Benjamin Agostini

 

I had the chance to spend a weekend with Benjamin and his family in an unexpected Fort Exploring CS meeting. The summary of the weekend: you’re welcomed in such a way that you feel like at home. Good sense of humour, excellent lasagne and an easy going life stile. Last but not least, after a fort exploring experience with Ben you’ll discover that those places are more that old bricks and rusty steel.

 

Benjamin is a guy always ready to go off the roads and to go in any new place to discover. If he ever offer you to so, just trust and follow him, it will be a great adventure

 

benjamin must have made a mistake :p

seriously i just knew him for one night but the minimum i can say is that this guy has interesting things to tell/seems to have an interesting life and was very nice with us.
Moreover he never refuses any extrapolation...

 

Luckily, I was invited this peaceful place which has historical backgrounds. Ben&Isa warmly welcomed me, told me stories about that area, life, travel, food, love...etc. and trained me how to deal with translation tool. Too short stay, good food, nice people, want to go there again and stay longer than this time :) Thank you Ben&Isa. A bientot.

Laughter,fun & xcitement is what our stay with the Agostinis was all about! As we arrived at the freezing cold station,there they were, Isa and Lorraine with the warmest smiles waiting for us & at home Ben was making a divine lunch for us! Although Isa could not speak english very well,her nods & smiles were enough to warm any chilly day!! and darling Lorraine-super sweet,super lovely and all round super fabulous! From laughter & dancing at Anthony's party, to tears and reflection of the first World War,to crawling thru restricted underground forts,every minute spent with Ben was a blast!!Their openness & willingness to share made me just lose myself and I could just be me. The girls clicked with Lorraine instantly too & wanted 2 stay a few more days at Ben's suggestion, but we had to continue on so with heavy hearts & much sadness we bid farewell to this amazing family. Ben,Isa, Lea & Lorraine I know that we will definetly meet again.Thank you 4 your awesum generosity & hospitality

 

Ben, Isabelle and Lorraine were really hospitable for me.
They showed me around and made me discover many things about the area, Esperanto and the inside of CS. Plus their bedroom reminded me my beloved Grandparents' house.

Thank you for everything!

Benjamin and his lovely family hosted me as I was doing a bike ride trip in the north of France (I will never do that again in november !). They have been welcoming and I'm very glad to have met someone who dedicate a lot of time to the couch surfing, improving this fabulous network.

Thanks to them and other friends I'm not scared anymore to go and live in this region so that I'm working for about 3 months in the north of Metz...

Hope to see you around for a meeting.

If the road ever takes you to Mesnil sous les cotes (MSLC), don't miss the opportunity to spend some time with Agostini family! Besides the fact they are super charming, they are probably the only CS in the radius of 20 km :) (MSLC is really cute, quite small village, placed in the middle of BEAUTIFUL nowhere). So... The family: Isa! She will literally add oil on fire (without her, we would probably be eating burned potatoes). Lorraine! This adorable girl will amaze you with her bright mind, brave attitude and sense of responsibility of the wise old man. Benjamin! Let me put it like this: The wittiest brain :p. Calmest soul. Purest heart. And amazing knowledge of fort's history! Thank you for beautiful time in France!!!!!

 

Geology is not enough with Benjamin. We had to explore fort and as a guide he was full of anecdotes about the life, ammo, even about cave.
Many thanks to have receive me at your home as a real member of your family. It was really cheersfull.
( chestnuts are also good ! )

Thanks again for the forts, goulash and everything! ;)
Ben is a great guide, and not only because he didn't lose anybody in Verdun!

Hope to surf forts again with you!

 

A five star forts guide / host / drinking buddy / friend.
I'm very happy to know him !

 

You will have a nice time staying with Ben. It will be fun, adventurous and instructive.

During our week-end in Verdun we learned a lot, had lot of laughs, explored some really nice batcaves, and were deliciously fed with tasty local specialties and weird foreign liquors.

Just don't drink if he offers you some Sprite.

accueil toujours aussi sympa!!!Merci pour la soiree a vous c'etait tres bien et bon
laurent

very nice fist experience hosting it's a nice family :)

Albeit somewhat exhausting, landing at Ben, Isa and cool Lorraine's home for my first trip to the land of my forefathers was pretty ideal. I've been particularly impressed by the wide array of, hmm, exotic products, ranging from bush marmalade to kerosene spirit, that Ben has in store, and was given the honor to taste some of its highlights as soon as breakfast time. Fearless foodies of all nations, unite at Ben's place!

