CouchSurfing the World

Two surgeries later….

Back in 2002 i broke a bone arm wrestling.

The Surfinator, coming soon to a couch near YOU!

Back in February i made a post in the ambassador group of cs suggesting we make an official International cs day, with the current growth rate of over 10000 new members a week, you never know it could actually end up becoming an official holiday hence another day off work for all you workaholics.

Ambassadors from all around the world posted ideas and thoughts as to the best way to celebrate the event in cities around the globe. And so June 12th has become the first official birthday celebrating five years of cs being live on the internet.

Countries, cities, strangers united all over the globe, to know i played a big role in the development of such a grand global event fills my heart with joy.

One surfer in Lima offered his house as the venue, with over 60 people attending there was barely any room to move.

This was our lame attempt to spell Lima

However we opted for an easier group shot.

Lima has proven to be much more than I imagined. Thanks to surfers all over the world for making this day truly one to remember. Cs just gets bigger and better everyday.

Having finally made it to Peru, i was hungry to meet the local surfers in the area and what better opportunity than to attend a cs meeting.

Manuel Aristondo, one of Lima’s many city ambassadors kindly invited everyone to attend an ancient family tradition from the Inca Empire known as Pachamanca.

First the pig needed to be killed (this was during the afternoon when i wasn’t present, although i love meat I’m no big fan of watching them die.)

Then chopped and marinated

A hole is then made in the ground lined with a fireproof material, rocks are preheated on a fire then assembled in the ground, the meat is placed above the rocks and covered with a traditional herb called ‘chincho’. The hole is then covered, buried in soil or sand and left to cook for 2-3 hours.

Banana leafs offer the perfect oven lining.

Finally the oven is uncovered and then proceeds the difficult task of removing the pork, chickens and potatoes from the steaming hole.

After a hearty meal we celebrated Manuel’s birthday in traditional fashion

Followed by the happy birthday song rapping style

and Ajam’s salsa masterclass

And the good old beer balance dance showcasing one of my many Jedi skills

Live music led the way

And as always friendships blossomed

What a welcome party to Peru, thanks to Manuel and family for providing me with yet more knowledge of this vast world.

Unable to wait any longer for my insurance to confirm if I was covered I had no choice but to have the surgery and pay up front with my visa card. It felt like I’d just finished my best piece of writing ever, a true masterpiece in the making seconds away from being saved at the click of a button, yet at that precise moment there’s a power cut and my laptop shuts down taking with it years of planning and a dream all but in hands reach! To settle my distress I was given a double shot of anaesthesia sending me to giggle slightly at the surgeon who resembled ‘The Todd’ from ‘Scrubs’ with his fire flared hat. My laugh echoed into a blurry perception and then darkness. I felt like I was inside the Robocop suit waking for the first time in the hands of strangers, a leg filled with metal, a mind slowly catching up with reality, here I was back in the same hospital bed as before looking through a window I had been so happy to wave goodbye to just a few weeks ago! As the morphine drained from my body I began to experience insane shooting pains causing headaches and hysteria, I became angry with the doctors and cried for pain killers, the discomfort caused me dizziness and pushed my integrity to a place I’ve never been before till finally the right concoction was injected and comfort was resumed. All the time Paulo stood by the bedside unable to watch his ‘son’ scream in agony!

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Journal 48