Hostel Life

Ya gotta love the hostel life. Everything about it is just freakin´ awesome. This entry will not revisit a specific hostel experience, but a general overview of what life is like in a typical, hostelling internatioal, hostel in South America. A slice of life, if you will.

Because I generally travel alone, I like to stay in the dormitories. The bigger the dorm the better but typically, I´m not too picky. All dorms have bunk beds and a community shared bathroom. I love it mainly because it reminds me of an adult style summer camp, the adult part being that it is coed and the summer camp part being that there are bunk beds and new, exciting friends to be had. And anyone who has known me for let´s say, at least 5 minutes knows how much I love summer camp (In fact, if I could still get away with going to a summer camp without looking like a creepy 25 year old- I SO would!).

When travelling alone, I have a general schedule upon entering a hostel.
1. I check in and eyeball the place (meaning I look for potential friends to hang out with).
2. On the way to my room I pray that I´m not the only girl in my dorm and that there is someone hanging out in the room that I can strike a conversation with, and hopefully become friends with.
3. If there is no one in the room (and there usually isn´t) I put my stuff on the bed and head to the common areas (ie. the room with the free internet or the bar if there happens to be one). I do this, once again, to look for conversation.
note: I may sound a teensy weensy desperate at this point, but I assure you that it is quite a quick and subconcious process.
4. If there is no one to talk to or if I feel like being alone I take to the streets to look for an information station to get whatever I need as far as tourist information (maps, newspapers, fliers etc.)
5. I then look for a cafe where I can quietly read my travel book and all of my info while sipping cafe con leche.
note: this may sound quite calculated, but it varies from place to place. this is a general outline.

There is a specific protocall of questions that are ALWAYS asked when first meeting someone is a hostel. They go as follows:

1. where are you from? (of coarse)
2. how long have you been here? (this could mean in the hostel or in Argentina. whichever one they decide to answer first, ask the other one directly after.)
3. what other places have you visited before __________? insert name of city you are in.
note: this question ignites quite a conversation. There is nothing more a hostel goer likes than to talk about traveling. In fact, it is quite impossible to steer away from this subject.
4. where are you going next? In between all of these questions, you add whatever bit of advice you have to give them, and they nod politely. sometimes you know they are truly interested, and sometimes you know that they aren´t really listening. Either way you give advice.... it is proper hostel going ettiquite.

You might have noticed, the question "what is your name?" was not asked. This question is rarely asked, and if it is, your response goes through one ear and out the other. It´s not important. That is what is so great about meeting people in a hostel, you meet them, have pleasant conversations, maybe do some sight seeing together or go out for drinks, go in together on making dinner in the community kitchen, exchange email addresses, and then say your farewells- tears excluded. Maybe you will see them in future travels, maybe you won´t. That is the whole beauty of it all. And if you do happen to run into them in the future, asking for their name again is purely inoffensive. WHY you ask? Because everyone has been there. Everyone is floating in the same boat, as they say. Also, background info about what you do in your native land is rarely talked about unless it applies to one of these 5 questions. People don´t care. I love it.

And what´s even better is the diversity you come across. You meet people from EVERYWHERE. And if they are from a place you want to visit in the future, all you have to do is invite them to be your facebook friend, send them a message every now and then, and you got a bonefide native tourguide at your clever little fingertips. BRILLIANT! Now that´s thinking ahead, my fellow hostel stayer inner.

I know this all seems like some sort of scheming manipulative way to bag future badass vacations, but that´s just the surface. The majority of these people are truly wonderful and interesting. Obviously, you have a lot in common: you´ve seen the same things\same experiences, read the same books, have the same life goals (i know what you are thinking... life goals? I´m talking about travelling life goals), the same philosophy in life, they´re at the same place in your life, etc etc. These people are from all over the place. You get to hear all sorts of different opinions and perspectives on everything. Have you ever wondered how we (people from the USA) look to foreigners? how English sounds coming out of our mouths? the typical things that we say and do? I never thought or even bothered to notice any of these things about my own people. There are anwers to these questions, and what´s even crazier, as soon as you hear these answers you say to yourself, "wow. they have got our number down. Their stereotypes are actually quite correct."

Sound like a cult yet? It is kinda. But one of those good cults... ya know... one that contributes stuff to things (notice my generalization because I don´t have an example of a good cult.) Have I convinced you to join US yet? good. Don´t forget your copy of "the alchemist" my friend! One in English and Spanish, and follow the trail of backpacks..... We´re on our way to the traveler´s mecca.......... THE HOSTEL!!!