 

Benjamin is a wonderful person, and a goldmine of information and skills. We met at his house for a tasty lunch, talking about history, than head to verdun for interesting guided tour and than he took us around verdun to see WWI related sites, amazing. thanks for everything, we hope to meet you again in israel!

un homme de culture avec une charmante petite famille :) m'as bcp appris ! merci pour ce super WE BEN ! Le bonjour à Loraine ;D

What haven't been said about Ben....except that he could jump with his belly? =D
Both volunteering for CS translation, I knew about Ben's kindness, honesty and charisma long before we actually met, but then his knowledge and hospitality totally amazed me. Plus he was the winner of every game we played. Like it is not enough,he has the most loving, giving, sharing,accepting and happy family I ever know. I love people who knows how to enjoy life, and here they are, three of them!
Lou and I instantly felt at home there and despite the shitty weather, we enjoyed every minute we spent in their company.
Now I'm pretty sure that we'll meet up pretty soon and I'm looking forward to that day.

 

coucou!!!
ma premiére famille de couch surfeurs!!!trés trés gentils et faciles a vivre! j'espere que vous n'avez pas été trop serré la derniere nuit
a bientot
lara

 

It was an extraordinary experience to welcome this little family.
After a few seconds it was like they have always been there.
I am missing them already...
Keep fruitful and, OK, let's save the fruits !

 

Benjamin and his family stayed only one night on their trip to Corsica at my place. We only had a short time together, but it was very interesting. I learnd a lot about the local history of their home. And I could exercise my French skills.

He very helped me with couchsurfing, he told me so many things about it, he was very friendly.

I host Benjamin only for a night during his Corsica trip...we had a nice dinner even if the restaurant was closed, a really nice chat even if his family didn't understand english (maybe Lorain didn't understand MY english!), really nice drinks even if the day after we miss the beach and the sea...you have really a lot to see here around so I wait you three for the next time (at least you need 4 days!!) ps thanks Lorain for teach me the dangerous-game this morning!! ;)

a very nice, curious man, with lovely friends which led to a wonderful experience.

thanks to you, the CS virus infested at least two more! ... and esperanto seems inciting too.

we were just talking about you with our friends!actually we can't stop telling about you and our great experience!see you next year in france!:)

any friend of my cats,is a friend of mine!:))

Benjamin, Vanessa and his daughter are so warm and openly. You just feel yourself comfortable in their presence. I really enjoy our breakfast together and it was so interesting to listen their experiences in Rumania and Slovakia.
Besides thanks a lot for the wine bottles. You are great :-) !!!

Benjamin and I met in Vienna calling 09 where we shared CS and life experiences. I hitched a lift with Benjamin after Vienna to France and he taught me about Esperanto language. He was good enough to host us a night before continuing our journey. Soon after meeting Ben I met 33 other Esperanto speaking people and ended up going to Roskilde festival with them. Ben is a great open minded smart guy that I look forward to meeting again! :)

Benjamin and his family stayed at my friend´s house because I wasn´t at home when they called me. We havent much time to spend together but it was fun to have them around. I guess they had interesting experience, especially with the shower :-)
Thanks for your presents.

Ben and his family arrived at my house on a Friday night bringing la joie de vivre avec eux:)They were a very pleasant presence and I`m happy that I was able to host them.I`m sorry that I wasn`t there but I hope that my parents gave you a great tour:)A la prochaine!

Ben and his wonderful family were amazing hosts and guides. They know so much. We adore guiet and friendly atmosphere at their house and hope meet them at Lithuania.

Ben is one of the craziest persons, i ever met in my life.
Just totally relaxed, funny and a absolutely great host.
It's a pity that you didn't stay a little bit longer.
Have a great trip and take care!

 

It's a true honour to have given a ride to one of the most hard working CSers in the CS community... the lord of translations!
***update August 2009***
hosting ben and his family was a truly exciting experience.
When you see a "FREE" man like Ben describe his love for his daughter... you just have to keep the tears from your eyes because that is the purest love you can find.
Hearing him say: "I don't want to go" made me feel a better person for several days after he left.
Ben...I want to surf your pedalo!

