than I can count, they all seem to blur together to me. What stands out most to me are the landscapes in the countryside’s I have traveled to.” ''Quote by Taylor Booth

With the urbanization of the world cultures in cities are becoming blurred so that at first appearance it can be difficult to tell whether you are in New York or London, Hong Kong or Beijing. Unique features of cultures are being lost in the rush to the cities. Often, they are only being preserved in the rural areas, where people still lead a traditional lifestyle.

Unfortunately many people are completely unaware of this. When they travel they go from city to city to city, flying the whole way in between, missing the most unique features of a culture that they are supposedly going to see.

Rural couchsurfing seeks to fill the gap in between the cities, and to bring people together from different worlds, facilitating cultural exchange.

Finalidad/Misión
La finalidad detrás de CS Rural es doble:

1.) Permitir a los viajeros experimentar las áreas rurales que normalmente pasan desapercibidas, permitiendo experimentar formas de vida completamente diferentes a las de las ciudades.

2.) Permitir a las comunidades rurales experimentar el intercambio cultural que de otra forma no pueden o tienen dificultades para ello.

Cual es la diferencia entre una experiencia de couchsurfing en un área rural y urbana?
la diferencia principal es su localización.

Pero hay otras diferencias:


 * Ausencia o dificultad de acceso a internet


 * Dificultades en llegar al lugar (desplazamiento)


 * Diferencias en los tipos de actividades posibles


 * Diferencias en las formas de vida de los hospedadores


 * En algunos casos, ayuda con tareas comunes es esperada o asumida (1)

(1)In conventional couchsurfing (urban), the guest is not necessarily expected to do any work. There may or may not be a provision of cooking a meal, helping with chores or bringing a present etc. But with rural couchsurfing it MIGHT be expected (mostly in farms or alternative communities) that guests do contribute to the either the hosts activities (farming) or help around on the property (odds and ends, weeding, gardening etc) due to the fact that the rural experience will come a bed and food provided simply because the properties are well removed the local towns (and hence grocery stores) and the host might give you a ride to bring you there and back.

This may be outside the set guidelines of CS missions and values point 3: “We have made a commitment that CouchSurfing will always be free to join and free to use.” It is our interpretation of this statement that giving your time to your host in exchange for room and board does not violate this because there is no exchange of money. The most important exchange would be the human and cultural, rather than the material exchange of food for time. In any case, the host has to explain CLEARLY what will be expected from the guest and what will be given in order to avoid any bad surprise and frustration.

Cual es la diferencia entre WWOOF/Helpx y CouchSurfing rural?
Many people ask why bother developing and implementing Rural CS when there are already networks in place that cover the same people and area. Why re-invent the wheel? Well the basic difference is that with couchsurfing hosts want to meet the surfer, where as WWOOF hosts want WOOFERs to work for them first, and meet them second (maybe).

Obviously people, who want both, can be part of more than one organization. In fact we encourage people who sometimes just want some company and to share their way of life but sometimes require serious help to be part of both and accept people from different organizations depending on their schedule.

In WWOOF: we host people because we need help for our garden or farm and in the same time we can provide them some food and accommodation and share our lives and cultures...

In Rural Couchsurfing: we host people because we want to help them travel in new places, we want to share our lives, cultures, and at the same time we generally don't have much time and money. Being in a remote place it might be difficult for a traveler to come equipped with all their own food so we might ask them for some extra help during their stay.

See discussion of this in the following thread: 1

Expectaciones del hospedador
Un hospedador de un área rural espera de un visitante, en principio, exactamente lo mismo que uno de una rea urbana:


 * Respeto hacia su hogar


 * Comprender y respetar su forma de vida


 * Compartir tiempo, experiencias, conversación y algunas tareas diarias (lavar los platos, cocinar, etc)


 * Tener una gran experiencia en general

Un hospedador de área rural tendrá a veces expectaciones respecto a:


 * Algo mas de ayuda en el jardín o con otras tareas adicionales en la casa/jardín/huerto/otro área de trabajo rutinario


 * Compartir tareas de "trabajo" (por ejemplo si se ofrece comida o transporte) (1)

(1)Todo esto debería ser aclarado de forma previa a la visita y estar claramente indicado el el perfil del hospedador antes de que el/los invitados lleguen. Lo mas importante es la COMUNICACIÓN.

Expectaciones del Surfer/invitado
Un couchsurfer en un are arural debe esperar como minimo descubrir lo que significa cicr en el ambiente de un area rural en aquel pais que este viajando.

Tambien deberia tener las siguientes expectaciones:


 * Un lugar donde dormir (cama, sofa, lugar en el suelo, sitio en una tienda de campaña, etc)


 * Ser comprendido y respetado en su forma de vida, y a su vez lo reciproco hacia sus hospedadores.


 * Compartir tiempo, experiencias, conversaciones y algunas tareas diarias (lavar los paltos, cocinar, etc)


 * Pasar un buen rato en general.

Otras cosas que se esperan:


 * Descobrir un poco la vida diaria en una granja o en una comunidad rural.


