I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being. – Jackie Robinson

In nearly four-years of living out of a backpack, I have lived in more than 350 different hostels and guesthouses, so it's pretty safe to say, "this ain't my first rodeo!" I've experienced this style of communal living habitats from Europe to Central America, South America, South East Asia, East Asia, and Australia. I've stayed in everything from the bottom-of-the-barrel Third-World conditions–living without electricity and running water for multiple day–to party hostels and the ever-grateful posh luxurious settings according to backpacker standards, but most recently I've found myself at a guesthouse with other long-term guests and as of recently there are a few suggestions for those noobs that come trolling in to a space that has been occupied by guests that are working and/or studying whether that be to extend their travels or to experience living abroad on a budget.
Some people still think I'm a bit insane for leaving behind, not only my 12-year professional career, but also my ever-spacious four-bedroom three bathroom house complete with a two-car attached garage and my enormous bathroom complete with an oversized-garden tub to exchange it for sleeping in dorm rooms with bunk beds and shared bathroom facilities, but I've chosen to sacrifice certain comforts for freedoms that are difficult to explain to those that have never experienced the backpacking lifestyle, which does come with a price as there is the good, the bad, and the ugly of long-term or extended travel. While I have had more opportunities with an excessive of freedom of time in many ways, this still does not negate me from living without responsibilities, because I am not living on a trustfund nor do I have the luxury of parents that just replenish my bank account when my funds begin to deplete. I've taken to a variety of jobs, started several of my own businesses–proudly of which I can say have all been successful–and of course I have had to learn to adapt to living environments that most people might cringe at the thought of. However, I've continued to live a life debt-free, which sadly many people back in the United States may never have an opportunity to experience, but I encourage and implore others to learn to live as a minimalist and be free of accumulating materialistic possessions that end up owning you as you pay them back for years, if not decades.
Digressing from the topic at hand, I wanted to share 10 simple tips for traveling guests entering NON-TRADITIONAL hostel or guest house settings, because there is an enormous difference–in my opinion–between short-term hostel guests and the long-term tenants that are working to save up for that next big adventure, studying a foreign language, or volunteering with a local organizations. Yes, I understand that most "traditional" hostels have a much higher turnaround rate and most guests don't have any schedule or pending responsibility commitments. Through all of the various living environment I feel that I've encountered almost every type of 'travel characters' you can possible imagine, and of course those you probably cannot! This is just some friendly advice to those that enter into a guest house setting that has more long-term guests, such as my place in Seoul, because sooner or later things may come to throwing blows when you arrive and disrespect the vibe and cohesiveness of the place, especially when you are thief of precious sleep and rest! I've learned that whether you are traveling for leisure or not, crankiness changes you in ways that bring out the insomnia-monster in all of us! Therefore, if your goal is to ostracize yourself with a reputation of being a complete d-bag than by all means continue to ignore these suggestions and you will certainly be "that awful guest."
As one guest put it, "so, you think you have more entitlement to the space?" It's not even remotely close to entitlement, but just BASIC respect! Hopefully this will help prepare others when they do enter such communal living settings. My last advice is, if you want that party hostel atmosphere then by all means go and seek out that type of accommodation, but don't try bringing that in to places that don't desire for that continued environment.
10. USE YOUR HEADPHONES
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
9. SURPRISE, MOM'S NOT AROUND
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
8. NIGHT OWLS AND EARLY BIRDS
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
7. MOVING ITEMS AROUND
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
6. SHUT YOUR YAPPER
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL WHERE PEOPLE DON'T MIND HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING DAY-AFTER-DAY FOR A MONTH!
5. STOP BEING SO JUDGMENTAL
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
4. PACKING FOR COMMUNAL LIVING
If you feel that you can't overcome the necessity to bring almost every item you own with you, EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
3. SURPRISE AGAIN, MOM'S NOT AROUND PUT YOUR THINGS AWAY
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
2. SNORING MONSTERS
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!
1. RESPECT
EASY-TO-FIX SOLUTION: GET A PRIVATE ROOM OR STAY AT HOTEL!