“For the love of squash & you seemed like a decent guy. See you next year!”

“Nobody like Lew
Living the Dream
Yet doesn’t want to be seen
Always focused on team”

“Потому что ты мой брат по сквошу.

Pentru că ești frate de squash.

Cause’ you’re my squash bro.
”

“It is still normal here, to help others :)

And I feel that is correct ”

“Most of the time, most of our dreams do come true”

“Because Jordan asked me to
”

“We let you sleep on our couch because we love you!! We will even give you a bed!!
”

“PO PROSTU, JESTEM POLAKIEM A POLACY SĄ BARDZO GOŚCINNI – ZGODNIE Z NASZĄ TRADYCJĄ „GOŚĆ W DOM, BÓG W DOM”, CO OZNACZA PRZYJĄĆ KAŻDEGO GOŚCIA Z HONOREM, SZACUNKIEM I RADOŚCIĄ. Poza tym, jestem oficerem Marynarki Wojennej – to również ma znaczenie.

In simple words, I’m Pole and Poles are very hospitable – according to our tradition, as we say in Poland “Quest at home, God at home”. It means, “to always welcome quests with honors, respect and smile on a face”. Besides, I’m an naval officer, it this is also important. ”

“...because it sounded like an adventure”

“I didnt really have any reason to say no, and I had the chance to accommodate you:)

Yeah, so why not?

I could find million reasons why not to do smth, but these are only excuses.

”Kāpēc ne?”

Literally - why not?

And often we miss our opportunities to meet good people, to travel somewhere, to achieve something just because we were scared, not open enough, and so we make excuses why not to do something.
”

“Mike ir draugs mana draudzenei Ērikai, kas mūs iepazīstināja e-pastā. Ērika ir viens no sirsnīgākajiem cilvēkiem, ko pazīstu, tādēļ nešaubijos, ka arī Mike būs ļoti jauks, un domāju, ka būtu forši iepazīties arī dzīvē. Piekritu izmitināt Mike, jo man tā man likās, kā forša iespēja parādīt kādam Rīgu no savas perspektīvas. Reizē, man arī šķiet, ka ir labi izpalīdzēt citiem arī tad, kad nav pilnīgi nekāda pienākuma to darīt. Protams, vienmēr pastāv kaut kāds risks - iespējams, cilvēki, ko uzņem mājās, nepazīstot, tev beigās nemaz neiepatīkas vai pat kaitina, bet to nekad nevar paredzēt. Pastāv milzīga iespēja, ka viss būs pavisam pretēji - jāuzticas nejaušībai. Tiešām ticu tam, ka, ja esi tam atvērts, notiek brīnumi!

Mike is a friend of my friend Erika who introduced us via e-mail. Erika is one of the kindest people I know, so - even before I actually met him - I was positive that Mike would also be a very nice person and I thought it would be cool to meet in real life. I agreed to help out Mike because I thought it could be a cool opportunity to show him Riga from my perspective. Also, I believe that it’s good to help out others even when you have completely no obligation to do it. Of course, in situations like these, there’s always a risk - it’s possible that the people that you agree to host, aren’t really similar to you, you might end up not liking them or even being annoyed by their actions, but you can never really predict that. There’s a huge possibility that it will be completely opposite - so you have to trust the random cosmic noise that settles these types of encounters. I really think that if you’re open to randomness, magical things can happen.”

“Because [my daughter] Janika called me up one day and told me he was coming”

“Uute inimestega tutvumine, eriti squashi mängijatega ning nende abistamine lisab elule värvi. Me mõlemad oleme reisinud mööda maailma ja teame, mis tunne see on. Squashi kogukond maailmas on nagu väike perekond.Teiste mängijatega tutvumine ja ideede jagamine toob meie kohalikule Pärnu squashi kogukonnale palju kasu ja uut hingamist.

Meeting great new people, especially squash players and helping them out if possible is what makes life interesting and fun. We both have been travelling around the world and we know how it feels. Squash community is a small family.Meeting other players and exchanging ideas is very helpful for our small squash community in Pärnu.”

