“That’s the trouble with you American girls,” said the naked man standing two feet away from me. “You’re all so prude.”
I nervously peered toward the door, silently begging my husband to hurry up and come back into the room. “It’s ok, it’s ok. It’s not my wish to make you uncomfortable. I’ll put my clothes back on.”
And thus began my initiation into the wild and crazy world of international hosteling. My husband and I had just sold or given away everything we owned and bought one way tickets to Asia.
Our boredom with our previous life had driven us to desperation and we decided it was far better to start fresh, with open minds.
An open mind is a great thing, but I wasn’t quite sure my mind was THIS open.
We had just checked into our first hostel, a small, clean spot on Lavender Street in Singapore. I had spent the last few days telling my husband how much fun hosteling could be. I was an experienced hosteler, you see. I had spent a summer hosteling in Europe and I had the time of my life. Just one problem. My previous experience had included traveling with about 30 other American students.
While we had shared hostel rooms with strangers, the rooms were primarily made up of people that I knew. I had also spent some time hosteling through France solo, but had made a point to choose female-only rooms. This was my first taste of a co-ed hostel room.
My husband and I had checked in at the front desk of the hostel and decided it’d be more fun to meet people than to have our own private room. Co-ed room it was!
We walked in, dropped off our bags, and as I settled in with my travel journal, he went off to shower. A few minutes later, in came “the German.” We exchanged a few pleasantries about our various travel intentions.
I told him we were unemployed and looking forward to the trip of a lifetime. He told me had just broken up with his girlfriend and decided to take off on a trip during his summer break from university to find himself. All was going well, until I heard some rustling and peered over at him. He was completely naked, sifting through his backpack. Presumably in search of clothing.
“Oh! Oh my gosh! Do you want me to give you a minute?! I can step outside,” I stammered, my cheeks hot and my palms sweaty. That’s when he informed me that “American girls were so prude.” And he put his clothes back on.
He wasn’t wrong. I was absolutely unprepared to be confronted with stark nakedness. To be honest, I didn’t think having a guy changing in front of me was all that weird. I had spent a ton of time in theater and at the pool and it really wasn’t that big of deal. I had just never been around someone who was so open about it. I was used to the whole “swimmer’s deck change” process. You know, guys changing while mostly being covered.
It was pretty shocking, but you know what? I got over it.
And here’s the thing – my first awkward experience with international hostelling has become part of my experience. Part of my story. That’s the thing with travel – what makes us uncomfortable in the moment makes for funny recollections in the future. My husband and I still laugh at the memory of “the naked German.”
I have never stayed at a hostel before. I am glad you shared your experience.
I have never stayed in an international hostel..thats a nice read!
Specially liked the picture with red chairs 😉
you’re hilarious! absolutely love the style of your writing and can’t wait to read more… the question is, will you stay in hostels again?!
heck yes! That’s the fun part. We actually just stayed in a hostel last weekend, lol!
I’ve never stayed at a hostel but have had tons of friends who have and have absolutely loved it! One of my European friends has traveled all over and has stayed in tons of hostels. I think the whole a random man naked situation would of had me shocked as well but I would of probably laughed if off lol this post was hilarious and as all your other posts are, super enjoyable!!! I cant wait for your next post!
Awww- thank you so much for your kind words!
Amazing stuff. I love
Amazing
I loved this! I have stayed in hostels before and let me say it is where I have my funniest travel stories from 😀 thanks for sharing!
I’ve stayed in a selection of hostels, in Germany (and never had this issue!), the UK, and Ireland. Although it is fun to have mixed rooms there sometimes isn’t the option, a YMCA in Germany didn’t allow it- so my male travelling friend had to stay in a room nearby- which was the most unnerving thing for me! On the whole, I really like using hostels, they’re generally everything you _reeeally_ need when you’re holidaying on a budget- and tend to have great locations! I look forward to more of your adventures!
“The German” – do you know where the guy came from? I think this is so funny because this seems to be a stereotype of Germans but at least around Hanover where I live we aren’t that open. A good read! thank you for sharing
You know, I’m sure he told me, but I don’t remember…this was a few years ago, but the memory lives on! My husband is also German (1st generation American) and thinks it’s a bit strange, lol
Haha, this is a great story! Though one of the things I will never be the hostel girl 😀
Ahhhh, hostel living! It’s actually one of my favorite ways to meet people when I travel. I have so many funny stories relating to this, ha! Happy traveling!
I have never stayed in hostels before, but i must say your post was really fun to read and i enjoyed every bit of it.
I never stayed in a Hostel till date but I am sure it must be worth experiencing. It was a funny read.
On experience, I have never stayed in a Hostel. But thanks for sharing your experience.
Oh this reminds me of my very good friend at the Blue Lagoon, not quite prepared for European nakedness. LOl great story for the grandkids one day
Great post! I’ve always tried to stay in all female rooms in hostels. I’ll consider myself forewarned about the coed dorms.
haha, thank you!
What an adventure to undertake! I dream of buying a one-way ticket some day…I’m pretty comfortable with nudity, but I wouldn’t expect to see it in a public place, especially where it’s not the custom:)
I’ll admit, my first reaction would be shock too! You have such a positive attitude though. Love your writing, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for the compliment 🙂
I haven’t stayed in a hostel in years but every time it has been an experience and I have come away with some great stories like your self and this post. I think you had my attention straight away at naked man though I might have run a mile with him standing there. You do know that Germans love to be nake right and apparently there is a park in German that they take their clothes off. Wish you the best of luck on your adventure through Asia
really!?! Totally didn’t know that. We’re heading to Germany soon – but with my five year old, so I’ll be sure to steer clear of that park, LOL!
This made me lol and remember my hosteling days 20 years ago. I never met a baked German man, though. You should check out the documentary A Map for Saturday about a year hosteling around the world.
Sounds awesome – will check it out. Thanks for the tip!!
Oh my! What a funny and engaging post. What a strange and eye-opening introduction to international hostels. I have to admit, I would be very surprised and very uncomfortable. I guess it takes modest people like me and more free people like your German to make traveling adventures so fun.
Haha, I would have been shocked, too. Definitely made for a grander experience and story. LOL I remember bumping into Sandra Oh in a spa in Barcelona stark naked. Then we just had a conversation like it was no big deal and I left feeling like I had violated someone or vice versa. LOL
OMG – what an experience!!!!!!! I don’t know what I would have done. I’m heading to Barcelona in May – we’ll have to chat about your trip!!
What a start to your new life! That is quite an experience in international hosteling. But I’m sure it was just another day for him. Have a great new phase, filled with wonderful stories.
thank you so much!
It must have been quite a shock. Guess that is part of the hostel life. Personally, it has been a long time since we stayed in a hostel. This is probably the flip side of living in a hostel. On the plus side, of course, you have the camaraderie and the opportunity to meet and interact with people.
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