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WINTER OLYMPICS
A while ago I mentioned that our Canadian Organiser, Jack Graber had started a Winter Olympics registry. He has quite a list of members on it and as you see below there is some urgency as accommodation appears to be at a premium in the area.
Here's a great opportunity for those of you who I know are interested in the Winter Games.
If you know of anyone who is keen to go to the Olympics please let alert them to this Free accommodation option.........see (Send to a friend)
Jacks tells us...................
Thus far we have these listings in our 2010 REGISTRY
http://www.homelink.ca/2010/HomeLink-Registry.html
There is ABSOLUTELY NO MORE ACCOMMODATION - NO HOTEL ROOMS OR B&B BEDS for guests anywhere in the Vancouver-Whistler region.
With only ONE YEAR to go, I will be campaigning amongst our locals and will also be promoting the OFFERING OF HOSPITALITY.
INTERESTING NEWS
Heartwarming message from a member I would like to share with you.
" Just thought I would let you know of a great experience we have just had with HomeLink.
Our son is in Italy backpacking for a month before starting a new job in February. He has been staying in Backpackers throughout Italy - I realized that it would be so much more enjoyable to stay with an Italian family otherwise he was mainly meeting Australians and other foreigners in hostels.
I emailed Annalisa for advice about Youth Exchange / Hospitality Offered in Italy, she posted a note on the website that day and we received an amazing response from all over Italy immediately - all offering to pick up from the train and a night or two of hospitality. He is absolutely rapt - he is now meeting lovely families and they are giving him all the local tips - so generous and kind. The mothers are even emailing me to say he looks fine!
We are travelling to Italy in April so we will be able to personally thank one of the families as we will book to stay in their hotel for a night. A friendship has been made.
It makes you wonder how the world gets in such a mess when clearly so many have the same values - we need to appreciate the good things that happen a bit more I think. ….kind regards, R. S "
N.B...........Annalisa Pujatti is our Italian Organiser.
THE HOMELINK DIFFERENCE
We picked this up from a recent article about Home Exchanging. Something for you to consider..........
"There is one down side, which is that nothing is guaranteed, so if something goes wrong, if someone gets ill suddenly, the swap can fall through. It happened to us on our first attempt at swapping."
This person's concern highlights one of the most important advantages of choosing HomeLink, in preference to an internet-only exchange network .. that is, a website with an operator based only in one country -
HomeLink has highly experienced local Coordinators based in 27 major countries around the world. We all provide active support and assistance to HomeLink members as they travel in more than 70 countries where we have listings.
With HomeLink, our global team of local Coordinators will always strive to personally assist you in finding a replacement exchange, or at least a "host exchange" in the same country, if a very rare event like this were ever to happen to you.
That's the HomeLink difference ... a half-century tradition of personal, local service around the world.
SPOTLIGHT GERMANY
If anyone is going to or thinking about Germany this year, here is a very helpful "Whats on and what to do"
GERMANY 2009