Family dinners with strangers

To my right there’s a conversation in Dutch taking place.

To my left a conversation in English.

Across the table they’re saying something in French.

The language of the country is Spanish.

Sitting at a long dinner table, the hostel’s almost full with 25 people from all areas of the world (lots of french Canadians). We close in 4 days and by the time you’re reading this, we’ve already closed for the slow season.

It’s always an interesting mix of people here, you have some budget backpackers on long journeys, a few families have been through on holiday, and a few solo travelers coming for a holiday to unwind from work and enjoy the surf.

The funny thing is it’s mostly women traveling, you hear a lot of people in The States talk about how dangerous it is to be a female backpacking alone, especially in South America, yet I’d say 80% of the clientele has been young women backpacking alone through South America.

I guess it’s common to fear the unknown, listen to the news, and develop preconceived ideas of the world without actually experiencing it.

It’s crazy to think that most places are safer than Miami at night. That being said, you always have to have your head slightly on a swivel.

It’s really nice having everyone gather at 7:30pm for group dinners, being able to talk about the surf and the places they’ve just come from, or are heading to.

It’s a great way to plan your trip, it allows you to find good places to see, spots to avoid, and cool hostels or towns to stop in.

Working In The Hostel

This is the second hostel I’ve got to work in, both very different places and vibes, but the staff has felt like family in both situations.

The jobs they have at Free Spirit Hostel include:

• Bartender

• Cook (for everyone in the hostel)

• Social Media Management

• Yoga Instructor

• Surf Instructor

• Manager

My position is the trade I know best, bartending. It’s been quite fun and I’ve had a chance to get to know and hangout with a lot of the Puerto Engabao locals.

Our bar shifts go 2 days on 1 day off.

On your off day, you’re the backup bartender incase the night shift gets really busy (you’re not usually needed).

Schedule:

Day 1: Day shift (12-6) Morning and sunset surf

Day 2: Night shift (6-12 close early if everyones asleep) Morning and midday surf

Day 3: Backup (rarely needed) Surf when the waves are best

Day 4: Repeat.

All the staff rotate an activity of the day to host for the guests and team.

The activities vary from pool volleyball, bonfire, and skatepark to beach cleanup, sunset surf, and karaoke keeping the games fun and engaging.

In exchange for working here you get:

• A bed in the Favella (employee dorm)

• Free Breakfast

• Free Dinner

• Free surfboard rentals

• Free yoga classes

• Beach view

• Time to lay in hammocks and contemplate life

The management positions are paid positions and you get a private room.

(I know they’re hiring managers for October to March currently (; )

Katie runs their Social Media which looks a lot different from what I’m doing. It’s a position that you’re never on shift, yet you’re always on shift.

It’s a really interesting job, and fantastic resume builder for getting into social media management and marketing.

(hint: social media management has lots of opportunity to build a remote career in, if you want to travel and continue working from anywhere it can be a very sustainable route)

We found this gig through an organization called Workaway, link at the bottom of this section.

They have positions posted worldwide, typically averaging 20 hours a week in exchange for room & board.

If you’re building freelance skills to work remotely this is a great option to give yourself the chance to work on developing your skills and testimonials while seeing the world.

Or if you’re trying to see as much of the world as possible, working in spots allows you to stretch your funds and get intertwined with the local culture.

You can do something similar throughout the states as well with an organization called Coolworks. They post positions typically in remote areas, National Parks, Ski Resorts and Alaska which are paid positions and include a place to live.

The websites really well organized on Coolworks, you can search based on state, season, job type (they have loads of different positions).

You get all types of different people including retirees, kids taking a gap year, international students, and some people on the run…

If you’re looking to start traveling but don’t think you have enough money, I’d get a job through Coolworks, save money for a season and then buy your ticket overseas.

For international travel and work exchange: https://www.workaway.info/

For jobs based throughout the states that include pay and housing: coolworks.com

Travel

If you want to see the world and don’t have a trust fund or a remote job that allows you to travel you can use the internet to find places to live and work.

The key component in being able to travel long term is being able to find places to work in exchange for room & board, sometimes you’ll find somewhere that pays, but not always.

As you travel and live places you meet other people doing the same thing as you are, exchange ideas and methods of what’s working.

You’ll quickly hear about good or bad resort companies to work for around the world, other websites that offer work programs, ways to freelance or find yourself working on a yacht sailing the world.

Backpacking and budget traveling is by no means comfy, or a vacation. Sure, there’s times when you’re chillin in a hammock or relaxing in hot springs but for the most part it’s a bit of a hustle, day to day figuring out meals, planning your next travel route, getting on a 10+ hour long bus ride, and the list goes on.

However, if you want to see the world you can make it happen.

Pick a destination.

Book a ticket.

Look for a place to work if you need to.

Trust in the universe.

For great tips on travel, or planning your route checkout The Broke Back Packer he has a great book called ”Travel The World On $10/ Day”

https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/

Time to go

It’s been a great time staying and working here.

I got to practice surfing a lot for the first time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’m far from good, but I got the hang of dropping in on green waves fairly well.

And I got washed a lot…

This place would have been extremely nice to roll into after 4 to 6 months on the road and recover, just starting the trip here I still felt slightly stir crazy because I wanted to be on the road.

That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the time here and am looking forward to the next chapter.

In the last month we spent a total of $500. I have a travel budget tracker I need to update, and will be later sharing our daily averages and so on.

No more jobs lined up now, no deadlines or places to be, just getting on the road next.

We’ll head south into winter, and we’ll possibly be skiing in a month or two from now.

Next stop is Cuenca, an old colonial town filled with ex-pats. I’ve heard really good things about it, and I’m stoked to see it!

Cheers,

Eliot

P.S. I really enjoyed working in this bar, I’m collecting as many different types and styles of bars I can work in and then one may have taken 1st place…