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It's a Drama Podcast - Couchsurfing. How To Travel The World For Free. PODCAST #005

Couchsurfing. How To Travel The World For Free. PODCAST #005

02/22/19 • 31 min

It's a Drama Podcast

This week, the podcast focused on Couchsurfing. We recently backpacked around the world with our kids for a year. Our budget was approx $75 a day for the four of us - which wasn't easy considering we have two gannets as teenagers.

This week on the podcast we explored the dark murky waters of Couchsurfing.

We recently backpacked around the world with our kids for a year. Our budget was approx $75 a day for the four of us - which wasn't easy considering we have two gannets as teenagers.

One of the ways we were able to stick to our budget was by Couchsurfing. In case you aren't familiar with this amazing organization, it is a website that pairs travellers - who are in need of somewhere to stay, with a host, who has a spare room, bed (or sometimes a couch) to offer.

Couchsurfing. What is it and Why Does The Thought Of It Terrify Me?

We wanted to discuss the pro's and con's of Couchsurfing and to try and answer the most commonly asked questions that people have. Also, when I tell people that we took our teenagers to sleep on strangers couches they are quite rightly filled with doubt!

There is a misconception (which I too used to have) that Couchsurfing is for twenty-year-olds who are looking for a good time. Not true. And anyway, even when I was twenty I was still boring so that puts an end to that theory.

Some of the points that were raised were:

  • Is Couchsurfing free?
  • Why would anyone want to couchsurf?
  • What is it like to Couchsurf as a family?
  • Is Couchsurfing safe?

All of these questions and more were discussed, and hopefully, we convinced you that if you are looking to travel and haven't got much money (but you have got a great sense of adventure), then Couchsurfing really is the best.

There is a fabulous story that we touched on. We were in Italy and one particular Couchsurfing host was ...let's say 'eccentric'! I loved him, (because I am weird and slightly vindictive) but the kids were honestly terrified.

Seriously, they were never in any danger - they simply saw how one crazy Italian man lived his life. It was a brilliant experience. Anyway, have a listen to Sonny's interpretation of this and let me know if your teenagers would have felt the same.

If you would like to hear more about the crazy Italien then leave a comment and we will see to it!

You can read further here:

Couchsurfing with kids, the good, the bad and the bucket

The Couchsurfing Website: https://www.couchsurfing.com

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This week, the podcast focused on Couchsurfing. We recently backpacked around the world with our kids for a year. Our budget was approx $75 a day for the four of us - which wasn't easy considering we have two gannets as teenagers.

This week on the podcast we explored the dark murky waters of Couchsurfing.

We recently backpacked around the world with our kids for a year. Our budget was approx $75 a day for the four of us - which wasn't easy considering we have two gannets as teenagers.

One of the ways we were able to stick to our budget was by Couchsurfing. In case you aren't familiar with this amazing organization, it is a website that pairs travellers - who are in need of somewhere to stay, with a host, who has a spare room, bed (or sometimes a couch) to offer.

Couchsurfing. What is it and Why Does The Thought Of It Terrify Me?

We wanted to discuss the pro's and con's of Couchsurfing and to try and answer the most commonly asked questions that people have. Also, when I tell people that we took our teenagers to sleep on strangers couches they are quite rightly filled with doubt!

There is a misconception (which I too used to have) that Couchsurfing is for twenty-year-olds who are looking for a good time. Not true. And anyway, even when I was twenty I was still boring so that puts an end to that theory.

Some of the points that were raised were:

  • Is Couchsurfing free?
  • Why would anyone want to couchsurf?
  • What is it like to Couchsurf as a family?
  • Is Couchsurfing safe?

All of these questions and more were discussed, and hopefully, we convinced you that if you are looking to travel and haven't got much money (but you have got a great sense of adventure), then Couchsurfing really is the best.

There is a fabulous story that we touched on. We were in Italy and one particular Couchsurfing host was ...let's say 'eccentric'! I loved him, (because I am weird and slightly vindictive) but the kids were honestly terrified.

Seriously, they were never in any danger - they simply saw how one crazy Italian man lived his life. It was a brilliant experience. Anyway, have a listen to Sonny's interpretation of this and let me know if your teenagers would have felt the same.

If you would like to hear more about the crazy Italien then leave a comment and we will see to it!

You can read further here:

Couchsurfing with kids, the good, the bad and the bucket

The Couchsurfing Website: https://www.couchsurfing.com

Previous Episode

undefined - Part 2 How to Deal With Rejection When All You Want to Do Is Bawl Your Eyes Out #004

Part 2 How to Deal With Rejection When All You Want to Do Is Bawl Your Eyes Out #004

How to Deal With Rejection When All You Want to Do Is Bawl Your Eyes Out: Part 2. Episode 4 Part 2

Episode four of the It’s a drama podcast was a tough one for both Sonny and me. This week we discussed the consequences of rejection from friends, how to deal with rejection and we also touched upon cyberbullying.

In the past month, we have both been the victims of social rejection and we thought it would be a good idea to see how it affects not just teenagers but adults too.

