My tip for future participants is to simply be open and let everything come to you with few expectations. Just embrace all the surprises that await you and enjoy the changes and the growth you experience as a result.
During her trip to Mexico and Colombia, Izem spent two months full of new experiences, personal growth and unforgettable encounters. In Tulum (Mexico) and Santa Marta (Colombia), she worked at the bar in hostels, got to know people from all over the world and was able to improve her Spanish on a daily basis. Mexico in particular impressed her with the warmth of the people, the vibrant culture and the beautiful beaches.
Alongside her work, she had the opportunity to discover impressive places such as cenotes in Tulum, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Medellín and Cali. Her time in Cali, the salsa capital of Colombia, remains particularly memorable to this day. The trip boosted her self-confidence, broadened her horizons and showed her how enriching it is to approach new cultures and people with an open mind.
I had wanted to learn Spanish for many years, preferably in a Spanish-speaking country. Countries like Mexico or Colombia have always appealed to me and before I started my trip, I did a 6-week language course in Spain to prepare myself linguistically. That was very important to me personally. I booked my trip to Mexico and Colombia at very short notice, about a month in advance. I'm so glad that WanderWorld was so accommodating and was able to make something possible at short notice. Together we organized the Hostel Experience first in Mexico and then in Colombia, each for one month. I was prepared very thoroughly, especially in terms of safety. You experience a lot, but more often only the negative than the positive. I think it's extremely important not to be too prejudiced when it comes to safety, it's just important to be well prepared. The people there are very friendly and helpful and I felt very welcome. Before the trip, I was generally worried about how and whether I would find my way around a new country. So I started the trip with few expectations and just wanted to let everything come to me. I felt very safe with WanderWorld as my contact partner.
My arrival in Cancún, Mexico, went very well and I took a small bus from there to a hostel in Playa del Carmen, as the introductory event would take place there the next day. Transport and the hostel were organized by WanderWorld. Staying in hostels and sharing a room with other travelers was something completely new for me and, to be honest, I was a bit worried about how I would like it. But I have to say that I got used to it really quickly and felt comfortable. The next day we went to a cenote for the introductory event and then we went out for a meal. The next day, I took the bus to Tulum, where my first program was to start. My introduction there was very informal and I got to know new people very quickly, both my work colleagues and hostel guests. The hostel in Tulum was very lively and there was a lot going on as soon as I arrived. Settling into this new world was pretty easy.
About a month later, my arrival in Cartagena, Colombia, also went smoothly. I was picked up by a driver who took me to a hostel. The next day I met up with my contact person and he showed me around Cartagena and told me a lot about the history of the city. It was very interesting and we also went out for a meal and then had a coffee in his café. The next day I took the bus to Santa Marta. The journey was safe. The hostel in Santa Marta was a lot quieter. It took me a little longer to settle in here, because Colombia is very different to Mexico. I have to say that I had already fallen in love with Mexico, so it was generally a bit difficult for me to leave Mexico and settle into the new program location.
In Tulum, I worked at the hostel bar 6 days a week. I mostly worked in the evenings. I already had a lot of experience in the hospitality industry, but I had never worked behind the bar. I was trained well by the bar manager and was up to speed after just a few days. It was really fun mixing cocktails, working with my colleagues and getting to talk to so many people while I was serving them. I was also able to continue practicing my Spanish while working. I got on really well with the manager and he always made sure that everything was okay with me.
In Santa Marta, I also worked at the hostel bar and got on very well there too. The evenings in the hostel were mostly quiet. I really liked the fact that the bar was on the terrace of the hostel. You could watch the most beautiful sunsets from there every evening.
In Tulum, I usually spent my free time cycling to the beach, visiting nearby cenotes or finding other activities. Sometimes with my work colleagues, sometimes with travelers I met at the hostel and sometimes alone. It's so easy to meet new people, you don't have to be shy at all as most of the people you meet are very open-minded themselves. I got on well with my work colleagues and the best moments were when we all went out partying together after we closed the hostel bar. Other hostel guests were usually always there too. The beaches and cenotes in Tulum and the surrounding area are beautiful.
I had a week of free time between the two programs, which I spent in Oaxaca and Mexico City. In Oaxaca, I met up with a friend who was traveling at the same time. Oaxaca is a beautiful city and we also went to Lucha Libre there. It was a unique experience and so much fun. In Mexico City, I did a hot air baloon tour over the pyramids of Teotihuacán. It's an indescribable feeling to float in the air like that.
