Professional hugging service for hire

Before you read: some questions to help you think about the topic and the words you might need.

Have you heard of a hugging business before?

Why do you think it could mean? Why would it be strange?

Need a hug? Call Samantha . She's a professional hugger.

But it may not be what you think.

"There are so many people who need this service, but there's just not enough time to get to everybody," she said.

The petite 29-year-old has a hugging company now called CuddleUpToMe.com, which is in Portland, Oregon. Portland is known for being open and different. And so it is the best place to turn platonic love into a business.

Samantha charges $35 for a half hour, $60 an hour to hug. She will spend the night for $300.

In the past, she said she has worked at a lot of different jobs— retail, restaurants, personal trainer, and answering phones at Netflix.

But last January, she read about a man at a market with a "free hugs" sign. "Another guy came along and stood nearby with a sign saying luxury hugs $2' . This new guy with the sign got more hugs than the 'free hugs.’

And that is where she got this idea. Samantha started putting advertisements online promoting a cuddling business. She also put flyers around Portland and gave out business cards. Her website then caught the attention of local media. And then she was a guest on a local t.v. show.

Now she has more cuddling business than she can do.

Samantha meets her clients at a safe place before agreeing to a cuddling session. And all customers must sign an agreement about the rules: "The cuddle sessions are NOT to be sexual;" "both people will wear clothes at all times;"
She also tells the other person about the time and location of each appointment. And that person is called when the appointment is over "with a unique safe word."

Samantha says her average client pays for a 60-minute session and schedules two to four times a month. Typical ages are from the mid-20s to mid-60s, and sizes from 65 to over 135 kg.

All different races and relationship statuses. Careers of all types. Men and women, she said. Clients just have to be over 18 and sign her waiver. 

Hugging has been such a hit that Samantha hopes to increase the business in 2014. She will hire six people and open a retail shop. She's also hired a lawyer to make everything legal.

Cuddling apparently pays better than answering customer service calls for Netflix or installing security equipment.

Samantha says that she wants to do more than build a business. She wants to change people’s thinking.

"I do this because I truly believe I can be the person who helps change the understanding of non sexual touch between adults in our culture to a positive one," she said. "I believe so much in what I'm doing that I will put all of my energy I have to ensure I help as many people as possible." 

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=4, B=1, C=8, D=5, E=7, F=2, G=6, H=3

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1. In the west, girls from countries like Korea and Japan and known for being petitie.

2. We had a platonic relationship for 5 years growing up together before we became lovers.

3. His hard work caught the attention of his boss and so he was promoted.

4. Kimchi was originally unique to Korea, but not other countries eat it too.

5. Professors at famous universities have a lot of status.

6. He signed a waiver that he would not sue the company.

7. This fashion is a big hit in Seoul these days.

8. If you want to improve your English, then you need to ensure you study every day.

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1. Do you think doing this job would be high or low status in your country? Why?

2. Is this business idea unique to you, or do you know any other similar business ideas?

3. Why would it be very important to get a customer to sign a waiver in this business?

4. How is Samantha going to be able to ensure she helps as many people as she can?

5. Would you like to own a petite car?

6. Do you think it is possible for a males and females to have a plutonic relationships and love each other? Why or why not?

7. If you had a good business idea, how do you think you would catch the attention of customers?

8. Could this type of business become a hit where you live? Why or why not?