After a wild night of no sleep, a lot of talk, sand and little fire, to keep warm all everyone needed was a shower and a real bed. Ben and isa, too lovely French people tried the sea to solute the problem of having no shower, but still a shower was apreciated.
So, me and my sister took them home and give them a breakfast, offered my bed and showed them Alkmaar. They were lucky, in Alkmaar we all could see a very good performance of a famous Dutch singer (Boris) and some music-students.
Overall it was very nice to meet Ben and Isa, they can tell you a lot about there experiences with couchsurfing, and there are kind people too.

Met Ben at CS beach party in Haarlem, great guy, easy to get along with and good fun. If I'm ever near Verdun I'll be in touch!

it was pleasure to meet a true French couple:) I am sure we will meet again.

Great experience convincing Ben and Isa that the sea water wasn't cold at 5 AM, while the beautiful sunrise was starting!
=)

 

I'm glad to have met Benjamin and his family; we had very good time together: they bring me to Waterloo and I bring them to some parks.
They were perfect hosts and I can only suggest you to welcome and meet them.

 

I was very lucky to have Benjamin as a host and a travel companion during Vienna Calling.
I surfed his couch (actually the guest HOUSE, it's not only a couch), meet his beautiful daughter and wife, and head to Vienna.

Benjamin is just the perfect travel companion. The man is a walking (or driving) enciclopedia. He took the time to go around the villages and show me around, picking up strawberries on the road...

Also he was extremely tender and kind during our stay in Vienna, worrying about where I am (even when I was not lost hehe), or having fun during the events.

I'll honestly miss you!

Benjamin is a wonderful, funny guy - super fun and very friendly. Kind and generous - with the best taste in suspenders :)

Ben is a wonderful man that makes you feel happy, and comfortable within minutes of meeting him. I first met him in France exploring forts, and then had the pleasure of meeting him again during Vienna calling. It was so fun being with him, he knows how to have good talks, lots of fun, and he made me smile a lot. Thanks Ben- see you soon I'm sure!

 

Ben is one of those rare people that would not only stretch out a hand in aid, but, just as if that was not enough, would reach further, just to make sure you won't only land on your feet, but you can feel free to fall on your but, cause he made sure there would be some cushions to soften the blow. He will do so in good humor and entertain you in the process as well. He has a healthy balance of having ideals and maintaining a good perspective of reality and does so in humor and a tad of sarcasm, my type 'o guy. Knowing Ben just a little makes me feel that meeting his family will only enhance the experience that's worth any effort regardless. Thanks for everything and see you, hopefully sooner rather then later.

Benjamin is very nice guy to meet with,you can everytime speak about everything and have fun with his nice jokes,wish to see him again...

 

benjamin, big teddybear, i caring you in my heart, it was nice to talk and to aplfelstrudeln with you. wow, it was delicios, was´nt it?! wath´s a weekend. thank you to visite us. apfelstrudeln for ever.. hmmmm

 

Haaa Benjamin! Finally we met, he even was the first to welcome me at the Vienna Amb meeting. We work together on the translations group, he's very dedicated and I learn a lot from him. I look forward to go and surf his couch one day too!

I met Benjamin during the Vienna Calling. We once sit together during the lunch and during other days we saw each other around. As Slovenian translation group is not really active and he's in charge for the translations, we surely should cooperate. Will activate people. Just don't want to give a promise about time (when), to not say sth wrong. But it'll still be this year, I suppose. :) Benjamin is otherwise nice and I hope we'll met again sometime and then I'll update this reference. Let me know if ever in Slovenia!

 

Ben is just an amazing guy, devoted CSr and funny person to work and travel with! Just can't wait to be with him again!

 

We met in the Vienna Calling in 2009, where he offered rides is his car all the way to France! I (with some more people) shared the ride and when we got there he hosted us and assured that every one of us would safely reach his next destination, really took a lot of effort just for the sake of generosity. And the best part was that during the car trip we had the ocassion of talking for several hours and get to know each other a little bit, and i found him to be outgoing, interesting and clever, so besides being generous, that makes a good pack! I am sorry I had no time to stay longer at his fascinating place, away from the rush of big cities. But there will be another chance for sure!
Ben, see you next time, and thanks for all!

