Stereotypes exist all over the world. The English are no exception. They travel round, only ever speaking English - increasing the volume level for people who don't speak English. They drink a lot. They cause trouble. They lack manners.

Sadly, the hostel is now filling up with them. Theirs is a life now filled with sleeping all day (due to hangovers), drinking most of the night (causing the hangovers) and doing very little when actually not drinking or sleeping. Why come half way around the world just to do what you can do back home? Why is there a need to boast about how bad a hangover is? (Is this a sympathy hunt?) 

There are those who will sit around drinking a six pack and complain about a lack of money. How do these same people manage to stagger in at 2 or 3 in the morning, spend 12 hours in bed and then sit around nursing their beloved hangovers while boasting about the level of drunkeness they managed to achieve. They can't afford to pay rent but they can afford to drink?

Most of the rest of the world drinks to be sociable and enjoy themselves. The English drink to get drunk.

It all reflects in the hostel as well. A month ago there was a good mix of nationalities. Germans, French, Dutch, Englsih, Canadians, USAians, Swiss, Swedes, Welsh, Scottish and Irish. It was a fun time. Now the numbers have changed, the English are taking over. Before everyone spoke English. Now groups have formed. The Dutch sit amongst themselves and speak Dutch, the French do the same (except speaking French). Nationalities have clustered together.

Time to leave and the sooner, the better.

---