Sometimes it felt as if time stood still. You're young, you're in good company, you exchange ideas and over time you become more and more familiar and grow together.
Vanessa traveled with us to beautiful Mexico and experienced our hostel experience there. She met lots of cool new people and experienced the warm hospitality of the Mexicans for the first time.
I specifically chose Latin America because I was aware that the people there are very warm and open and that there is delicious food and good music. I planned my trip at relatively short notice, about a month in advance. I chose Mexico as my destination and I had a little respect for traveling alone as a woman in this country. You often hear that Mexico is dangerous, but I didn't have that experience. On the contrary, the towns of Tulum and Playa del Carmen were also very suitable for women traveling alone.
Above all, Wanderworld gave me a feeling of security. They were able to answer all my questions and it gave me a good feeling that women had prepared me for the trip.
On the first day, I was pretty exhausted from the almost 16-hour journey and mainly rested. Then I met a fellow traveler and we explored Playa del Carmen and tried a few specialties such as tacos and empanadas. My first impression of the country was: "wow, it's pretty warm here". I was still wearing long clothes from the flight, so I quickly changed them. Everyone was super friendly and open. There was no uptight feeling, which is often the case in Germany, for example, when you are dressed openly. I really liked that. You felt at ease.
We had a great introductory day with Doris. She took us to a cenote and then we ate. It was my first time eating chilaquiles. It was really delicious! Then I went to Tulum, where I did the hostel experience and got to know my team.
I was taken to my room and immediately made friends with two girls from Argentina. I also got to meet lots of people from different countries during my work. At the beginning it took a bit of getting used to sleeping in a room with 5-7 people you hardly know, but after the 4th/5th night it was fine.
In the first two weeks of my project, I mainly helped with tidying up and cleaning. You could say I was more involved in housekeeping. After that, I was trained in the activities of a receptionist. I really enjoyed this, as many guests came from different parts of the world. It was a great way to exchange ideas. As I had already worked in the hotel industry, the tasks themselves were nothing new to me, but I was able to expand my Spanish vocabulary.
Working with my colleagues on the project was very informal. The hostel has its origins in Argentina, so I met lots of new people from Argentina. We quickly became familiar with each other and enjoyed our time together. There was a generally relaxed atmosphere. This contributed positively to the working atmosphere.
I usually did things with the girls from France in my free time. We went to the club after work, spent a relaxing evening by the pool or went for a walk through Tulum. To be honest, I hardly went on any excursions as it was too hot for me during the day. I think most of the time I actually went out partying with my team or as a group by the pool in the evening.
The local people showed me how nice it is to be hospitable and, despite everything, to get through the day positively and full of joie de vivre. In Mexico, it wasn't a problem that my Spanish wasn't so good either; despite some language barriers, we had a good time. I was very pleasantly surprised that the men in particular were very respectful and courteous towards us women. Tulum was actually so safe that we could even walk alone at night. I learned from the local people that everyone is simply welcomed and treated with respect.
At the hostel, I had two or three people I really enjoyed spending time with. Julie, Cruz and Sam, all from different countries, provided the perfect mix for several unforgettable evenings. But above all, I liked the team spirit, you were simply part of it. I particularly remember how almost the entire hostel went to the club together and we danced together. That was really nice. Sometimes it felt like time stood still. You're young, you're in good company, you exchange ideas and over time you become more and more familiar and grow together.
My accommodation was in a hostel. I changed rooms several times. The difference to my room at home is of course the comfort and the fact that you have your privacy. But despite this, the accommodation was fine.
In Mexico, I was able to "work" on my gratitude and hospitality in particular. The local people usually have less than we do in Germany, but they are all so warm and grounded. I noticed that it's not about the luxury of the hotel or the expensive local food, but much more about the adventure and the good company.
My stay in Latin America was special because it is very different from the countries I have traveled to before. Mexico is a tropical country, so the climate there is different, but the food, especially the fruit, has a completely different taste, much more intense than in Germany. In the future, I plan to visit the Dominican Republic and Guatemala to simply experience the feeling there.
Sophia, founder of Wanderworld Travel
Lisa, Coordinator & Participant Support
Amanda, Support and advice before departure
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