Not even for free

When Free Accommodation Can Cost More

📍Hanoi, Vietnam

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I was so excited about the idea of living for free, for such a long period, that I rushed to do interviews and secure sits for myself in Germany, but I was probably too hasty.

Interestingly, it seemed like a very calculated decision - an investment that would pay for itself when looking at the price of registering for the app. I'm sure it was indeed a good decision, but was the timing right?

It turned out that to get to Germany I needed a rather long flight, which could have cost me only $300 if I could enter Malaysia, but because I have an Israeli passport, I can't. So my flight prices are higher, and I ended up with $518, which also feels like a really low price to cross the world.

I called my dad and asked him to pay for this flight. Yes, my parents help me, it was never a secret, and I'm proud to have a supportive family, appreciating it because I know it's not something to take for granted.

For the three-night hotel in Germany before the sit, I booked it myself for $180, and I laughed to myself that three weeks in Hoi An, a central and super interesting city in Vietnam, for $204 seemed expensive to me. My mind was playing tricks on me.

When I booked the flight and the hotel, knowing I'd probably need another hotel like this between sits, and I started to imagine life in Germany in June-July-August, the daily routine, the different locations, the meals, I wondered if it was worth making this transition to another continent at all.

And then came the thought that shook me: Would the cost of living in Europe be so high that I'd be better off paying rent in East Asia, and it would end up being cheaper than living for free in Europe?

Mind-blowing thought.

I'm starting to think this is great for someone who's already in the country, or at least on the continent, and wants to save money, but I probably acted too quickly and should have started with sits closer to me. At first I searched in Asia too, of course, but I saw there's hardly any supply, and most sits are in Europe, the US, and Australia.

In a conversation with ChatGPT about my frustration, I explained that I'm afraid I won't have anything to write about. Because my compass is to live a life interesting enough to write about - that's exactly what I'm doing right now!

He explained that I write about my experiences, not about the city I'm in like "5 restaurants you shouldn't miss," and precisely because of that, I'll always have something to write about. And he advised me to make lemonade out of this and write things like "what to write about when bored" or "what to do in a city where there's not much to do," or to use the time when I don't have many distractions for projects like writing a book.

Ah. Wow. Wait, that caught me. I really do want to write my first book that compiles the most meaningful stories from my journey, maybe this is really a good opportunity?

After all, in the Philippines I locked myself in an apartment for a month and set up my Substack, so maybe another project like this wouldn't hurt?

I let the idea sink in for a few days. This time I felt a bit more at peace with the decision. Just a bit.

In a conversation with my parents, I suddenly realized I had to cancel the second, longer sit in Germany. It's too stressful for me, it causes me unease, and there are still 4 months, so the nice girl will be able to find a replacement without a problem. I remembered all the sits I recently saw on the app about "sit for tomorrow" and how spontaneous the posting is there, to the point where it feels a bit ridiculous to reserve for 4 months in advance.

I sent an apologetic message to the homeowner, and she understood and was glad I told her early. And there, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

I'm left with the first sit, for just two weeks, because I already booked a flight and hotel before, and in the end I do want to try this, so two weeks is a good start. I'm planning to go to Israel afterwards but haven't booked a flight yet. The situation is so dynamic right now, I prefer to get closer to the date and see what happens.

So yes, my path is full of mistakes, because there's no person who doesn't make mistakes, and I'll definitely use this platform in the future, I just need to be more precise with my decisions, and choose the places that suit me.

What I Learned:

1. Start close - don't cross the world for a sit.

2. Choose places that interest me - not just be tempted by the headline of "free accommodation."

3. Wait until the last minute - most sits are published very close to their date, so there's no need to stress about securing something in advance.

4. Be spontaneous - yes, that's the real challenge.

5. Calculate total costs - even when accommodation is "free," there are other costs to consider.

I'm still excited about the short sit in Germany. It will be a first experience with house sitting, an opportunity to learn, and most importantly a reminder that sometimes the most fascinating journey is the journey back to what I already knew was right for me.

Your support helps me to continue experiencing new worlds and sharing them with you through my words. Sometimes, a single cup of coffee can make a difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Who Am I? | The Journey Through Time | The Daily Journey

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