His family reminded me of my family where everybody, even strangers, were welcomed to share with us! He is a rich man!!!! Beautiful experience to be with them, I will definitely meet them again, I hope soon. They are part of the definition of open-heart! ;)

 

I met Benjamin at the Vienna calling 2009. We had very good talks about developing rural couchsurfing in Switzerland and in general about travelling and deepening the friendship in our neighbourhood! His thoughts are very interesting and he shares them in a respectful manner. 100% recommendation to meet!

 

Ben is just as I imagined him after working together for while on CS. He's funny, open mind, bit italian ops corsic ;) and with a great vision of how CS can be and cares people needing help. We have great talks and i hope our ideas will be come true soon
Ciao mitico

 

We met at the Vienna Calling 2009. I wish we could talk more but i must say i got a great feeling about him since the very first time we started to talk. He is relaxed but he spreads, at the same time, a happy mood. We shared easy going conversations and he has been just a pleasant company. He is a fellow genuinely devoted to the community: therefore I really hope to be able to help him in some of his projects. And for sure, i hope to meet him again!

 

If late at night of a breezy late Viennese spring Benjamin comes knocking unexpected at your door, don't question chance, fate or the Gods, just open it and let him in!!

He brings humour and politeness in large quantities and has an incredibly contagious positive spirit and enthusiasm about life and its many aspects!

I hope to see you soon in Vienna or hunting for lost villages in some remote valley....

 

It was also a pleasure to meet Benjamin (I heard so many about him). I know that together we'll be able to make great stuff to improve our CS community.
Benjamin belongs to those persons i immediatly got the feeling with at the first sight (warm person, relaxing to talk with and genuine)

The story of a business trip which turned into nice and relaxing moments.... I hope, one day, I can get even with my guests. Thank you so much, Ben, for your trust. Thank you so much once more Isa and Lorraine for those simple and pleasant evenings. I hope we will keep in touch (Lorraine have to show me entonnoirs and tritons and the valley from the "X" point (on a sunny, or perhaps, not rainy day) ). You are, of course, always welcome in my house.

We made Apfelstrudel together at Vienna Calling and it was great! Hope we see each other again!

 

Finally arriving after the long hot hitchhike, we were so happy to meet the happy Benjamin picking us up for the nice little camp he set up near Verdun. He's very enthousiastic about almost everything!

Benjamin was awesome. Showed me and Josh parts of Verdun we would have never seen. Really enjoyed his knowledge of history and his adventurous nature made the trip to Verdun memorable. Thanks again.

Benjamin hosted us for three nights and showed us all sorts of historical places in Verdun. We had a great time and Benjamin knows his history very well and will have you crawling through woods and old forts to see things regular tourists never see. He has a wonderful family and they made us feel at home and I hope to see them again someday.

Benjamin Agostini is amusing and an extremely nice person. He showed us the historical sites located around Verdun. It was wonderful to get to know him, his family and his friends.

Very friendly and we have commun interesting.
Just see you soon i hope!

I spent a super week-end in Meuse with my daughters thanks to Ben, his wife and their adorable daughter. They managed an interesting hiking in landscape, and a friendly night around the campfire... It's a pity I couldn't stay for the sunday walk in Azannes! They're really nice people, I hope (and expect!) to share other moments with them!

I was planning on staying for two nights at Bens place, but it turned out to be five nights, it was so great! Ben showed me so much great places, a personal guide with tons of knowledge. He and his family are also really genorus and nice, and their house is a great place, with an really intresting backyard! Ben really is a perfect host and I hope I will be back again, because there is still many things to be seen..

On a morning I sent a CS Request to Benjamin, for the very same evening. He then replied and provided me with all the directions to reach his place, some 100km away from where I was. Then I could not just stay for 1 night, and thanks to the other CSers who were here too with me, and as Lorraine & Isa were on holliday too, we could have a really interesting day of visit before I leave (back on the road again). Big Thanks to all, and keep in touch!

Amazing!!! thanks for the nice welcome Lorraine, Isabel andBen, the 'verdun'food, all the french words, the forts, the history lessons and plenty of other stuff even working in the garden was a pleasure while listening to all you re stories Amazing!!! and soOn we will meetup again, tomorrow, next week perhaps in a couple of months, Foooooooorts and French (thanks Lorraine;)brings us all together :D

What a wonderful ambassador to the area of Verdun and it's history. We had wonderful accomodations, conversations and meals and an exceptional education and tour of the forts and sites. Thank you for everything and also for the recommendation to visit Catherine in Blois.

