Don't pre-judge the possibilities...

We often wonder:  "Why would anyone want to come to Brantford?"  It's hard to imagine why anyone living in Paris or St. Petersburg would want to spend time in our town.   But then, again and again, we are surprised by the number of people, living in what we consider "exotic places", want to do just that!  I guess we are too close to the place in which live to appreciate its attractiveness to others.


Recently we received an invitation from a couple living in the heart of New York city to consider a home exchange with them.  We are now in the process of working out the details of that possibility.    Imagine, living in that exciting and vibrant city for a period of several weeks!  But the other people are probably saying the same thing:  "Imagine, living in Brantford with its hiking trails, wild life, proximity to vineyards and live theatre, fishing, sailing, golf,  for a period of several weeks"


The point is:  Don't pre-judge the possibilities of a home exchange.  

Recently we had an enquiry from a couple in Holland who wanted us to do a home exchange.  Unfortunately, we were not able to consider because we had other plans.  We suggested that they might stay in our home in Canada while we are away visiting relatives and friends on the East coast, with the understanding that at some future time we might stay in their home in The Netherlands.   It's a kind of "I owe you" idea which seems to work quite well  in a home exchange. In other words, home exchanges don't have to be simultaneous.  The same idea works quite well when someone has a second home, a cottage or whatever.

Citizen Diplomacy is the answer

During the cold war, "citizen diplomacy" was very much in vogue:  the idea of ordinary people, like you and me,  visiting other ordinary people in Russia or East Germany.  An enormous amount of good was accomplished in breaking down the barriers of alienation and misunderstanding between nations by means of this simple idea:  ordinary people getting to know ordinary people in other countries in their daily circumstances.  The idea is still important today and is most beautifully embodied in Home Exchange and The Affordable Travel Club.  My wife and I have recently met wonderful people in France,  Australia, Turkey and the USA and have come to know them and their way of life in a way which those poor people at the Hilton or others sitting on cruise ships will never experience. 

Why would anyone bother....?

Why would anyone living in Paris or London want to come to humble little Brantford?   The anwer is  "you would be surprised how many!"   You would be surprised to see the list of people from world cities who would love to visit.  Since joining the home exchange network we've had enquiries from Paris, St. Petersburg, Helsinsky, Dehli, Istanbul, Amsterdam  and other exotic locations about a possible exchange with us in "humble little Brantford".  The point is that we have things to offer which others would love to experience.  The point is too that we, living in these humble little places,  tend to underestimate their appeal.  

   

Affordable Travel

Imagine.... $20 a day to see the world!

Burgundy....

London.....

 Istanbul....

That's what The Affordable Travel Club offers for only $20 a night, breakfast included!

The idea is that you join the club at about $60 a year and then select someone from the

membership list who is willing to host you.  The basic rate is $20 a night, breakfast is offered

and your host will spend at least an hour with you to help you get oriented. It is expected that

you will not overstay your welcome, the limit is usually 4 days, unless a more extensive stay

has been negotiated.  In most cases, people tend to more generous in their welcome with the

result that wonderful, lasting friendships develop.  Of course, you may get an email or phonecall  from someone who asks you to host a visit.  Friends of ours are presently on a wonderful vacation down-under who are enjoying the hospitality of friendly, welcoming Austrlians.   Can you think of a more wonderful, affordable way to travel and see the world?

Those Poor People at the Hilton.....

Recently, we spent four wonderful days in San Francisco.  The total cost of lodging for those 4 nights came to a mere $80 and that included our breakfast and a glass of wine in the evening before going to bed.  How is that possible?  It's the Affordable Travel Club that made it possible.

  Check it out by clicking on the link above.  Those poor people at the Hilton, spending maybe more than $300 a night, would never have the experience we had.  Our hosts were a wonderful couple who generously extended their hospitality to two Canucks from Brantford Ontario.  During the days of the cold war, it was a movement called "Citizen Diplomacy" that opened the doors to a frank exchange of people from the West and East in the belief that it is ordinary people meeting ordinary people that breaks down the barriers of misunderstanding between nations. Canada and the US have much in common.  But there is also a lot of ignorance and lack of understanding that keeps us  frozen in our stereotypes of each other.  Two couples sitting down for a glass of wine before retiring for the evening and enjoying a breakfast together the next morning has a way of opening up  the channels of understanding and enriching each other in ways that those poor people at the Hilton will never know.