Galway 8: Hostel Life: Definitely Not Hostile - Jacob

It may sound odd, but one of the experiences I was most excited for in Ireland would be staying
at the several hostels. Over the two-week trip, out of everything we saw and did, like Cliffs of Moher and Inishmore, the hostel excited me. Having traveled a lot in the US, I have only stayed in hotels and the occasional Airbnb. I was interested to see the differences and similarities between a traditional hotel and a hostel. Now, having stayed in two hostels over about a week in a half, I am not only pleased with my stay, but I’ve also truly loved the social aspect that you can’t simply find from any hotel.

The main hostel we stayed in was Kinlay Hostel right in Galway, where we spent the majority of our trip. The second was on Inishmore, a small island about 44 miles away from Galway. In both hostels we got similar experiences, like meeting new people from all around the world and cooking a meal with peers. These experiences didn’t feel like a place just for sleeping and resting, but an added experience amongst everything else.

The hostels are fairly simple, not being too big or extravagant. At Kinlay Hostel there was a reception area, including a small but lively common room, and a kitchen right next to it. The hostel on Inishmore was much smaller and simpler with a small kitchen you would find in a common household, as well as a small room next door with a couple of couches. The rooms we are staying in have three bunk beds, but they have varying rooms with a couple of twins. At least the hostels we are staying in don’t have suites of any kind, everyone gets about the same type of experience. A big change with hostels is how much you do the cleaning and daily care for not only your room but the kitchen. While Kinlay Hostel is more of a well-known and popular hostel with hired service, they still want you to clean as much as you can and don’t have room service like in the states.

The kitchen and dining are one of the biggest aspects to a hostel that makes it feel more like a home than a hotel. The main dining area is lined with
fridges and freezers for people to store food or groceries, and as of writing this I have yet to find a completely empty fridge or freezer. Every afternoon and evening the kitchen has people from all around the world cooking a meal from where they call home. My favorite night at the hostel so far was when we decided to cook pasta with bolognese, garlic bread, and sausages for all 14 of us. By the end of our hard work we realized we had so much leftovers that we had enough to feed some of the other guests. This led to conversations with a few of them and we got to learn where they came from and what brought them to Galway. People commonly talk about how food can connect people, and nothing is more true than dining at a hostel.

The common area is a nice small room with a billiards table, piano, and many seats for those trying to eat, get work done, or just socialize. Some nights I like to come down to the common room and read and do work, during these times I have seen people come together over a game of pool or cards. While at first the people here seemed to be strangers, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Everyone that stays here, the majority at least, are from other countries. We are all outsiders and foreigners but one conversation with someone shares commonalities and new perspectives not just on what you know, but on topics you never even knew; every new conversation is a new chance to learn something. I have met multiple people during my time at the hostel spanning from all around the world, some from California, Scotland, France, and even Singapore.

My time in Ireland has taught me many things and has been an experience I will never forget. My peers and I have had the opportunity to learn about a new culture, see new wonders, and most importantly to connect with others and broaden our limited knowledge of the world. It is funny to think that where you are staying during your trips could impact you so much. To talking with my fellow peers at night, or the random families from around the world, it is about the experiences you make during your time. Doing a study abroad trip is truly a time to study the world around you in more aspects than in a classroom setting. We are constantly learning whether it is traveling to old historic sights, learning how an entire island can function independently, or even identifying the biological aspects to the world we live in. 

- Jacob Gaudet