Live Out Loud Too

My hostel experience – Working and being a guest

Hostelling International was my first grown up job. I still remember applying for a internship position at my second semester of college, getting interviewed and waiting an entire week for a call back. I wanted the job so bad, that at that one week mark, without an answer, I was so sad I decided to take a nap. I woke up with the phone ringing and a dubious job offer. 

The offer was: we will hire you as an intern, and you will have to work as a full-time employee. We will pay you the difference under the table. We cannot hired anyone for a full time position, but we really liked you. If you are ok with that, you can start next week.

That was the start of my 3 year journey working for Hostelling International.

In a huge corner house, in a quiet street, I bloomed into my adulthood. I gain confidence not only in my professional life, but on a personal level. I was proud to work for them and with them. In fact, I much rather be working all day long, than be at college, since I was never into the classroom dynamic anyway, so I skip the class to hang out at work before my shift started. 

Explaining the hostel rules, the front desk hours, what we offered and being the front desk princess was my job. I was the only girl working. All the other front desk employees were men. So I was a fresh face when the guests arrived. 

Until that point of my life, all I knew was bullying, being overlooked by the way I dressed and because I was not cool enough to be part of any social groups in Rio de Janeiro. Until the European guys starting to validate me and my ego on a daily basis. That’s when I realized I was in the wrong place. It was not me, it was me living in Rio, a city with impossible beauty standards. 

I made the best of friends, from all over the world.

I was in and out of love every week, sometimes longer, when they was a remote promise of a possible return to see me. The guests used to invite me to their outings and I had the best years of my life. My favorite part of working at the front desk was to see people who got there alone, coming out to have fun and being part of a group. 

Going out to hang out in Lapa, in the middle of the week, with some people from all over like Israelian guys, the hostel intern from Minas Gerais,  and a lawyer from Sao paulo  is still one of my favorite memories of that time. Coming back on a taxi, with 5 people, plus the driver, I was seating at the intern’s lap, because she the only other girl, laughing and joking is still the best memory of that time. 

The hostel finished molding me into what I’m to these days. In my formative years, adulthood entrance doorway, knowing my likes and dislikes, the safe way of being a solo female traveler, as young woman.

Hostels are cheap accommodation, so you can put your foot on the door, as a budget traveller. Its not for everyone, and the hardest crowds are Americans, because they like privacy, and nobody on their personal spaces. Asians, Europeans, south and central Americans and Australians are more flexible when it comes to sharing spaces. During my time at the hostel I didn’t see many people of color or Africans, so I don’t have an opinion on if either they like to stay in hostels or not.  

There is nothing like shared accommodation rooms.

Some people don’t mind co-ed, I always choosed the girls room, mainly for safety purpose. Again. Safety has to be your number one priority.  The shared accommodations hostels also offers a private rooms, for couples and families. Its usually a simple room, with a bed, tv and shower. Please don’t expect The Ritz Carlton amenities when you are paying 120 bucks a night. 

Hostels are a great alternative to save money and travel more, as some of it offers breakfast with a small upcharge on the nightly rates, but they also have shared common areas like an equipped kitchen, a tv room and I’ve seen some that also offers working space. 

The HI, or Hostelling International follows a strict guidelines to open and remain open. I’m pretty sure Selina hostels, another hostel shared accommodations company, has it too. They follow a cleaning guideline, spaces to be shared, and bathrooms based on the amount of guests hostel capacity.

In 2010, I stayed in a hostel from HI in Perth, Australia. It was a huge building, they had a tv room, a kitchen, a bar/coffeeshop in the morning, the rooms were immense and so was the shared bathroom. In each floor, separated by gender. 

Some hostels also offers local tours for a cheap price, usually the from desk person selling and they get a commission. 

The time is now. Hostels are safe and they follow guidelines. Bring a lock for your locker, earplugs and a mask if you are staying in a shared room. Make sure to be respectful with other and remember to mingle and have fun. Learn about other cultures, ask about their favorite food. 

Hostel are a great type of accommodation for young people who would like to explore as much as they can without breaking their budget

Travel by bus, by plane, by train. Use that PTO you earned and you worked so hard for it. Don’t be scared to take chances, while you are alive and healthy. 

See you next week, when is finally February. Isn’t it the longest month yet?