 

Benjamin and me share a brain, a passion, experiences, devotion, inspiration, and fight all the time. He's someone I ALWAYS enjoy working with, tough on his standards and always giving more than what he asks people. One of the most appreciated people I know. We shared a few days together in Paris, and they were frustratingly short!!

 

If you have some work to do invite benjamin’s family and you will have some help.
Benjamin helped us to carry 10 tonnes of ground.
Of course you will have to feed him – a lot –
Very nice family, generous and open minded
See you again

Benjamin, friendly and open, sensitive and great talker - we are looking forward to meeting you many times more here or somewhere else for a lasting friendship!

I had an excellent time exploring forts with Benjamin! We certainly took our time to enjoy and notice the little things and embraced the historical energy emanating from the forts! I am very thankful for his taking the time to explain things to me, and always with a glowing smile. He is a warm hearted gentleman and I can't wait to meet again for another adventure!

 

I met Benjamin around Metz, while exploring old forts...
He's a really great guy enjoying life and still laughing. He's also a nice host which always has couches to propose to his CS...
Moreover, he has a really deep knowledge of local history and can teach a lot of thinks on forts architecture.

The Agostinis were our first couchsurfguests.Ben is an easygoing character who enjoys kitchentablegatherings with cooking,talking and playing games.Isa is a very warm and kind person-just lovely to have her around and Lo just like her mum and a real beauty!We feel they enjoyed the new experience of snow life and got home with some good and funny memories about sledging and more.

Lo, Isa and Ben stayed just for one short night in my house, but nevertheless it have been great few hours. I really enjoyed their visit and the fotos, which were shown by Lo. Ben is such an open-minded, CS loving person with a big warm heart, you cannot believe that. I really liked our discussion about being a Couchsurfer. Welcome back anytime!

 

I met Benjamin and his family, the first time during the "Grand Est meeting". Since then we met a few times and now almost every week to speake Esperanto.
I love Benjamin, Isabelle and Lorraine! They are funny, very kind, prevenant, honnest and much much more. They have a big heart and I it's always to pleasure to chat with!

 

ouah ouh ouah ouh!!! Ben, Isa, and Lorraine are very sympathicals, fantastics, organized,..., personnes. if you search an host like at home you found that in this house !!! I very appreciate the talking on story, politics and many interessant experiences. Ben is very helpful to explain the story during the Mont Saint Quentin's forts... Very tahnk you for all; i wait for you in Paris now !!!!

 

I spent one night with Benjamin, his wife Isa and his daughter Lorraine. With Ben, we went exploring forts around Metz. It is very sweet to be welcome in a home (I mean a house with a familly spirit). Isa & Lorraine are two fairies and Ben a big guy with a lot of sensitivity and a nice vision of life. I had a just sip and I definitely look forward to spend more time with them. I have already some plans for that... :)
See you soon in some forts or underground

Ben, Isa and Lorraine are very nice, cordial and altruistic. We have talked about many and varied interesting subjects. And Ben is a really great meetings organizer. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I hope we'll meet again.

 

Benjamin and I met at the French CS Amb meeting in Nantes. He is smily, helpful, nice to have around and he made me more aware of all the troubles one has to go through to find a "global" translation that would fit into the numerous cultures of the CS website - well worth meeting and chatting with :)

Sharing few days with a lot of experiences in the garden

 

No much time to really know Benjamin but it will be a pleasure to know him more a next time.
Thanks for the lift Nantes-Paris. :)

 

It was nice having Benjamin surfing our couch. Even if he was busy with the meeting, we had some good discussions about travelling and his region. If one time we decide to visit Verdun, we know who to call. (Thank you for vegetables, we already made soup).

 

Benjamin is a good simple guy. And I like that !
I spent a good time to speak with him.

Benjamin estas bona simpla viro. Kaj mi ŝatas !
Ke mi elspez oportuna okazo por parol kun li.
:-?

Benjamin,
I should have welcomed you in my city but you welcomed me on my first CS steps for this meeting in Nantes... Thanks for the hospitality ! It's a pleasure to meet someone who takes care about finding nice food & drinks ! Hope we'll have more time to discuss next time !

