because people are inherently good {November 6, 2008}

Posted about 1 year ago

... right?

Well, I am about to find out. I joined a website a few weeks ago that allows foreign travelers to contact me with the intent of staying at my apartment for a couple of days as they explore San Francisco. I know. As I wrote that sentence I found myself thinking, ummmmmm.

In my defense, the website is fairly well-known among budget travelers. And I have 2 acquaintances that have used it (both for foreign traveling and for housing foreigners in SF) and continue to accumulate positive experiences. Every traveler has an online profile that you can scrutinize with abandon—along with references as well. Still though, I do not know these people at all. My first encounter with them will be as I open my door and warmly gesture to the comfy air mattress positioned in my kitchen. But what if the visitor pushes me into the bushes, steals my stuff, and runs for the hills? (Frankly, I will simply die if my whales & clouds painting disappears).

Why am I doing this?

A few reasons. I'm not a wealthy girl, and I donate to charities very rarely. I am also incredibly busy & I'm a borderline workaholic (so say my friends). I am simply unable to volunteer my free time on a regular basis. This realization has left me disturbed and rather displeased with myself. I take & take & take without giving back to my community—especially the world community. I want to contribute to society in some sort of meaningful—albeit very small—way. And here's this community of young, world-travelers—foreigners who have purposefully traveled to the United States for a variety of different reasons. I really respect that. I'll admit, I've become increasingly concerned with the way the world views The United States. Much of our behavior continues to greatly embarrass me (though hopefully that will change with the new administration). So if I can contribute to a few world-travelers' good experience in San Francisco, well, that's pretty damn amazing .

My first visitor arrives tomorrow. Time to shift my apartment scrubbing up into high medium gear (who are we kidding here). He's french and will be participating in the "The Haul to the Great Wall" triathlon on Treasure Island this weekend. I will be cheering him on.

Yes, I am sure there will be stories.

xo, my blisslisters.

(The loveliest, most inclusive of all punctuation — the under-celebrated ampersand . It will be the theme of my weekend).

And here is a travel-themed tune by Swedish indie-group, Marching Band. It's off their heart-swollen, joyous 2008 release, Spark Large . Gorgeous behavior, indeed.