Backpacker Buzz

Taking some German courses at the Université Laval helped Stéphane Larrivée of Québec land an internship in an HI hostel in Germany, the country that gave birth to hostelling. Sound intriguing? If you’re an HI-Canada member, you can do the same thing.

"I wanted to learn German as a personal challenge. It is a very complex language, but also extremely interesting because it allows us to express certain ideas and certain concepts very precisely,”explains Stéphane. “I am currently working at Heidelberg hostel’s bar, which allows me to meet very interesting people, from across Europe and around the world. The contact with guests is always very warm, very friendly, and ultimately very rewarding. "

Another employee of HI-Québec, Jean-François Royer, learned basic German by writing back and forth with a German friend online (he mixed business with pleasure!). His singing teacher also gave him some ideas. "I wanted to learn German because I would like to become an interpreter and I think the German language is very interesting," said Jean-Francois, who spent August and September at the hostel in Oberstdorf-Kornau in Bavaria. "It's a dream come true, I have the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of German and see how people live in Europe. I have cherished this dream for so long!"

This internship program is an exchange program and many Germans are interested in coming to work and live in hostels in Canada. HI-Nanaimo, Painted Turtle Guesthouse and HI-Québec City are particularly well organized to receive German students. "Our interns are an asset to the Auberge Internationale de Québec,”said Manon Turcotte, director of services. “Interns work at the café in the morning and the bar in the evening, and it is particularly interesting to them go on excursions - their views on the region of Quebec are delightful!"

According to Manon Turcotte, living in a hostel for trainees is a real cultural immersion, "because they live with the locals.”

Want to participate?

Canadian HI members between 18 and 30 with a basic knowledge of German are eligible for internships in Germany. Internships are for a period of two to 6 months. If you’d like to learn more, contact Sylvianne L'Allier at 613-237-7884, ext 30 or by e-mail at sylvianne.lallier@hihostels.ca.