Sign Language

As previously mentioned, I’m working for the hostel where I stay in exchange for my accomodations (“a cambio de mi alojamiento” – I’m trying to memorize this phrase for when I need to explain why I work at a hostel.  I figured it’d be obvious, but more than one person has encouraged me to use this phrase over saying “I work there to pay for my stay” or anything along those lines, so perhaps there is some innuendo I am unaware of).  The hostel is comfortable, well maintained and uniquely furnished.

This place caters primarly to North American, European and Australian travelers – most of whom speak English – but doesn’t make any assumptions when it comes to the necessities:

One Australian, who maybe isn’t fluent in sign language, took the time to verify the purpose of the room: “That’s where yeh go to take ya knickers off, yeah?” After each girl’s visit, he’d check to make sure we were using the room for it’s intended purpose: “Did yeh take ya knickers off?”  He got away with it partially because he was cute, grinning and goofy but mostly because we were too busy laughing at his Australian accent to consider it at all creepy.

There’s a third, private bathroom but the sign’s meaning is a little ambiguous, so there a bit of English to help clarify:

So far, life at the hostel has been great.  Very interesting and very entertaining.  In the 2+ weeks that I have been here we’ve had 6-7 Australians, 5 Frenchies, 2 Irish girls, a Brazilian, a Georgian (from the state, not the country), a Colombian from Jersey and a couple Chileans.  Almost all of them have been cool & friendly and each brings their own amazing stories of past travels and future destinations.

In addition to the normal travel spots, I heard about some neat volunteering experiences.  The knickers-obsessed Australian told me about a program through a Bolivian animal refuge which shelters all types of creatures, but specializes in aiding the area’s big cats.  An Australian girl told me she worked as a hiking guide around a volcano in Nicaragua (this may or may not have been a volunteer program, can’t remember) and the Colombian girl plans to work with handicapped children in Peru (I think) and at an orphanage in Colombia.   Makes me feel kinda lazy for sitting behind a desk, but the hostel gig is a good trade for life amidst such an active and ever-changing environment.

Since I live here I won’t be posting the name of the place, but I will give you one clue: the hostel’s name is a palindrome.  If you happen to guess the hostel, you get … um … this postcard:

Or this one:

Seriously though, if you are interested in the hostel feel free to contact me and I’ll send you the details.  Maybe even on one of these lovely postcards.