CURRENT MISSION

Continue to host people and help C$ go back to its original purpose.

Apartment is located in Connecticut Ave, about a 10 min walk from the Van Ness/UDC Metro Station

ABOUT ME

I am so sorry that my profile does not contain a lot of information. I used to have a very detailed one, however, since C$ has changed its policies and Terms of Usage (effective on 14th Sept 2012), with severe restrictions on privacy, I have decided to remove most of the information from here.

It was a very sad decision. Many members have deleted their profiles all together, upset at the changes this corporation has made, from when it started so many years ago.

My plans are to continue hosting and meeting people from all over the world.

Will continue also to receive the messages via my email, so please also message me if you have any questions.

You can access my new profile on a site that is similar to what C$ used to be.

Please visit it at the address below. I look forward to continuing to meet/host travelers from all over the world.

Once again, I apologize and please visit my profile at

http://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

Please join www.bewelcome.org

PHILOSOPHY

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting and trying to make the experience of my guests more enjoyable. Also going to meetings from time to time.

It is very sad that C$, which started with such a nice mission. Through it which many great friendships were forged. Millions of members had unbelievable experiences meeting fellow members from all over the world.

I have reduced my profile to the minimum, and signed up to www.bewelcome.org

Hope many people join bewelcome.org so C$ gets the message of why we joined, and that many are upset about the direction the corporation has taken.

Also left in my profile, a link to my bewelcome profile.

All of us have given so much of our free time to build C$ to what it is, and now not only do the owners and CEO want to make money of our free labor, but also want to sell our private information to marketers and other unknown "third parties".

I'm sure this is not why most of us signed up for CS.

The reason for this, is a series of changes made by the owners and CEO of the corporation.

I find the new Terms of Use UNACCEPTABLE. They went into effect on 14 September 2012.

in particular:
"We reserve the right to make changes or modifications to these Terms, or any policy or guideline of our Services, at any time and in our sole discretion[...] Any changes or modifications will be effective immediately upon posting the revisions on our Services, and you waive any right you may have to receive specific notice of such changes or modifications.

5.3 Member Content License. If you post Member Content to our Services, you hereby grant us a perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty-free and fully sublicensable license to use, reproduce, display, perform, adapt, modify, create derivative works from, distribute, have distributed and promote such Member Content in any form, in all media now known or hereinafter created and for any purpose, including without limitation the right to use your name, likeness, voice or identity. You represent and warrant that (a) you own and control all of the rights to the Member Content that you post or you otherwise have the right to post such Member Content to the Services; (b) the Member Content is accurate and not misleading; and (c) the use and posting of the Member Content you supply does not violate these Terms and will not violate any rights of or cause injury to any person or entity."

From privacy policy:
1. legal preparation for the use of our information for targeted advertising.
Your profile information will be shared "With third party vendors, consultants and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out their work for us;"

Your profile information will be used to "Communicate with you about products, services, offers, promotions, rewards and events and provide other news and information about CouchSurfing and our select partners;"

Basically they are getting ready to use what we write in our profiles to try and sell us stuff.

Please visit my BW profile for hosting requests, but you can also make requests here at the C$ site.

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted many people and have enjoyed meeting all of them.

I've also met many CSers at CS gatherings. Been to CS activities, trips, documentary screenings and much more!

Surfed a couch only once in Damascus, but it was an amazing experience and a superb hostess.

The experience in Dubai was great. I joined ¢$ there but left at the end of 2011. Hope to keep participating in my new home...

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

Interests

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

Music, Movies, and Books

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

Teach, Learn, Share

https://www.bewelcome.org/members/mateluna

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, Palestine, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Yemen

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Germany, Panama, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States

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