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A travelling friend, who like many of us alternates between low end pensions and hostels sent me her observations. I had a good laugh, and asked her if I could share it. They are currently in Lubjana (sp?) having started in Iceland, then Finland, Russia, and Venice. He has the best career in the world. He used to be a corporate executive, but decided life was too short, and so they sold the house and hit the road. He has a real job though... He has a PH.D in Business Admin, and he teaches for an online University wherever they are. They are from the U.S., and stopped in Victoria on their way to Alaska... they loved it so much, they stayed a year! hopefully they will come back...
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Posted from the road:
This is going to be my wicked, stereotypical analysis of the hostellers we come across everywhere we go, a completely subjective report (but will likely ring true to those of you who have slummed it around the world):
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THE PARTY GIRL Unafraid to travel alone, at night, or anywhere any time, always up and getting ready to go out to the bars, loud scratchy voice, cigarette nearby or hanging from lip, endless outfits and trendy scarves
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THE PRETTY BOYS Found in packs of three or more, underdeveloped chests puffed out, hair carefully gelled and brows tweezed to perfection, guilty of leaving beer bottles and dirty dishes out after a long night of laughing too loudly while others are trying to sleep
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THE SNOOTY COUPLE We may qualify for this category but only at times, seen in a corner quietly whispering to one another, looking slightly terrified and checking their savings accounts every other day
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THE EUROPEANS Women who look mannish but are not lesbians, men who still wear tight, high rise jeans and/or Speedos; oblivious to other travelers, they eat vegetables at breakfast and drink beer with lunch and dinner
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THE AUSSIES AND KIWIS See above but without the high rise jeans, add a twang to the accents
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THE ASIANS Travel in groups, quiet and polite but getting less quiet and polite each generation (and less tiny), come and go like ghosts, make no eye contact
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THE WORKERS Vary from extremely rude to extremely helpful, are usually travelers themselves, in between trips, in between high school and 23, do the bare minimum to keep up the hostel and spend the rest of time on Facebook
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THE HIPPIES: The older, forever young hippy type who has been everywhere, done everything and is not shy about telling everyone unendingly how cheaply he has done it. However this generation of hippies are more hipster with name brand back packs and salon-done dredlocks
THE ISRAELIS , Who travel in a pack, smoke like fiends,loudly haggle for the last two cents, even in Third World countries, and are unwelcome in most hostels in Central and |South America.
THE OLD FOLKS Seemingly fearless and tireless, they go wherever they want to in the world, ignoring the consular sheet warnings, and always seem happy wherever they are. The most interesting to talk with and usually the most open minded. This is what we are working toward becoming.,