“Tapasin Miken ensimmäistä kertaa PSA-kiertueella Uudessa-Seelannissa ja ollaan pelattu parissa samassa kisassa sen jälkeen. Miken kanssa tulee helposti juttuun ja hän on mukava tyyppi. Kun kuulin että rohkea amerikkalaispoika on tulossa kauas pohjolaan niin tietysti halusin tarjota hänelle paikan majoittua ja tartuin samalla tilaisuuteen esitellä rakasta kotimaatani niinkuin moni on tehnyt meikäläiselle matkustellessani kilpailuissa ympäri maailmaa. Vietimme toiminnantäyteisen päivän ja ehdimme nähdä ja kokea paljon Helsingissä ja kotikaupungissani Espoossa. Olimme myös onnekkaita, koska viettämämme päivä Helsingin keskustassa oli varmasti yksi vuoden kauneimpia kesäpäiviä. Mutta niinkuin usein käy, aika loppui kesken ja vielä jäi paljon nähtävää ensi kertaa varten. Toivon Mikelle nautinnollista ja turvallista jatkoa matkallaansa minne hän ikinä päättääkään mennä ja nähdään jälleen kiertueella!

I met Mike in New Zealand in PSA tour for the first time and we have played couple of same tournaments after that. Mike is easy to get along with and he is a very nice guy. When I heard this brave american fellow is far from home and coming here in North I was thrilled to offer him a place to stay and in the meantime it gave me an oppurtunity to introduce my beloved motherland. I’ve been billeted so many times during my visits in other countries all over the world during the tournaments that it felt exciting to be on the other side this time. We spent one day full of activities, experienced and saw a lot in Helsinki and in my home town Espoo. We were also bit lucky as the day we spent in Helsinki must have been one of the most beautiful summer days this year! But as often happens we run out time and lot of things we skipped this time were left to be experienced in the future. I wish Mike an enjoyable and safe trip wherever he decides to head next and see you again on tour!”

“Den galna svenska bostadsmarknaden (vi har en pluttig lägenhet) ledde till att vi tyvärr inte kunde erbjuda min goda vandringsvän Mike husrum men vi tog med honom på fotbolls-VM för damer på Stockholms bästa klubb.
Due to the crazy living situation in Stockholm (we have a tiny apartment) we could not offer my hiking friend Mike a place to stay. However, we did give him a night a stockholm’a best club watching women’s World Cup.”

“I decided to help out out of duty to a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend, for the rare anecdotal bragging right of hosting a squash player who is going around the world, and the opportunity to make a new friend (which is very much what happened!). SUERTE!
”

“First of all because you look like a good person, and that’s what you finally were. You are really social and that’s what made us help you ‘til the end.”

“Whether in Quilmes, Tortuga, Charlottesville or on D-side vanquishing freshmen, Mike has been a key ingredient for any adventure. I’m thrilled to join the cast of thousands who’ve been able to play a part in this one of his! Whether you break #200 or not, Mike, your #3 position on the Best Man List is safe. Your grey dri-fit will be waiting for you when you get back, I’m pretty sure.”

“Hi mike !! You are a nice person and we know how hard it is when you are out of home and on your own. We want you to know that we are here to help you always !!”

“Because he’s sound”

“Why? Well as we say in Ireland “just for the craic”.

My sister had told us about Mike’s couch surfing story and put us in contact, but we also had the pleasure of Mike’s father’s company on his trip to Ireland. We really enjoyed their stay, their stories and was great fun. Who knows Mike may even ditch the squash and take up hurling :)”

“Stroopwafel Sundays in Sassenheim are the new Waffle Wednesdays at Bain

...but seriously, this is the stuff of dreams. Keep squashin’ em!
”

“‘마이크’라는 사람이 한국에 온다고 해서 친구 부탁으로 점심이나 하려고 했는데, 결국 둘이 점심저녁에 후식을 7개나 먹은 것을 보면, 마이크는 진짜 멋있는게 맞죠.

