Wednesday, July 4, 2007
I had to laugh at myself the other morning. Okay so I do that often, but this was one of those derisive laughs we smile upon those who needed to be and have been humbled. What was it Jesus said – something about before you lament the twig in the eye of another why don’t you uproot the friggin’ redwood in your own….
Long ago I learned, and far to regularly I forget, that we are all merely mirrors for one another. We see reflected back to us only that which we know in ourselves, that which we recognize. Though we would rather not admit it, we cringe at atrocities in the world not only because we abhor the suffering that comes from them but because I think we know in some hidden corner of our soul that we are all, all of us, capable of such things given a certain set of circumstances. We are certainly capable of turning a blind eye to suffering, in the world, in our streets, in our hearts.
So here I spend my life, quite literally, trying to open the minds of others to other worlds, to the concept of travel, encouraging everyone I meet to experience other cultures and create connections, to meet and commune with the wonderful people of this world. I preach by example as well as by word, traveling alone with faith in others, embracing foreign lands, always open to new people, new food, new ways. I try to say everyday with my life, “The world is open to you. You can create any life you want. Every single day is filled with opportunity, with possibility, with connections waiting to happen.” Couchsurfing is often my platform – I launch into my spiel about people in this world all basically trying to do the same thing – keep the bills paid, the food on the table, the love in their hearts, and a bit of peace in their soul even though they may dress and pray in homes that look different speaking languages that sound different, about living in a world of trusting and trustworthy people. “We are united in this tribe of man – just open to the world and you will find it is filled with amazing experiences and connections waiting to happen. Trust yourself, your intuition, the basic goodness of man and open to life, to God, the Universe, the Travel Angels or whatever name you give to That Which Watches Over You and he/she/they/ it will indeed watch over you.” That’s my stance.
“So, Miss Wde-Open-to-Life and Mighty, why have you never stayed in a hostel before?” I asked myself as I settled into sleep in the dorm room where my new friends were already breathing that slow rhythmic breath of slumber. I knew the answer before I finished asking myself the question. Because I was scared. Yes me, little Miss World Traveler. Scared that I would feel out of place, that I would be twice everyone’s age, that I wouldn’t belong, that they would whisper about me behind my back “what does she think SHE is doing.” Basically, scared I would be back in grade school where none of the kids liked me. When I couldn’t find a couch, I would go to a hotel instead, convinced that hostels were filled with 18 year olds drinking beer who would feel intruded upon by someone old enough to be their grandmother; convinced there was something to fear in the unknown, forgetting that the only fear in the unknown is that it is unknown.
The Hiker’s Hostel was set in the Old Town of Plovdiv. The first night I paid a little more to stay closer to the center, thinking I would only need a place for one night. I wasn’t even staying with Hiker’s, but Pete let me use the internet for hours and even gave me a beer, all for about a buck. The next day when my other plans fell through, I trudged my backpack up the hill. Pete, my savior, opened up the second building for me a few blocks away where I had the run of the place to myself – two beds in the single room, and three bunkbeds to choose from. It reminded me of the dorms back in Colorado. I complained so much about having roommates my dorm mother finally opened an entire floor and gave me one of the rooms. I think she thought I would shrivel up all alone like that. She was wrong. I was happiest when I was alone.
Since Pete had given me run of the place for the price of a dorm bed so I couldn’t really complain the next day when someone paid full price for the two bed room and I was moved into the dorm. Still I dreaded sleeping in the dorm with others. As it turned out Emma and Mark were delightful and much to my surprise I slept just fine.
I discovered, now that I actually TRIED IT, that I really enjoyed the hostel experience. I love couchsurfing, love being that close to the people and culture of the country I am visiting, but hostelling opened up another experience, almost as valuable - the chance to commune with other travelers, others doing the same things as you. I enjoyed the comraderie, chatting about places we’d been or were going, sharing travel books and stories. I was touched sitting there the last morning as two travelers headed in one direction offered their leftover Turkish money to the couple headed to Istanbul. It was nice too being able to spread the couchsurfing word amongst travelers. Since hostelling, six of the people I met have signed up profiles and some have already written to me telling me of their new experiences. It makes me feel like I’m doing something to deserve my little yellow flag (as a Nomadic Ambassador).
Each of the hostels had a different feel to it – though I didn’t like any as well as I did the Hiker’s Hostel in Plovdiv. While the other employees at Kismit and Old Town Sibiu were perfectly nice and helpful upon request, there was a delight in the employees at Hiker’s Hostel. They really loved being part of a hostel, watching people come and go, meeting people from around the world, helping them find their way on to new worlds. Kismet in Brasov and Old Town in Sibiu felt like businesses, effectively run operations rather than little havens for travelers. Perhaps I was just lucky to have Hiker’s Hostel for a first experience.
I received an email from them the other day. They had mailed a package for me despite that it had cost double what we had guessed it would cost. They mailed it anyway and sent me an email asking that I wire the difference to their bank account when I had the chance. Of course I will, with a few extra Lev to ensure their wonderful staff has a few beers on me to show my appreciation. Thanks guys – you were a great first time!
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