Why host on Airbnb? And especially with a guest room in your own home? When it's always “exciting” to see who will turn up next in our living room and share the kitchen with us? And what does this have to do with Yin & Yang?
Actually, it always takes two: The Host and the Traveler. And that's how we started with Airbnb 43 years ago - when the name Airbnb didn't even exist. But Homesharing wasn't invented by Airbnb, it was just “democratized” (Airbnb pioneer Chip Conley). It was 43 years ago that I traveled to South Korea with @Jutta7 for an internship, where we stayed with a local host family and shared a small apartment with them for several months.
In addition to the professional experience (milk, ice cream and Mandu), this resulted above all in a new friendship that is lasting to this day - as well as the realization of how enriching Homesharing can be.
And when we are not traveling or need the guest room ourselves, we host guests, now increasingly again from all over the world. Of course, it is pleasant and appreciated (and the tax office is happy) to receive money for this. But just because of that - see above - meeting strangers in your own living room? There has to be a bit of joy and empathy, and matching is important.
So it was all the more exciting when we were able to host another young Korean woman some time ago. Naturally, I immediately felt a certain amount of excitement when I received my first inquiry. And I was initially confused that my messages were answered so cautiously, albeit in flawless German. Until I realized that Airbnb's automatic translation program was involved here - and that it might not have translated my questions perfectly into Korean (I only learned a few words and the Korean letters at the time). But when the guest arrived at our door and checked in, the ice was immediately broken. Of course, it was no problem for her to leave her street shoes at the door - after all, I had learned that in Korea. In the days that followed, we exchanged stories in English, reminisced, talked about the unique Korean cuisine (we happened to have some kimchi in the fridge), and I told her about our travel experiences in “old Korea” and she about the new, modern Korea (a lot has changed). Although the stay was rather short, we all had to wipe away a little tear when we said goodbye.
So: Hosting & traveling - the two belong together. We are also “Airbnb members” and often bring back useful insights for our own hosting from our travels.
By the way, did you know that the South Korean flag contains the characters for Yin & Yang? In other words, the two dual concepts of Chinese philosophy, which stand for diametrically opposed principles that complement rather than oppose each other. Just like Hosting and Traveling.
