Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Mozart is one of the most popular and historic tourist destinations in Europe, lying in the center of the Alps bordering Southern Germany. It's about a 2-hour train ride from both Vienna and Munich, and less than a 5-hour train from Prague, Venice, Budapest, Ljubljana and Bratislava. Salzburg is a clean, bustling and picturesque city that looks like paradise on the outside, but what is it like to live there?

We talk about our impressions and suggestions in Salzburg after having lived there for a while and reminisce on our favorite things to do in the city. Visiting Salzburg briefly would make for a great vacation, but living there may prove to be even better.

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Do you want to experience living abroad for a short period of time, but are worried about the price of accommodation?
Would you volunteer three months of your time to work in a hostel if it meant getting fed and having a place to sleep in a foreign country?

Linked services:
worldpackers.com
wwoof.net
workaway.info
yachtiecareers.com

In this episode, we talk about the different opportunities that are available to people who want to travel on a budget for a long period of time and make connections abroad. Through services like WOOF and Worldpackers, there are a plethora of volunteer opportunities that are immediately available to able-bodied people who are willing to spend the time to put themselves out there and try something new.

Working on a farm, garden, with animals, on a hostel, or even doing NGO work.

These may seem like small jobs, but it is an experience you might take with you for your entire life.

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Germany has launched a plan to open their borders to those who want to migrate to their country for work!
In 2020, Germany introduced the Skilled Workers Immigration act, which allowed it to be easier for people to migrate to Germany who were outside of the EU.
However, they are still faced with over 1.7 million vacant job positions and are changing their migration legislation in response to this.

This is a big deal for anybody who wants to move to Europe in general, as it will also likely change the citizenship requirement to live in Germany from 8 years to 4, and allow dual citizenship which is not yet possible!

The point system requires you to earn at least 6 points to qualify for the card.
Education: Up to 6 points
Work experience (pertaining to education): Up to 3 points
Language: Up to 3 points
Previously lived in Germany at least 6 months: 2 points
Spouse qualifies: 1 point

Would you be interested in moving to Germany?

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It's hard to believe that it has been 3 years since the beginning of the pandemic that stopped the world. Even if you never got the disease, you were affected by it in some ways.

Today, we remember how Covid affected our lives individually and what we have been doing since then, and how we will go further in a post-Covid world.

Where were you when the world shut down?

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Toni was born and raised in West Virginia, which lies somewhere between East-coast, Southern and Midwestern.

After attending university there, he enlisted in the Army as a paratrooper, and after spending a year overseas, he headed West to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a working actor.
Especially for somebody coming from the East-coast, Los Angeles is a cultural anomaly with even more subcultures that Toni has been exposed to.

Influencer culture, stunt industry culture, acting culture, he has a lot to say about it all. Even in America, you have to sometimes tread lightly depending on where you are.

Come listen to the stories that Toni has to tell about his experience in Los Angeles and abroad, including his experience living in China during the beginnings of the pandemic!

Do you think LA culture is kind or dishonest?

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This week, we're talking about our impression on night life and "party culture" around the world.

European nightclubs open until 5am, American college campuses, house shows, pregame culture, Taiwanese whiskey, microbreweries...

Everyone seems to have their own scene, and the culture behind partying seems to change frequently, specifically in the USA.

What is your impression on night life?

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In this episode, we finally dive deep into the topic that the podcast was named from. 

If you have never stayed in a hostel before, it might sound strange to you to share a hotel room with strangers in a foreign city. Why do people stay in them? It can be a scary concept, but if you get past the fear, you might earn an experience or friend that you will never forget.

Is it just about finding the cheapest place to stay, or is it about finding like-minded travelers? 

People who are attracted to hostels are usually the young, free-spirited travelers who are there for a short time, not a long time. Hostels serve not only as a central hub for these types of travelers, but as a safehouse for people who may be lost or scared in a brand-new environment. 

Would you ever stay in a hostel?

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Everyone that you meet in a Hostel has unique life experience from somewhere that you may have never been. Today, we are joined with a long-time friend Rhys Jones, who is here to speak to us about his impression living in Germany amongst Germans and immigrants alike.

Eisenbahnstraße in Leipzig, Germany is considered the most dangerous street to live on in the country. Rhys spent two semesters living there after meeting us in Salzburg, Austria, and his experience might not reflect what you would think. Today in the Hostel, we invite you to pull up a seat and join the conversation of our previous travels and impressions on the cultural differences that we've experienced throughout the world.

Keep joining us every week to see who might be visiting in the Hostel!

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Join the conversation this week where we talk about school, employment, and the cultural norms that exist in America when it comes to seeking work.

What did you do when you graduated high school? What is expected of young adults when they finish school? What is the job market like for a recent graduate? In America, it is common for students to dive headfirst into college after they graduate high school. What other options are there? Should graduates take a gap year after their studies to have a better idea of what they want to do? What kind of jobs are available?

Also in this episode: Logan has an update on his journey to grad school in Germany.

See you next week!

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Welcome back! Today we're talking about February holidays to celebrate the end of Carnival. It turns out, most February holidays are about either Winter finally being over, or some important guy dying. Who knew!

Themes in this episode:
Carnival and its origins
Valentine's Day
Groundhog Day
President's Day
Visa update in Germany

Logan's Update:
Logan has an update about a potential change in legislation in Germany that could allow people emigrating to earn citizenship in up to 3 years!

Sean's Update:
Having cold feet about a major life change and being indecisive about which direction to take, Logan has been helping me stay focused on my goals.

We are available on virtually all podcasting platforms!

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