I was going to have one lunch with a certain Mike who was visiting for a friend’s sake. Then we ended up having 2 meals and 7 desserts together. That’s how cool Mike is.”

“For humanity and world peace! Seriously, I’m a traveler myself and who doesn’t want to help out another fellow traveler chasing after his dreams. More friends is better life. Always. Spread the love and spread the dream. I hope more and more of this happens around the world. Best of luck mate and I will see you soon!”

“US college squash is such a small world in a great way and it is always my pleasure to be the host in Tokyo. I was inspired by Mike’s pursuit of his dream and honored to be part of his journey.

PS- Mike invited himself to my wedding (someday in the future and somewhere in the world) so we’ll definitely stay connected.”

“You are friendly n talkative player thats why I decide to help you..”

“We found Mike frozen in a snowbank with a squash racquet sticking out of the ice and who doesn’t want to learn how to play squash? Plus he is my brother so how am I supposed to say no?
”

“Mike who? We thought he was a hard up tennis player passing through and we were hoping he could inspire our kids to love tennis. We will keep trying to find the right person but if you know a great tennis player, please let us know. Despite his squash focus, Mike was a delight to have stay with us. We’ll keep him in the family”

“As the former Vice President of the Santa Barbara High School Squash Club I was happy to help out a teammate and friend, and have the opportunity to support Mike on his epic journey”

“We didn’t know he would bring all his friends”

“We always tell our kids to follow their dreams- although we never thought that would involve our couch!”

“There’s just no one like Lew”

“No decision to be made. We’ve been following Mikey’s journey since May - proud and envious but mostly proud - to have the opportunity to be a part of his amazing experience and host him: no question, in!”

“Thrilled to be able to support the pursuit of a dream
”

“Because he has the same name as my uncle and because Pete Rawson, my brother in law, is so awesome and Pete asked me if I would I host Mike. Pete’s awesome and I just love him and Pete just loved Mike

”

“Why not”

“Mikey Lew didn’t just teach me how to make kale four ways. He taught me that 9 Symphony Road, Boston, MA, was not a temporary address during a fickle period of my life, but instead it was a family that would stay with me from sea to shining sea.”

“Friend of a friend via Steve Anastos, returning the favour after a great US trip in 2012”

“#INTERPRETIVE DANCE#”

“We decided to help you out because you came highly recommended by the Brown family (especially Meg!). Having said that though, if any of our family had met you on the beach or anywhere in Knysna and had got chatting to you, we would have invited you to stay anyway, if you had told us you had nowhere to go for Christmas! :)”

“Because I’m Mr. Camps Bay!”

“I was introduced to Mike by a colleague from the office in Dubai. Unfortunately, I had travel plans in Qatar when Mike was planning to play the Dubai squash cup. We finally met the day of the finals, when Mike was doing an exhibition game, one day before his departure to South Africa. The following day, Mike hinted he was hesitating to stay in Dubai for an additional week. We met again and I naturally offered him to stay on a coach bed in my apartment. As a squash aficionado, I finally saw the opportunity to get to know (I had checked his blog) and play squash with this amazing coach-surfing squash player - ranked PSA player No. 222 at that time! The following week, I introduced Mike to other squash players in Dubai, we played squash a few times, and we had some good discussions about squash and life. I have to say I did not regret it: Mike is an amazing person and a very, very nice guy. Good luck for the rest of your world PSA tour Mike!”

“All the best Mike for 2015 and more blessings”

“Mike is practically part of our family and so it was natural to welcome him here to our new home in The Hague”

“Any friend of Maurits is a friend of mine”

“Mike hosted me at Dartmouth when I was a high school prospie .. How could I not return the favor?”

“Ti abbiamo ospitato per essere parte della tua meravigliosa esperienza.. Continua cosi!! Ti amiamooo / We host you because we wanted to be part of your amazing experience...keep going !! We love you !!!!!!!!!!!!
”

“I’ve always wanted to be a groupie!”

