Hostels

Hostels are quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of South America.

For one reason, traveling is so much more affordable.  Our hostel in Córdoba cost US$10 a night and El Viajero in Montevideo, only US$20.  Think about the difference this saves in a week-long trip compared to an American hotel that you might be able to find for US$60 per night.  Hostels provide you with a light breakfast, bedding, and sometimes towels.  While they give you as much freedom as you desire, there are also planned events and tourist attractions should you need some suggestions.


El Viajero served Chivitos the first night, the national dish of Uruguay.  It's a steak sandwich loaded with toppings.  We passed, but ended up trying it at the restaurant we went to anyways.  Another night, they served a traditional asado, or barbeque.  In addition to having a home-cooked local meal prepared for you, it's a great way to socialize with other people staying in the hostel.  Almost everyone staying at El Viajero stayed in for the asado on the rooftop terrace.  People took turns playing Spanish songs on the guitar as we enjoyed steak and chorizo with a glass of wine and good conversation.

Sure, you have to share a tiny room with five other people, but that's the other reason I really enjoy hostels. Since we actually stayed for more than one night in Montevideo, we got to know the other people staying there and meet new roommates every day.  Instead of keeping to ourselves like usual, we had breakfast with the other travelers, went to dinner with them, drank with them, and built what I hope to be a lasting network of friends/acquaintances around the world.  Two people there were reunited after meeting in Lithuania three years ago!!! It takes the saying, "It's a small world," to a whole new level.

Why not ditch the "personal space" school of American thought for the energetic, adventurous joy of summer camp?  It would do us all some good to rediscover our childlike curiosity and openness to new experiences.  That is exactly what you find in the the personalities of people who stay in hostels.  Most are open to sharing their incredible journeys and equally excited to hear yours.  While our modestly adventurous trip nowhere near compares to those of our hostel counterparts, no one has made us feel beneath them for being part of a more structured, school setting.

In both hostels, we have been both the youngest and the only people in South America as part of a school trip.  It's really humbling and puts my life back into perspective.  Although we are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to study abroad, it comes with some limitations.  We plan as many trips and activities on the weekends as we can, but work or class will always be waiting Monday morning.  That said, there's only so far you can travel from Buenos Aires in one weekend and have enough time there to make it worth the trip.  I have been living vicariously through the astounding trips of the people I've met.  Victor, a new friend, began his trip in Canada 18 months ago and drove his motorcycle, Olga, all the way down to South America where he's sightseeing and volunteering in medical clinics along the way.  I definitely recommend you check out his blog. It's incredibly impressive.  Our roommate Alana moved from her home in Australia to Europe to the United States to South America before she makes the same route back.

The girls plus CJ, Anna's bf, and Alana, our hostel roomie.

Most people only have a very loose outline at best of their next 6 months to a year.  To me, that thought is liberating and terrifying at the same time.  Coming from the mindset of a soon-to-be college graduate eager to climb the job ladder, it is unfathomable to take a year off of life and my professional aspirations to just travel.  Stay here a week, go there for a month. Living out of a backpack.  That's the other side of the spectrum that puts me back in my place.

Yes, I envy the free-spirited travels of our new friends, but it's really hard to complain about missing home when some of these people haven't seen "home" in years.  Also, as much as I would love my room in Columbia, I am dying to be back in my Buenos Aires bed at the end of our weekend trips.  I can't imagine sharing a room with five people and literally living out of a backpack for more than a month, let alone 18.  Most of these people aren't even in the same town long enough to do their laundry! It is refreshing to share stories that make you feel successful and humbled at the same time.  I always feel re-energized when I return to Buenos Aires.