“Ah yea, we’ve got a bed. You’re sharing with a lovely Korean couple”

Lovely?! I thought, as I opened the locked dorm room door in time to see two figures immediately recoil from each other under the bottom bunk covers. Wonderful. Two minutes into my first hostel stay and I’ve already interrupted a couple mid-shag. Things are really going well. As I sat on the opposite bunk and unpacked my things, an embarrassed silence ensued. Them, still under the covers – not talking. Not moving. Me, cursing the fact that out of all the rooms in this bloody hostel, the only one with any vacancies, I get the gooseberry card. Two’s company...three’s just really sodding awkward.

I quickly excused myself, opting for a hot shower in a cold cubicle and braced myself for the next challenge. It was Friday night, and my half baked idea that I would spend it in my room, shying away from making the social effort required by all lone travellers, was now not an option. Plus, I had to eat. There was no other option: I had to go to the Communal Area. “Are you going to go out?” asked the Boyfriend from his office in Farringdon. “With WHO?” I replied exasperated, panic bubbling in my stomach. “I don’t KNOW anyone.”

There is truly nothing more intimidating than cooking pasta and pesto in a kitchen surrounded by people who are already laughing and chatting together, sitting eating together in groups, and knowing that if you aren’t going to spend Friday night listening to Korean porn, that you have to talk to someone. Anyone. You have to push against every bone in your tired brain which is saying “Cross your arms! Look down! Don’t...say...a...WORD!” and start a conversation which you hope they will continue.

I looked at the pan next to mine, filled with green things (I think they’re vegetables) and eventually, their owner returned. I caught her eye. Smiled. I said those eternal words “Blimey. Well, your meal puts my pasta and pesto to shame. Vegetables and everything. Good work”. I waited. Then she smiled back. Laughed! “Haha! You can’t beat pasta and pesto. Did you just get here?” Yep, I’m just in Margaret River for a few days, down from Perth. “Cool. Well, we’re all sitting outside having some drinks if you want to join us, there’s wine for $10 at reception”.

And at 2:30am, I stumbled into my room after a night swapping stories with people who aren’t ashamed to ask “What’s the cheapest drink you serve?” before ordering at the local bar. The Koreans were still up...well, I say up. They were in bed of course, but awake and chatty. Apparently I am the first English girl they’ve seen have a wash.

I bedded down under the supplied linen and fell asleep on my netbook case.

It’s been a night of firsts, it seems.