“Because I allow squash players into my home ;)
”

““The competition was near and before coach Mike came on board we were just a group of misfits.
He really pushed us to the breaking point. And in the end we got Gold! (at the Beer Olympics)
Thank You Coach Mike!”

“Mike is the living proof of how small the world could be...
A few days ago my friend Hugo asked me to help his friend Mike, a guy who was traveling around the world and whose next stop was Lisbon, where I’m currently living. Hugo is a friend of mine since we were in high school, in Vigo (Spain). The funny fact is that Hugo knew Mike in Brazil playing squash and all that stuff Mike is doing in every city he stops in. So first of all I decided to help him because Hugo asked me to, but very soon I saw in Mike an interesting guy, full of good intentions, open minded and with whom I’ve had so much fun and some deep conversations during the short three days he has spent in Lisbon, proving not just that the world is smaller than what we think, but also that we all share common thoughts and values, no matter where we belong, what we do or where we go. Good luck Mike! Hope to see you soon!”

“Salut je suis ravie de votre amitie vraimemt je suis fiere et bien venu chez nous au Maroc je te maunque je suis halima la marocain, et Najeh Tunisien, et Yassine marocain / Hi, I am really glad for your friendship and I am proud to show you my home, Morocco. Sincerely Halima (Moroccan), Najeh (Tunisian), Yassine (Moroccan)”

“Como en esta familia somos viajeros, nos encanta sentir que podemos devolver un poco de lo que hemos recibido en nuestros viajes, y quizas Mike pueda sentirse en su hogar en un lugar inesperado. Mike pasa tiempo cotidiano con Fernanda en Boston y su presencia en Rosario nos la trae un poco mas cerca. El juega squash, viene de una familia grande, buena onda y divertido en menos de 3 dias ya es parte de la nuestra. Que tengas muy buen viaje, segui girando la raqueta y disfruta a pleno! Since most of us have been on foreign countries at least once, we love to feel like we are giving some of what we received on our trips back, and maybe he can find a home at an unexpected place of the world. Mike shared time in Boston with Fernanda and to have him at Rosario brings her a little bit closer. Squash player from a big family, humble, fun and nice person, in less than 3 days we can say Mike is another component of our family. Have a great trip, keep spinning the racket and enjoy the ride!”

“Because Mike hosted me on his couch in the stain after Super Tails in 2010. It was time to reciprocate the hospitality”

“He said if we helped him out he would put our pic in his super famous blog and we’d be famous forever. We believed him.”

“It’s nice to have someone who shares the same passions- squash, etc...”

“I decided to help Mike because I think he is a good person.
Mike good luck in your travels, the championships and your goals.”

“I wanted to help you because you are doing what I always wanted to do which is traveling the world while playing squash it was really fun for the family and always importante to remember that lífe is moré than going to an office everyday and u changed up our life for five days, and we had a great time. Hope to see you soon and play more good squash.”

“Francisco: Fue muy divertido recibirlo en nuestro departamento, es muy tranquilo y gracioso. Esperemos ir a celebrar para la fiesta típica chilena con el./ It was very fun to host in our apartment, he is very quiet and fun. We are hoping to go with him to the typical chilean celebracion sept-18.
Tammy: Mike es un buen amigo, es entretenido y respetuoso. Pude mostrarle algo de Santiago para él y algunas comidas brasileñas también, espero que le haya gustado!
Tuvimos una buena comunicación por su buen español, haha ya que yo no hablo inglés, pero fue bastante entretenido recibirlo como mi primer couchsurfing y conocerlo. Espero que le vaya super bien con su viaje y con el squash!!! Quando necesite volver a Santiago, estaremos aqui para recibirlo, su casa es mi casa! jeje Como dicen los chilenos: Fue un gustazo!! / Mike is a good friend, he’s fun and polite. I have showed to him some places of Santiago and Brasilean foods, I hope that you had enjoyed it. We have a good comunication because of his good spanish (i don’t speak english), but it was very fun to host him as my first couchsurfing and met him. I hope you have a good trip and good tournament. If you want to come back to santiago, we can host you again, “our house is your house” jeje, as chilean people say: “FUE UN GUSTAZO!!””

