Team Freo, YHA Staff
YHA is apparently my home away from home in any city. Once again, I was in the right place at the right time and fell into a housekeeping and receptionist job. And what is a job at a hostel without the staff?! From permanent Australians to other paid backpackers to the work for accommodation crew - Team Freo!
Jerremy, not only a fellow American but a fellow Nevadan! Raised in Las Vegas, we bonded over our love and missing of good Mexican and Hawaiian food. He went to school in North Dakota to play baseball, worked insane hours as a security officer then in sales to finance a gap year turned travel lifestyle. Also living that hostel work life, from Cairns to Fremantle, Jerremy was the master trainer for housekeeping and miscellaneous reception questions. We enjoyed sunsets and drinks at the beach, adventure boat rides around Rottnest Island, and spontaneous decisions at the Sydney Airport.
Andrew, a Scottish traveller who had found his heart and home in Tasmania before making his way out West. He witnessed my many blunders at reception from his nightly gaming spot in the back office, always quick to correct laundry folding technique. Everyone recognized his “HOUSEKEEPING” knock.
Niki, my roommate! Poor girl came into our prison cell during my “need to spend every minute with friends even if I’m sacrificing sleep” phase, so typically was in bed before I collapsed and after I dragged myself up for work. But ever the sweetheart, she always offered a laugh and food (being an experienced chef, she cooked the most amazing Chinese food!).
Paco - quick to call everyone fucker and never shy with his opinions. We easily fell into a rhythm during housekeeping, my love of making beds and his preference for cleaning the bathroom a happy pairing. Just waiting for his citizenship ceremony, Paco is a bit different from the average backpacker. Having arrived in Australia on a skilled visa related to farming, he had just started recently traveling after years gaining experience and permanent residency.
Sian, our resident backpacker Australian from Albany. Animal lover, acting dreamer, and Landmark Forum champion. The more you talked, the more you learned - from the time she spent sailing around the world on a vessel based out of Hobart, Tasmania to the time spent living in Spain. An absolute sweetheart and incredibly hard worker.
Craig & Karmen, the two permanent part-timers. A dry humor that he’ll be the first to tell you most people don’t get or like with a strict entry policy into the hostel, Craig was the king of nighttime reception and the perfect laundry fold. Karmen, only worked a couple shifts each week, very vocal in her need for frequent smoke breaks and support of Satan. Cam, the Kiwi handyman, who stays at the hostel during his days off as a Rope Access Technician in northern WA. Our Thanksgiving grill master, Cam is always down for a beer or a bite to eat.
Our fearless leaders - Jay & Steffi. You do not want to disappoint Steffi. She has high standards and a heart of gold - quick to help in any situation, able to solve obscure GuestCentrix problems, and queen of the group bookings. Jay is a loud, slightly vulgar, typical funny Australian man. His goodbye words to me were, “You’re not a bad girl Katherine.” Sounds about right.