Ben and Isa are tow best friends.After 14 years, i trust them as in the first time.Why? Nothing is impossible with them, and they have an optimistic communicated mind.
So, to meet them is a good antidote again moroseness.

I'm pleased I met Benjamin at this meeting in Nantes, he his an open minded and smily guy with a real care to who you are and what you're saying. I'll try to go to Verdun to surf him one day, I guess he's a very nice host !
Thanks for your pleasant presence, Benjamin !

Je suis heureuse d'avoir rencontré Benjamin à ce meeting sur Nantes, c'est un garçon souriant et à l'esprit ouvert, qui sait porter une réelle attention à qui vous êtes et ce que vous dites.
J'essaierai d'aller à Verdun surfer chez lui un jour, je suis sûre que c'est un hôte charmant !
Merci pour ton agréable présence, Benjamin.

I met Ben briefly at Pierre’s house; we talked about political problems and the literature. Probably we meet later in Paris or Verdun.

Was great to meet Benj, and talk about his (our) topics on CS, have his opinion and see that he's very concerned with your tasks. nice to count you in the team, and hope we'll meet again here or there ;)
Cya

 

It was of course a pleasure to meet Benjamin in Nantes! We had good discussion about many subject and I especially like the way he's looking to work with the french translation team.
I pretty sure we will have the possibility to see each other again... wahtever if it's for working on stuff of for having few drinks , i'm sure i will appreciate it again!

 

Benjamin seems to be very focused and passionated about his role in the Translation Team but he also seems to be be a really good guy, quiet, easygoing.

 

I have been very happy to meet Benjamin. he is the kind of man who can be serious with lighteness. I enjoyed talking with him. I hope we'll meet soon.

Benjamen m'a apporté beaucoup d'informations s'est quelqu'un qui est au courent de plusieurs choses et qui est vraiment impliqué dans cs,on a eu de passionantes conversations ...un illuminé de Couch Surfing!

 

I feel very well with Benjamin who can pass very fast from the funny guy to the serious guy if we need to work. You can have good and fun chat whit him and he fit perfectly in the french amb team :)

 

Ben has a very nice personality and he's a valuable co-volunteer. I wish I had the same ability to explain my work! :-P We'll meet again for sure!

Ben is a very sympatic and open-minded person. With him, I discover forts and subterranean trenches of the first world war. It was so great to learn history like this !
He lives in a small village lost in the countryside. His wife and his daughter are very nice and he has a small mischievous cat! :-)
It's a very friendly host and I'll be happy to come back to speak more with him!

Dear Isa and Ben,
thanks a lot for this great week-end spent all together discovering forts and the Meuse region with all unknown places. It was super speaking with you about all kind of themes (history, esperanto...) and thanks for your great hospitality, we really felt home with you. Hope to see you again soon!
All my best to you and your sweet family
Ben (the one from Luxbg!)

very positive

At the first meeting I noticed already that Ben is very openminded and friendly. After he invited me to come to the esperanto cours and I saw his heart beating for that language. He even convinced me by his enthousiasme and now I will come regulary to the cours.
When I asked him for showing some forts he organised a whole meeting in Verdun. I felt very, very welcome at his place. He also has a very gentil daughter and a charming woman I liked a lot too. I really am happy to get known to you. I hope I will see you very often while I stay in Metz.

 

Benjamin is a truly gracious host! His knowledge of the local history, and the world in general is tremendous. I cannot wait to visit again!

 

Ben is amazing!! Im not sure i said it loud enough though... AMAZING!!!
He took into his house a TEAM of dirty smelly fort explorers. He made us all feel like part of his family (who are also absolutely incredible!!). He is one of the most generous and happy people you'll have the pleasure of meeting. Ben = super super cool guy!! Thankyou thankyou thankyou for your hospitality, knowledge, cuisine, endless smiles and undying energy!! And thankyou for my new found passion in forts!! Huge huge huge smiles for you Ben!!

 

We first met throw Internet when I started to work as a translator for CS, and then we met in the 2nd French Ambassador meeting in Nantes.
Stop giving me so much work in so few time haha!