I won’t lie, it was hard for me to talk about on air. I was bullied badly as a young teenager, and the damage of that leaves me feeling very panicky and vulnerable if faced with confrontation. It is a lot easier for me to hide behind funny blog posts.

As it turned out, discussing what happened on the podcast was the best thing that I could have done. Afterwards, I felt as though I had been in a therapy session. As a side note, I have never had any kind of therapy, but after opening up to my son on this week’s podcast, I can totally see why people would seek out someone to talk to.

Sonny, it seems, is a natural podcast host. He is patient and intelligent, and I very much forget when I’m talking to him that he is indeed my son.

The same boy who hours earlier, I have been moaning at to tidy the breakfast dishes away.

This week’s podcast was so juicy and needed talking about in such depth that we decided to split the show into two and have a part 1 and part 2.

Part one sees us both laying down each of our experiences and touching briefly on how being rejected made us feel. Part two is the real gold.

I won’t give too much away, but just make sure you listen to part two to seek the answers you might need about how to deal with rejection and understanding this certain form of bullying.

As always, we would like to say thank you so much for your support. If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe to us on iTunes and if you could leave us a short comment and rating that would help us enormously in reaching other people. ( iTunes is a fickle mistress. The more comments and subscribers a podcast receives, the further up the ladder of exposure you go.)

Thank you my lovely people x

The Podcast Notes.
  • We discuss the difference between bullying and rejection and how to deal with both.
  • The term bullying is defined as a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour intended to cause fear, distress, or harm to another person’s body, emotions, self-esteem or reputation.
  • Although the attack that I experienced wasn’t (thankfully) ongoing or persistent, it certainly harmed my emotions, my reputation and my self-esteem, so, in my eyes, it was a form of cyberbullying.
  • Rejection can appear in the form of social rejection when a person is deliberately excluded from a social relationship or passive rejection which is when the perpetrator gives the victim the silent treatment. Both of these definitions applied to sonny’s situation, and we discuss the effects of both and how to deal with rejection from friends.
  • The physical effects of reliving an unpleasant experience such as online humiliation/bullying/rejection are quite clear in my voice as I retell how I felt. We purposely didn’t edit this out. I think people need to see that the fear of bullying doesn’t just affect teenagers.
Further Reading:

Amy Morin. 5 Ways That Mentally Strong People Deal with Rejection.

The Rangers Apprentice Series. John Flannigan.

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in Wellington.

Next Episode

undefined - How Expensive is it To Live in New Zealand PODCAST #006

How Expensive is it To Live in New Zealand PODCAST #006

We have decided to do a series of life in New Zealand and so this weeks podcast covered the basics on how expensive it is to live in New Zealand.

We have been living in New Zealand for ten years. We emigrated from the UK where we lived in the very posh (and bloody expensive) city of Bath.

If you are posh you have to say 'Barrth'. I always like to try my best.

We now live in the very down to earth, (although a little more expensive to live) region of Taranaki on the West Coast of the north island in New Zealand and we love it.

So many people comment on how New Zealand is expensive, and yes, compared to some places in the world (especially Asia) it is quite pricey. Like anywhere though, there are pros and cons of living in New Zealand, but generally, I think the cost of living is pretty reasonable.

Here's what we covered in the podcast:

How Expensive Is New Zealand? Housing In New Zealand
  • Average house prices in New Zealand are $525,000 NZD. This is $360,000 US and £275,000 GBP.
  • Our gas bill per month is $150 NZD. This is $102 US and £78 GBP
  • Our electricity bill per month is $320 NZD. This is $220 US and £170GBP. (listen to the podcast to hear where our electric goes!
  • Grocery bill for us (family of 4 with a wine addiction - us, not the kids) is $350 NZD which is $240 US and £185 GBP

We also talk about the cost of renting a house in New Zealand, particularly Taranaki, the region in the North Island where we live.

Last year we took the kids backpacking around the world for a year and rented our house out while we were gone. we charged $600 NZD a week which is $410 US and £315 GBP. Ours is a four-bedroom house in the country and we rented it fully furnished.

Running A Car in New Zealand

If you watch our latest vlog on the cost of living in New Zealand you will see how much new cars are but here's a rough average of what cars cost to run in New Zealand:

  • Petrol per week (I have a Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 Petrol) $100 NZD. This is $70 US and £55 GBP.
  • WOF (warrant of fitness required every six months) $57. $40 USD. £30 GBP
  • Rego (tax disk) per year $270 NZD which is $185 USD. £140 GBP.
Teenage Entertainment In New Zealand
  • Sonny said that for a day out with his friends will cost him approx $25 NZD
  • I'll let you listen to the podcast to hear where his money goes...
Average Salary In New Zealand

We then talked about the average wages in New Zealand which is $49,000 NZD that equates to $33,000 US and £25,000 GBP.

If you are a tradesman, a teacher, a nurse or a GP then listen to the podcast and I tell you how much you can expect to earn if you were to come to New Zealand and live.

We hope you enjoyed the show this week, as I said, this will be a series of life in New Zealand, how much things cost, the Pro's and Con's of living on the other side of the world and more!

If you like the podcast, please don't forget to rate us on iTunes and leave a comment over there - it helps our algorithm hugely!

See you next week,

Liz x

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