West Springfield, anyone want to offer a free room for a few weeks to a French man desperate to visit the area? (house, YMCA) - City-Data Forum

Anais92000 · 08-20-2008, 06:52 PM

Hi there, I am French and live in the UK, my brother, who lives in France, is desperate to go and visit a friend in West Springfield but he hasn't got very much money saved up so he's looking for very cheap or even better, free accomodation, ideally in West Springfield itself but Springfield would work too. His friend lives in a packed house so he couldn't possibly stay there. My brother would like to teach, he writes and is also a musician. If somebody could offer him a room, even very small, or just a couch, he could maybe give French lessons in exchange, something could be worked out I'm sure. My brother is hoping to stay for about 3 months. I would be so grateful if anybody could help him out. Any advice would also be great, thanks!

mommytotwo · 08-21-2008, 01:41 AM

Yikes!

Maybe he could ask his friend to ask around for him?

I wonder if anyone will respond to this post with a free room for a stranger!

Good luck!

(maybe try a church? Do they do this type of thing?)

miu · 08-21-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anais92000

My brother is hoping to stay for about 3 months.

The title of your thread asks for a free room for a few weeks, but your posts says that he'd like to stay for three months! Another yikes from me!

Have his friend ask around for him. And if he's visiting soon (before winter), maybe he could live in a tent in his friend's backyard. Then if he is cute and a charmer, he could find himself an American girlfriend to shack up with after that (j/k!!!)

And we'd all LOVE a few months of free rent. lol

miu · 08-21-2008, 09:44 AM

How old is your brother? Maybe his friend could check with the local YMCA for cheap lodgings. Churches sometimes do sponsor exchange students. What other work skills does your brother have? It might be best for him to just keep saving up his money for a more comfortable visit. While he is in the US, he can apply for a social security card so he can work. I just finished working with five Irish girls that were here just for the summer.

Valerie C · 08-21-2008, 11:07 AM

Anais92000, have your brother try CouchSurfing - Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time, a worldwide network of travelers. It's not something that I'd be comfortable with at this point, but maybe in my younger and more reckless days... Anyway, best of luck!!

JulienGrants · 08-21-2008, 11:18 AM

Hey all,
I'm the brother. We're posting that kind of message because my friend doesn't know anyone who could offer me accomodation. By the way, free lodging would of course be fantastic but youth hostels or sharing an appartment or anything of the sort would do just fine, I have some money fortunately otherwise I wouldn't consider the trip at all. It's just hard to organize everything from a distance and my friend is very busy, she works and has kids.
I'm not sure what jobs would be available for me, that's why I'd like to come and see for myself and I hope some people will give me some tips beforehand.
Thanks in advance.

miu · 08-21-2008, 12:01 PM

So how old are you? Are you romantically involved with this woman?

JulienGrants · 08-21-2008, 12:41 PM

I am 26 and yes, I am romantically involved with this woman.

miu · 08-21-2008, 12:48 PM

What job skills do you have? What are you doing now for work?

JulienGrants · 08-21-2008, 12:57 PM

I'm a writer looking for a publishing house. I write in french and english. So I guess that a translation job, teaching french or something in this field is the first thing that comes to mind but I'm opened to everything else really. Do you have anything to propose ?