 * Participar un poco en las tascas diarias ( y, quizas, aprender y experimentar cosas nuevas. (1)

(1)El invitado tiene que asegurarse que éll/ella entiende el que va a pasar durante la estada y que él/ella sera capaz de ofrecer la ayuda que podria ser esperada.

Marketing
Los miembros de couchsurfing que estan interesados en promover couchsurfing en un entorno rural pueden empezar libremente discusiones en sus grupos locales sobre Rural Couchsurfing. También pueden buscar sofas rurales en su area y explicarles la idea animandolos a unirse al grupo de Rural CS de su país.

Una vez Rural CS esté consolidad, podria ser posible promocionarlo directamente en los medios. Posiblemente através del canal de novedades de CS como ya se hace en Australia 1 o a través de algun medio de comunicación oficial de Couchsurfing.com

If possible, at some stage down the road, permanent notices could be placed on the website promoting/describing Rural Couchsurfing.

Requisitos técnicos
After the successful creation of Rural Couchsurfing country groups, it is hoped that eventually a world-wide map would be created with all the rural hosts. Similar to the map of created by the Family Welcome group, seen here.

Anyone with knowledge of how to create such a map, or who is interested in helping to establish such a map should post on the Rural Couchsurfing Group or contact Taylor or Baptou.

Icono
Los anfitriones rurales pueden añadirse este icono en su perfil y/o el link de esta página wiki explicando que son anfitriones rurales.

Ideas posibles de un icono son:



Para añadirte el icono de Rural Couchsurfing en la descripcion de tu sofa, solo tienes que copiar y pegar el siguiente codigo:



Note: the last two images appear the same but the second has a white background and the third has a transparent background. The code to put an icon in your couch description is for the third image. You can change the image by substituting the url from one of the other images for it.

More ideas are MOST welcome! There is no reason to only have one icon, the greater the variety the better. More discussion about icons here.

Administración
As of now there are very little administration needs. Taylor or Baptou manage the Rural Couchsurfing Groupand generally look after this wiki.

The creation of a large google map may require more administration. At that time a team of volunteers may be assembled. It is probably that a ‘Rural CS Google Map’ group would be created as a sub-group for Rural Couchsurfing.

Ejemplos
Listed below are some examples of Rural Couchsurfing hosts all over the world:

In Australia

In France

In Ireland

In Mexico Located here

In Morocco

In Norway

In Portugal

Couchsurfing Rural – guía para hospedadores
The guidelines in a rural Couchsurfing experience remain the same as in a urban Couchsurfing experience.

Check the "How to be a good host" page

If you wish to ask your surfers for a little help at home:

1/ Inform

Make sure that you explain properly to the surfer what you're expecting before the surfer comes, to avoid any bad surprise. And again, fill in your profile as much as possible so that the people can know what to expect even before contacting you. Let them know any special warm clothing they need to bring, or if they need to bring a headlamp if there is no electricty.

2/ Don't ask too much

Don't ask your surfers too much, they might not be professional farmers and might mostly want to visit the area and rest. 2-3 hours of help a day should be enough.

3/ Adapt the task to the person

Remember that if a surfer comes to your place to help you it's also to discover a bit of your life, so please be kind and offer a wide range of activities, weeding for 3 hours a day might not be very exciting for a guest.

4/ Feed your guests

If they help you, then it seems logical that they get the meals in exchange.

5/ Help your surfers

Maybe you live in a remote place, and if you have the possibility, you could give your surfers a lift to your place and to the nearest public transport when they leave.

6/ Be patient

It's possible that your surfers will not know anything about rural areas: be patient, fully explain your way of life and your expectations and everything should be fine.

CouchSurfing Rural – guía para visitantes
The guidelines in a rural Couchsurfing experience remain the same as in a urban Couchsurfing experience.

Check the "How to be a good guest" page

If a host is asking for few hours of help a day and if you wish to help:

1/ Be informed

Make sure that you know what will be expected from you to avoid any bad surprises. Don't be afraid to ask a potential host exactly what type of help is you will be doing. Your experience depends upon it!

2/ Be ready to help

If you tell your host that you're going to help 3 hours a day, after one hour do not say that you don't want to help anymore and that you're going for a walk... Respect what has been agreed upon.

3/ Respect your limits

Never accept a task that you are not comfortable doing. Be sure to know what you're going to do in advance and that you'll be able to do it. If a host ask you for something that you can't handle, then refuse kindly and propose your help for something else.

4/ Don't believe that your help is paying a hotel service


 * Working in the garden for 2 hours doesn't prevent you to help with cooking or washing dishes.


 * Helping 3 hours a day for 5 days doesn't make you unable to clean the floor, set the table or give any extra help needed.


 * In general, as in any Couchsurfing experience, be ready to give a little hand for the daily tasks.

5/ Bring appropriate clothing and equipment

Example: If you know that you'll be helping in the garden, don't bring only your brand new skirt or your favourite pants. Adapt yourself to the situation. Example: In some locations without electricity it is very difficult to function without a headlamp.

6/ Be curious but respectful

Don't expect your hosts to entertain you with rural experience the whole day long. They might have to work and might not always have the time to explain what they are doing. Be curious and willing to help and learn within the limit of your hosts’ hospitality.