Hostel living: Things that annoy me

I have lived alone for about eight years. I am very particular about how things should be done. I also like my space to look a certain way. In the past, I have been judged for this. One person went as far as saying that my place didn’t look homely because it was “too neat.” By the way, I think that’s ridiculous.

Naturally, I was worried about sharing a house with strangers but I knew it was something I wanted to do as the whole journey is about getting out of my comfort zone.

On the main, the experience has been pleasant. People do clean up after themselves. My issue are those who do a shoddy job.

Someone left the sink like this after doing the dishes.

Personally, I do the dishes straight after eating. I get that not everyone does that. But still, why leave dishes for a couple of hours in a shared kitchen?

This is an issue for someone who wants to stay in a clean space. At times I just do them because the place has to look presentable to guests. I don’t want to be showing guests around and there’s a sink with dirty dishes. Everyone knows that the house cleaner leaves at a certain time and yet people leave dishes in the sink. By the way, even if the cleaner is around, people are still expected to do their dishes but not everyone does this.

However this is a dilemma for me. Many people are used to seeing people who look like me in servant positions so I don’t want to perpetuate the stereotype. So there are times where I also choose to be Ray Charles to the sink.

Another thing that annoys me is when someone leaves their trash lying around. What’s so difficult in throwing stuff in the bin?

What’s that lemon doing there?

This really gets to me. You see the crumbs from your stale bread and you just leave it there! What must happen when the next person wants to use the kitchen!? This really gets to me and I have to remind myself that it’s not my house.

Bread crumbs.

Lastly, it seems some people have a negative reaction to closed cupboards. Of they are taking something out, they will leave the doors wide open. It doesn’t even take a second to close one but hey, who cares?

What can I say

So yeah it’s been trying times for a neat freak. I have had to bite my tongue daily. I just don’t understand what’s not clicking about leaving the kitchen the same way you found it!

Lessons from Swakopmund

I spent eight and a half weeks in Swakopmund which is a coastal town in Namibia. It was my first volunteer experience so I wanted to take it all in.

During my stay, I observed everything around me. So here is a list of what stood out for me in Swakopmund.

Inequality

There are two sides to Swakopmund. I stayed in town where everything is within walking distance. It’s a beautiful town with lots of tourists.

Swakopmund has a lot of German influence.

If you walk for about 30 minutes out of town, you see the other side of Swakopmund where the poor lives. When you get to the location, Mondesa, the inequality is there for everyone to see.

An informal settlement in Mondesa.

There are no tourists here. Only those who come for “township tours.”

People are just trying to survive. They have to make do with the little they have.

A fruit and veg stall in Mondesa.

Segregated

I went to my first Oktober Fest in Swakopmund. I was looking forward to a festive atmosphere. When I arrived at the venue, there was not a single person who looked like me! I really stood out so I decided not stay. On my way out, I snapped a picture for ‘the Gram’ . Someone commented thinking I was in Germany. I understood what gave them that impression.

Oktober Fest at Sound Garden.

I went to a second spot for the festival. Still no black people but there was a handful of colored people so I stayed. I may be no beer drinker but I know that black people do drink beer. So how come they were nowhere to be seen at a beer festival?

Tourist town

Swakopmund is a tourist town. You hear international languages all the time. As a result, hospitality is big business. For example, on our street, I lost count of guesthouses. And I hear they all get packed during the December holidays.

A German-inspired beer garden.

I will leave it here for now. Have you visited Swakopmund? What was your impression of the place? Leave a comment below.

Wasting Food

Did you know that almost one third of the food in the world gets thrown away?

Personally, I really hate food wastage. I don’t buy more than I need and I use it before it goes off. I stick to a grocery list whenever I go to the supermarket. I also rearrange the cupboard/fridge according to what needs to be eaten first.

I guess I took it to heart when my mother told me about starving children whenever I didn’t finish my food.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying overeat. That’s also wrong. I’m saying don’t cook more than you need and don’t let your food rot in the cupboard.

During my stay at the hostel, I’ve been amazed at how much people waste food. It’s a place that promotes sustainability and yet people let food go to waste almost daily. For example, a person will make a cup of tea, leave it on the kitchen counter, only to return when it’s cold. They will then pour it down the sink and make another cup. Nevermind that there’s a microwave in the same kitchen.

A traveller will cook pasta for dinner and throw it away the next morning because they feel like something else.

Why not offer that pasta to others in the hostel or take it with you on your morning or afternoon walk? You are bound to bump into someone who hasn’t eaten. You have to be blind not to see the inequality in this place. There are people who really have nothing.

Wasting food is morally wrong. It’s simple as that. As I’m writing this, another one took too much spring onion from the garden and now they’re throwing 80% of it in the bin. I’m defeated.

What I’ve learned living in A Hostel

I have been living in a hostel for seven weeks now. I am no expert on hostel culture but I will share my lived experience thus far.

In the several weeks that I have been volunteering at this hostel, I have mingled with travellers from different parts of the world, people I would have never met in my everyday life.

In my ignorant mind, only certain people stayed at backpackers – boy, was I wrong! I’ve met students, medical doctors, scientists, hairdressers and travel bloggers. They all love hostels because of the communal living and of course, it’s budget travel.

One woman, who’s travelled to 148 countries solo, said she felt safer at hostels because there were other people around as compared to Airbnb for example.

I also clicked with some people. You really do meet your tribe while traveling solo.

Best place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just chilling.

I have also come to realize that Germans love Namibia because 80% of our guests are German. I am well aware of their colonial past. So that plays a huge role on the relations between the two countries.

Before I digress, I love how people as young as 19-years-old are traveling by themselves. It’s truly an amazing experience. I think traveling early on in your adult life is best as you have less responsibilities. Be that as it may, I know that not everyone has the privilege to travel straight after school. I’m the perfect example: I had to work for years, quit my job so I could have a gap year! So there’s no time frame, do it whenever you can.

We’ve all been told that travel opens your mind. It’s true. The people I’ve met, from Finland to Brazil, are truly open minded and always eager to learn about different cultures.

Lastly, as an introvert I am constantly reminded to open up to new experiences. I have been getting out of my comfort zone and I believe I will be better for it.