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A Backpackers London based memoir


With the smelly bag on my back I was almost homeless yesterday, I came from the camp where I worked and will continue on Monday, I had not booked a hostel and didn't know where would stay, I took a shot and headed towards Earls Court to first find a Cafe. With the same clothes I slept in inside a cold tent, 3 warm blouses and pants with mud, I felt so out of place for London Central, I decided to avoid South Kensington, would probably have given a posh lady a heart attack.
Luckily for me just around the corner I found A place, and now I`m staying here at Earls Court for another 3 days.

The not having a home to go to, being a bit lost and out of place, made me feel quite lonely, and I miss home even more these days. It made me think of the homeless, that we all deserve a warm bed, to be on foot is tiring, a home base makes you feel safe.

But for me this is just another adventure, compared to them this is a choice, and soon I will be home again.

But back to backpack, and the life I live now, for a while anyway, I wanted to write about things you learn. Some quite funny, well to me anyway.

You meet new people, and you grow braver each day. You learn to ask for directions and to ask to join their company, friendships and adventures are there on your way. Your equal and fun to be around, you no longer need to remind yourself of that everyday.

You never know who you might meet, as you step into that 12 people dorm, there could be a Australian or kiwi, a world travelling hostel worker, a fellow Scandinavian or and old Italian lady learning English, she was quite adorable if I may say. Just the fact that the bunk-bed says; All hail Megatron does not set all the cards right away.

Your learn to be an expert on using hostel bathrooms, their floors and with lack of places for things to stay, soon your an acrobat in the making and wonder if Circus the Soleil might call today.

You learn a lot about yourself, and to be there for you when you are weak. You learn that you can get hangry, and chose the weirdest sandwiches when after 10 hours of travelling your to tired to know what you really want to eat. Sometimes when I`m alone I talk loudly to myself and make song for my own entertainment.. the last one was about the crackers in my hand. Good that only the sheep on the road could here that…

You learn to love your craziness and when things seem to get messed up your there with yourself where you stand. You do not give up on you, and find within yourself the best friend you could have.

And lastly you see the world from s many corners, you will never forget that.


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