He saw our post on forum and helped us finding a couch at 11 pm!! There are only a few people who would do that! So believe me he is so friendly and helpful! Thank you Benjamin

 

I got to host Benjamin for our 5th Cs meeting in Luxembourg and it was a really nice experience to meet him. Benjamin is a very interesting person, who knows a lot of things and who seems to be really enthusiastic about showing his region to visitors. I hope i can make it to the Meuse meeting that he will organise in a few weeks and explore some sites and the countryside together :-)

 

Ben is a great and funny guy. We had a good time partying and a very good exchange about some more serious subjects. I am really interested to see his personal works, and maybe - one day - we will end up in doing some creations together.

I had a really nice time talking with benjamin.
Nice and friendly. He seems an interesting person.He has invited me.I hope that, we will meet again to have some more conversation together. I'm sure it would be great =)

 

Incredible! Benjamin introduced me to fort exploring and esperanto. We visited this amazingly dilapidated pre-WWI fort that was full of long, dark corridors and collapsing floors. Very scary, very exciting. And Benjamin was my knowledgable guide throughout, teaching me about the history of the forts and of the times. Thanks Benjamin, for giving me such great and uncommon experiences. And I'm now considering learning Esperanto...after I learn French of course!

Met him on my first couchsurfing trip, and i must've hit the jackpot, this guy and his family are wonderfull hosts and fun to hang out with! i hope to visit Benjamin soon again =)

 

After two weeks in loud and crazy cities like Amsterdam and Paris, we went to Ben's house in a tiny French village with 100 inhabitants. WOW -- Ben can talk for hours and I would gleefully listen to every word. He is amazingly charismatic and sharing. And also a bit delirious. Hope to see you again!!!!!!

 

Thanks to Benjamin a lot, he read our urgent help request e-mail that we sent to Metz group and saved us from being homeless in the middle of Metz. Besides, we had great time with his friend and stayed in a wonderful house. Thank you very much for everything again!

In an esperanto's meeting then restaurant, he look's like funny and very interisting, seems to have many knowledge.
Her family is very funny always with smile, his daughter is a lovely girl and very pretty (not say to him!!). We spent a lot of time to laugh. Ben, where are you going to find all these jokes ?
Nice to meet you again and again !!

 

I met Ben in a esperanto's meeting. He is very interesting and positive!

I've been hosted countless times now by Ben and his lovely family and it's always a pleasure to go back to the peaceful village of Mesnil. Definetely a top-notch destination if you have an interest in history, exploration or if you just want to meet great people :)

We met at a restaurant in Verdun with some others couchsurfers. It was a good experience to meet these people. Benjamin is a very interesting person, he does have things to say ! I will meet him again with pleasure as soon as I can and I'll try to help him through his work on CS.com

Benji!! I just descovered he was not on my list of friends!!! That such a guy- everyone has to have him as a friend!! He is funny, clever, silly sometimes..he has a biiig house and a big planning too :-) and a nice family..and he leaves 40km away from Metz.. not to close but not too far away !! The perfect friend :p

 

un couple adorable, une fille délicieuse, beaucoup de bon temps et de discussions nocturnes. à renouveler dès que possible

 

Ni kunlaboras ĉe la tradukado de CS al Esperanto, li estas fidinda homo.

Ben and his family are truly great hosts. Very generous and funny. We've shared a great time and visited a lot of interesting places to which Ben had lots of explanations.
I've definitely learned a lot and saw many things I'd never seen without his knowledge of the area!

 

I spend four days at Ben's lovely house in a small village next to Verdun and had a wonderful time. His family welcomed Daniel and me with a lot of french humour and tasty food. Ben knows absolutely EVERYTHING about Verdun and it's surroundings and he enjoys it to an extraordinary extend to show you his little secrets and favourites. He has a true CS spirit and is supporting the project immens.

I'd love to see you again my friend. You're always a guest in Switzerland.

J'ai passé une très bonne soirée avec cette petite famille. Ils sont adorables. Si je vais dans le nord de la France, je passerais volontiers leur faire un petite coucou.

 

Ben and his little family were the only ones to dare coming with in a canoe on the river Lesse. Well, too bad for those who didn't come, we had a lot of fun together!

great, Isabelle, Benjamin and Lorraine are so sweet, curious end interesting persons... See you !!

 

Isa and Ben are very nice. We met in Balaguer near Barcelona. They offered me a ride to Foix when they drove home. Actually my destination is not on their way, so they have to detour a long distance. And they showed me around Andorra, that makes my trip more impressive. their daughter is very lovely, I like her very much.
Merci beaucoup.