“We don’t want to make this weird or awkward, but we’ve been thinking about adopting you all night.”

“He has those impeccable manners of a well educated American. He’s relayed to our great Bay Area pals and we loved the story of his plight. Now we know we want him to become an Aussie and stay forever!”

“Mate- We love squash and admire your passion for global travel combined with squash. Way to go Mike!! Hope to see you soon back here down under! X The Madison family”

“et bien voilà ton séjour en Nouvelle Calédonie, dans une demi heure nous partons pour l’aéroport direction Sydney pour toi. Je suis heureuse de te connaitre tu es un très gentil garçon. Un autre fils pour moi. A cause de ta blessure je n’ai pas pu te faire faire tout c e que j’avais prévu, mais l’essentiel heureusement il te reste donc a revenir nous voir bonne continuation pour toi dans ton activité de Squash pour ton prochain voyage on jouera ensemble.....
on te fais des big kiss ta famille de Plum. ‘see you soon my son’ (my english is good...!!!) / Here we say farewell to your stay in New Caledonia, in half an hour we leave for the airport to Sydney for you. I am pleased to meet you you’re a very nice boy. Another son to me. You have to come back to visit us, good luck to you in your squash, on your next trip we will play together .....
big hug and kiss from your family Plum,

Maman Nath
Papa Olivier
sisters Loane and Loréna
brother Yendi”

“I saw Mike’s picture with the map and squash racket and he seemed like a nice guy. That’s not true: Mike is a SUPER nice guy and it was a pleasure to host him and his friend in my small apartment. I hope I will see you again Mike! I wish you luck!!!”

“Je vais parler en français (because my english is not well)....;-) c’ est a l’occasion d’un tournoi organisé par mon “petit “club de squash que j’ai rencontré un joueur que j’ai hébergé quelques jours. Mike un très bon joueur très bien classé mais avant tout c’ est un garçon super sympa que j’ai rencontré. Ce fut un plaisir de lui faire découvrir notre region nos traditions et notre nourriture. Nous avons passé de supers moments de partage et de rigolade.........Mike je te le dis à nouveau tu es le bienvenu à la maison et j’espere que tu trouveras quelques jours pour venir nous voir. Nous t’avons tous beaucoup apprécié et espérons te revoir tres vite ( pour boire un pastis).Super content d’avoir fait ta connaissance. Comme tucle dis si bien:”à tout à l’heure” / Mike is a great, highly ranked player but above all a super nice guy. It was a pleasure to have him discover our area, our traditions, and food. We had a great time of sharing and fun. He’s always welcome in our home, and I hope he finds a few days to come and see us. We all enjoyed him and hope to see him again very soon
”

“How could I not?”

““Super séjour avec Mike, quotoyer des joueurs psa est vraiment super moi. Et qui sait, peut- être que grâce à lui je pourrais voir Obama! / Super visit with Mike, I’m so pleased to meet a pro squash player. And who knows, maybe because of him I can now meet Obama!”

“Happy to help a dude out”

“Always happy to help out a traveling squash player. Great having him around”

“Asked by New Zealand #1 Martin Knight. Thought he would know him better”

“Our shared passion for squash and good food!”

“He seemed like a nice guy”

“It’s an opportunity for our kids to meet someone from a foreign country who shares the same interest. It shows them where they can go with the sport”

“En tant que passionné de squash, ça me fait plaisir d’aider des jeunes joueurs à participer à de tels tournois / Being very passionate about squash, it fills me with joy to help players like Mike to participate in tournaments ”

“Les moments de convivialité en dehors des courts avec Mike sont aussi importants que son niveau de jeu / Sharing moments off court with Mike are as special to me as seeing him play”

“A bad recommendation from a friend [Glen Wilson] who should have known better””

“Because I know how hard it is starting out on tour. But it’s gonna be some of the best times of your life. You’re in for quite a ride”