In Santa Marta, I had more free time during the week as I only worked four days a week. In my free time, I went on various trips, e.g. to nearby places like Minca, Taganga or Playa Inca. I also made a short trip to Medellin. After I finished my program, I also traveled to Cali, where I took private salsa lessons and was able to practice what I had learned in the best salsa bars in the evenings.
I felt very welcome, especially in Mexico. In general, I am totally enthusiastic about this country and would like to go there again as soon as possible. Most of the people were always very welcoming and always happy when I wanted to practise my Spanish with them. This allowed me to learn a lot about their culture, their habits and their sense of humor. I was able to get to know many Mexicans, Colombians and Argentinians and every encounter was an enrichment for me. It was great fun to learn about the differences in their language. In Tulum, I also had a few Spanish lessons with a Mexican teacher. Through him I was also able to learn a lot about Mexican culture, especially about the importance of spirituality and death in their culture.
One of the best moments was on my last day in Tulum, when I celebrated my farewell with my work colleagues and hostel guests. It was quite hard to say goodbye as I really felt like a family there and got to know so many special people. It was also the place where the journey began, so it has a special place in my heart.
I think I was able to add value because I learned quickly and had a lot of fun at work. I think I was able to infect others with my fun-loving nature and contribute to a family atmosphere wherever I was. I think if you're generally open to new things, it's easier for other people to open up to you. I met really great people and made friends for a few days, which I really appreciate and I think my counterpart felt the same way.
I was totally fascinated by Cali in Colombia. I had been a big fan of salsa for a long time. I've always loved the music and I have so much fun dancing, so I went to Cali, the so-called salsa capital, and danced there. I was able to live out what salsa music has always triggered in me there and I will always remember it.
I shared a shared dorm with my work colleagues or other travelers in both program locations. I always felt comfortable most of the time and there was cleaning staff there every day to take care of the hygiene. Both places had a nice big terrace, a pool and of course a kitchen that I could use. I didn't expect that I would settle in so quickly and like it in an environment where you share everything with others.
If I had to describe the countries I've been to and the experiences I've had there in three words, they would be warm, humorous and generous for Mexico. For Colombia, it would be lively, relaxed and playful. In Germany, everything seems so serious and tense very quickly. In Mexico and Colombia, I enjoyed how affection is shown so openly. I felt like I belonged in these countries and loved how extraversion and curiosity are the norm. I also love beaches, which is why I chose Tulum and Santa Marta to be close to the Caribbean Sea. I really want to go back to Mexico because there are still so many places I want to see and I want to visit friends I met during my trip. I would also like to go back to Colombia, especially to Cali.
To be honest, I was a little unsure about traveling at first, but that quickly subsided as soon as I became more familiar with the new country. There are lots of tips on how to feel safer, such as not traveling alone at night or only carrying small amounts of cash. I only traveled alone during the day and stayed in groups at night. There are so many solo travelers that it's pretty natural to find people to go out with. Or when I've been travelling, for example on longer bus trips or flights, I've organized it so that I arrive at a new place before dark. I can understand being scared, but something can happen anywhere, so I think it's super important to have a good mix of intuition and openness.
I have changed and developed quite a bit. My self-confidence and my travel awareness have grown so much. All the new experiences, the new acquaintances, the new songs I've heard and the many conversations I've had with people from all over the world have changed my whole reality. It gave me completely new perspectives, because when you get to know so many new things and, above all, are open to them, your own view of life becomes much more colorful than it was before. This trip also helped me a lot with my Spanish studies. They say that for every language you speak, you live a new, different life and that's exactly how it felt. I am quite proud that I dared to do all this, because it can be very scary to fulfill a dream. But it will always be worth it, so I recommend everyone to always believe in themselves, because there are always more solutions than problems.
My tip for future participants is to simply be open and let everything come to you with few expectations. Just embrace all the surprises that await you and enjoy the changes and the growth you experience as a result. If something doesn't go as planned, WanderWorld is there for you. I always felt looked after and knew that I could get in touch if anything was wrong. The thing that almost stopped me from traveling to Latin America was the general worry about how and whether I would find my way around in a foreign country where I didn't know anyone. Thanks to Wanderworld's support, I didn't feel alone and still felt independent enough to explore the new countries in my own way.
Founder of Wanderworld Travel
Advice and travel preparation
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