Very nice family! It was a pleasure to host them, they were nice, funny and flexible, careful with things and ready to enjoy local culture. They were lucky to come during the fireworks competition in Tarragona, and lucky to see the rare clouds here... Enjoy the rest of your adventure!!

This was one of the most generous and postiive experiences I have ever had as a guest, and I speak on a much broader scale than couchsurfing.

Every night I was welcomed to a warm and abundant table with a very congenial family. Ben took me and his daughter all over Verdun (and well outside of it) in his car, showing me fantastic and unique sites. Ben was very gracious with his time, energy (and essence). And what a wonderful family.

There are just too many positive things to say. THANK YOU BEN!!!

 

Ben, Isa & Lo are a great family. It was really nice to host them !
@ bientôt !

I stayed at Benjamins house for a couple of days. It was nice being there and spending time with him and his lovely family. If you want to see the french countryside this is a great place to stay.

 

The higher powers of travel had me starting my acquaintance with this charming man and his family when I was very ill. Luckily, and also much thanks to Benjamin's outstanding hospitality, he was able to see a bit of the real me at the end of my stay. Living, not just staying, with Benjamin was one of the highlights of my eurotrip so far, for sure. The couchsuring spirit is in the walls of his home and you can feel it in everything he says and does. I think most people can learn something fom Benjamin's relaxed attitude, or maybe it's just because I like people who answer questions with "yes and no". Thanks again for a couple of fabulous days that brought me back to life!
Update: After a second stay with Ben all the good impressions from last time are strengthened. Feels like I have a family in France now.
Update: Of course I had to go see my family again when I was passing through and this time was no less awesome. Super pizza!

 

Benjamin is awesome: althought he was only in CS for 3 months, he get highly involved bringing his contribution to CS!
Through great talk with him, I appreciate the distance he keep on different topics, his natural advice and his friendly attitude!
Ok soon in Verdun or La Tchaux?

 

It was really pleasant talking with him, Benjamin is very nice and we will rock you, you're my best friend, the show must go on!
C'est trop dur les commentaires en anglais, on s'emballe vite ;) Bref, on sera très heureux de le revoir!

 

A very nice guy, if you'll go to be hosted by him, I'm sure you will have some nice moments. To know!!!

Hi Ben !!!
Meet someone like him is always realy pleasant. Nice guy, with a good experience and good advices !!! someone to know !!! Thank for the Week end and see you soon

 

I was glad to meet Benjamin, my translation partner on CS! We met in Metz for a meeting and he's very nice & fun guy!

 

This family was the perfect last night of our honeymoon. great bed B) , charming house and fabulous cooking. For them it was all "so basic", for us all "so interesting". This place is in the middle of nowhere, but it has many stories. Really a place to stay more then one night so you see why we have to be carefull with our PLANET EARTH....
Ben et ISA un Grand Merci....
Ps. la confiture est géniale

Benjamin hosted Joscha and I on a really short notice. We couldn't have felled more welcome. We arrived quite late after a dinner together in Metz and a ride home full of interesting stories about this part of France. The day after he cooked for us and I was introduced to strong French alcohol as pastis and home made mirabel liceur. Furtermore Benjamin inspired me to take a closer look at Esperanto! Benjamin is THE GREAT host, interesting and a warm person.
Hope to see you again and to have more time together.

Benjamin et Endre se sont gentiment invités à dîner chez moi après leur club d’Esperanto :-) On a passé un très moment, et vraiment bien rigolé. Je ne crois pas me tromper si je dis que ce sont des bons vivants :-D en tout cas on se revoit bientôt dans la meuse, youhou !!

The Agostini's are very sweet people with great stories to tell and a very social mind. We really enjoyed their company and our joint activities :-) They should not miss in your collection of guests ;-)

I met this family via Gerard Bosman as they were his guests. Gerard and me were scheduling the Picture Quest of Rotterdam we created and these people were the first ones to walk it with us to see how long it took us. Unfortunately there was a little bit of a language barrier which prevented us to getting to know each other better, but apart from that I think these are very nice and trustable people.

 

Ben and his lovely wife Isa and daughter Lorraine surfed my couch; they were very friendly and neat people. Together with Frank van Steenwijk we made a city-tour through Rotterdam.