An open love letter to Spicy

I came to volunteer at the hostel for the very first time with my best friend. The one month we had planned turned into three. I had the pleasure to volunteer with amazing people who, to this day, still are some of my closest friends. They made my stay unforgettable and I knew I wanted to come back. The next time I came back as manager of the hostel. And now, about two years later, it's my last week. Although I promise (you, but mostly myself), that this is not a goodbye, just a “see you later”!

The best thing about working in a hostel is all the people you meet, some are great, some are unique and some are, well… characters. I've met all sorts of people, from Bachata-addicted Russians, to Norwegians who had been “operated on by aliens”, to Hungarians, with all their quirks. My mom tells me I should write a book about all the weird interactions I've had. While I have met some strange types of people you will only ever meet in a hostel, I have also made so many great friends. Everywhere from Brazil, Argentina, the U.S and Mexico, to France, the Netherlands and Catalonia, to Japan and Australia - just to name a few…

Dear Alex and Arwin <3. I know that running a hostel, especially in a highly competitive city like Budapest, can be difficult and at times stressful. But despite that, I hope that you sometimes can take a step back and appreciate all of your hard work. Spicy Hostel is a very special place and a second home for so many people. To have volunteers and guests returning to your hostel years later is an amazing thing. Spicy, unlike many other hostels, has a soul - because you guys truly care about it. Spicy was built by two travelers who love the hostel community and it shows! I am so grateful that you gave me this opportunity and that you trusted me with this responsibility. I have learnt and grown so much during this time. 

I now have a great work experience to put on my CV ;), but most importantly, have I met so many wonderful people that I hope to keep in my life for a very long time. Thank you for believing in me, for all the laughs, for all the beers and all the late nights. Thank you for everything!

I am soon off to Italy for new adventures.

Keep the hostel Spicy for me,

Elsa