So long story short, I'm covering some shifts in the front desk of a hostel. I could've gotten a more ambitious job or a longer term thinking gig, but the truth is I already have a plane ticket to leave Mexico in a few weeks, so committing to anything other than volunteering would be the wrong move for me, not to mention that it would be an asshole kind of move towards my employer. So volunteering it is.
It's not that I'm a cheap bastard and I don't want to pay a formal rent. Well, maybe I am, but that's not the main reason I'm currently part of this gig in Mexico. It's got to do more with the fact that volunteering in a hostel is like traveling without moving. You get to meet people from all over the world, share experiences, create memories and at the same time, enjoying life at its fullest without having to worry too much about other stuff rather than the short term problems.
This comes in handy, especially because as I mentioned in some of my previous posts, I'm planning to study German in Europe for a few months and then, probably will study a Master degree. That means that if everything goes according to plan - which is ambitious to assume, especially since plans never work out the way we want them to when it comes to life - I'll have a couple of years studying, working and adapting to a new country. This means that I'll embrace all the hostel time I can get before I have to cross the Atlantic Ocean once more.
Anyway, that was just a big intro. When it comes to freewrites, one of the first rules - at least for me - is to let your mind flow and your ideas come into words; no editing, no deleting phrases, no proofreading and definitely no revised editions. This means that sometimes I start a free write - just like this one - with a topic on my mind or wanting to get something out of my chest, but the pen (or in this case the keyboard) decides to take me towards other shores.
It's just like life. You have some plans in mind and some goals in your head, but sometimes father destiny has other plans for you. And you have to accept them and embrace them, you gotta pay attention to these signs and read them, else you'll end up sticking to a plan that is no longer yours and in the end will bring you nothing but a feeling of unfulfillment.
Wait, is unfulfillment really a word? You know when you feel fulfilled after achieving a goal or reaching a dream? Well, with that improvised word I meant exactly the opposite.
Right now I'm in that fence. I'm in the middle of making a change of plans. Not too big, not too raw or exaggerated, just a tweak in the plans. Remember how I told you that I was quite undecided between studying my masters in Germany or Austria, particularly between Berlin or Vienna? Well, if you paid attention to that post - yeah, I mean you two guys, the only ones who actually read my posts haha - I mentioned I decided I wanted to go to Vienna because I have a couple of friends based there and the overall cost of Uni and languages courses is cheaper.
A few days ago I met someone based in Berlin. Let's just leave it at that. After some conversations, I decided to think about giving Berlin a try before making a rock engraved decision. After all, it's a decision that could be important. Worst case scenario, I don't like Berlin and I end up in Vienna. Best case scenario, I love Berlin and I get along so well with this person living there that I decide to make it long term and begin my language courses there.
I have no idea why I went there, the topic I mean. I had in my mind to write about how life in a hostel affects you and how my volunteering shifts are messing up with my sleeping schedule and how my meds and medical treatment is still working out perfectly, how I'm lowering my smoking rate and my drinking game is doing good, but I guess my subconscious wanted to get this out of my chest.
That's how freewrites work amigos, you gotta let them flow.
It took me five hours to write this, not because it's long - well it kinda is, I hope you two guys finish reading it before you get bored - but because I'm writing it literally from the hostel's front desk computer. This means I have to actually work and I can only free write in between check ins or when I have some spare time. I wrote this in 3 different batches. I bet you can tell where I had to stop and I had to start again after a while, perhaps you can even tell my mood by the writing style.
Oh yeah, you can tell a lot from a person's writing style. This style is the same, there's only a few writers who can actually manage to fluently write in several styles and manage to keep their readers interested. I'm not a prodigy but I know I'm good. Perhaps I have 2 to 3 successful writing styles where I can keep the readers interested, no matter what I writing about, but I am not a genius and probably you already stopped reading.
Well, these writing styles can and will be influenced by the writer's mood unless he's incredibly talented - which I am not. So perhaps you can tell how my mood changed from 9 am when I started this piece and 2 pm, right when I'm finishing up and taking this picture:
Anyway, those are my current thoughts. I am about to head out and play some basketball, go for a run, hit the beach and then get some Steem work done. After that, I might hit the Salsa lessons - oh yeah, I'm learning Salsa, as it turns out, no matter how latino you are and how much you have dancing in your blood, Salsa is hard as fuck and you actually need to take lessons to successfully dance it correctly.
I hope you liked this write up fresh from my mind - or fingers, or perhaps keyboard from the hostel, not really sure what applies better.
Thats a great job! hot water and a bed and social interactions for a few weeks is surely fun! Berlin is sicko mate, go try it out!
