Have you ever gotten the pleasure to cook in a hostel kitchen?
Yeah, me either, until a week ago. I decided it would be much easier and much cheaper if I just went out and picked up peanut butter and bread at the Aldi about a three minute walk from my hostel and do that for the next three nights. However, once I got to the store, that just didn’t seem healthy enough for me so I settled for a good, old faithful dish of mine, egg whites and spinach with an onion for flavor and apples for my fruit/ dessert. We’ll Aldi doesn’t sell egg whites, so it turned into one egg and two extra egg whites. Anywho that isn’t important…
The kitchen.
Now when you first read that opening question, did you think I was being sarcastic? It kinda sounds like it right? Plus if you think about a bunch of 20 something year olds sharing one kitchen and all the dishes, ew. That has got to be gross and dirty right?
I absolutely loved my cooking experience! Yes, the dishes weren’t my standard cleanliness (like obsessive cleanliness), but they were clean. Only selective burners worked, but me James, and Lydia bonded over this. Everyone was chatting with each other and laughing, and those of us who were lone travelers and we’re sitting alone were still part of the conversations and fun. We laughed over undercooked pasta, overcooked asparagus, and enjoyed what we had.
Life is simpler in a hostel.
People here seem to be searching to find their way.
From 30 year old Michael, the French traveler I met while we were chopping our onions, who is searching for a job so he can travel and treat himself to the vacations he wants, to Aphrodite, my 54 year old roommate who has just returned from Greece to Australia and wants to settle back in here, to the current long term residents who are working 8 hours a day and then joining us in the kitchen, life is being lived and paths are being discovered in hostels.
Through the Eyes of a Runner 
It certainly sounds like a great way to meet people.
You are so brave to stay at one. I think it would be amazing do stay at one once just to meet all the different people. But then I remember the horror movie hostel and I am terrified to do so.
You can do it Paulina!! It was fun for a short time!!
Your hostel experience sounds fun! I’ve heard crazy stories and have always been a little freaked out by them!
Please be careful, my lovely child. I can see that you are enjoying life and experiencing in a new world.
I will be!! 🙂
Cooking has a way to unite people and create conversation out of nowhere! Your experience sounds awesome.
Where I come from, a hostel is pretty much something you live in when you’re still in school, but its too far for your parents… Think y’all call it a boarding school!
For me, it takes time to shift my brain to that context – but I have to say that I totally LOVED living in hostel during school time and outside of that!
It really is the best way to live, especially when on holiday!
Amanda @ http://www.amandaniescior.com
Oh! That’s cool! It has definitely just been a holiday spot for me probably not all year in school haha!
I am so jealous of your travels! Sounds so exciting!
Enjoy,
Michelle
mash-elle.blogspot.com
This sounds so awesome! I was definitely too scared to stay in a hostel when we went to Europe, but it sounds like you’re having a great time!
What a fun & unique way to meet people!
This post made me happy! I love how you shared a bit about these peoples lives! It shows how much this experience moved you! I think it would definitely be a great experience to stay at a hostel!
This is so cool! I have some friends who just got back from Germany and they stayed at a hostel and absolutely loved it!
How neat! I just love meeting new people with fascinating stories!
How amazing experience you’ve had meeting people. 🙂
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