So I've heard! I'm not going for the nightlife, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it, right? :P
Nightlife is for the 9-5er's 🤣 I like the alternativevscene there, many peoples kitchens for example where places cook cheap meals, good places to meet anarchists!
Also theres a few places like Kopi, open occupied places that have bars in the evening and events in the summer, like Bike Wars!
I love the diversaty in Belin, theres so much of that.
ps edit, A friend also said that Vienna is great, he is an artist and got stuck there 😄
That was really a powerful freewrite. It's awesome to know you wrote it in five minutes. Many people think that they need a whole day to pen an interesting piece as this. Really sounds like an ordinary discussion.
Thanks for this tip. i hope I can try out something in few minutes too.
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It took him five hours, not minutes, in three batches. He had to stop writing to continue working and continued writing at breaks.
Some people don't read or read too fast :P
Still gotta give credit, 5 minutes would be impressive! :D
You certainly have a good mood and put it in your writings. I remember a lot when you wrote "papaya" intentionally as a reading exercise. I'm glad you want to study and change things. Good job at the hotel.
Regards.
Oh yes, I remember you were one of the few ones who noticed it! I like reading this, it means a lot that you appreciate my style, after all, as a writer it is all about being able to portray our ideas and thoughts in a way that people get exactly what we mean, with the style we want to transmit them!
🤗 Regards
I think working the desk at a hostel is an awesome way to meet people. What a fitting role for you to take on as you wait for the next travel day. As for Berlin vs Vienna, I wish I had more experience to share, but I like your attitude. Try one, if it isn't awesome, go to the other place. I admire you taking on German as a language. One of my best friends is German and I'm lucky she speaks English, but I'd love to go visit her again one day. I know you're going to have fun! And Salsa?! Yeah! Never too old to learn new things (says the woman who just got a piano after decades of wanting to learn).
I like your style. Steem on bro! ;)
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Thanks man! Good to hear from you!
Berlin is freezing in January, I was there in 2016 and during this month. It was snowing.. but the beer is damn good!
Ye man, and I heard that the nightlife is crazy, we'll have to put that to the test. I would arrive in late February, which apparently is even colder than January, so we'll see :P
Looks like there were more than two readers there XP I think your plan tweak sounds reasonable. Now where's the timestamp [checks] hope you had fun salsaing XD
Oh I gotta practice more, Salsa wasn't fun the first time, nor the second one but now I'm getting the hold of it.
I know, it's nice to know some people really read the stuff I write, no matter how good or bad it is, thank you for always commenting on them and for reading those you stumble upon, it really means a lot to me :)
Your style
a person who is very initiative and constantly strives for development. And in your articles, when you talk about different topics, you pass it on to us
I hope I described the style 😄no
Your plans for the future look grand @anomadsoul
You talked about salsa, I just started learning a dance like this - called bachata, I don't know if you heard
I wish ourselves - good mind, to learn the movements - instantly💪
Yes yes, I understood perfectly what you meant Vika!
Oh yes I know bachata, is very popular in Mexico and latino countries. When we meet again in Steem Fest 5 we will have to see how well we dance together these styles!
Hahah, okey
It sounds like you have it planned
Besides, doing something forever/long-term in terms of work is overrated... unless of course it is something you actually want to do
But if it is just to make money.... gahhhhh
And look at all the funs things planned for today... :D
Salsa is not hard 🙄
It's not hard when you are dancing with someone who's got no idea about it, but when you dance with a girl that's been taking lessons for years, then it becomes quite the challenge!
Hahahh! I understand letting the pen flow, your audience is more than 2. Well, I wish you the best with your advanced studies, Vienna will be a good visit someday
I'm glad to hear it's at least 3! Thanks for the well wishes, in the end it might end up being Berlin and not Vienna, but I'm still assesing the options.
Regards
https://steemit.com/spanish/@theclub/theclub-atencion-sorteo-de-giftcard-de-15usd-para-amazon-viernes-31-enero-2020-spanish-english
I have never been to Berlin but I stayed in Vienna for a week with my friend and I like the environment. Definitely very different from Mexico.
Besides. I like the cheese there lol.
Germany to me is a little lesser attractive because the busyness is almost the same like Asian countries. I am not sure about Berlin but Frankfurt sure gave me a déjà-vu feeling of Singapore.
The good.... I still vote for Austria although they are almost the same.
And the interesting part of Vienna during Summer is you start work early and you finish work about 4:30pm and then, if you're a picnic and community person, you'll see Austrians love their after work picnic and family time.
At least that's in Vienna.
Hope this will weigh you in on your 2 cities decision.
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Living the hostel life was fun for a while. Now I want to set up some roots and also be able to meet new people often.
If you end up going to Berlin let me know, lots of friends there :-)
Most definitely, it's very likely I end up going there. Do you have discord?