LARS:
Where do I begin.....

they forced me to write something here...
My name is Lars. Born in Cologne I came to Berlin in 1990. I am working in hostels since a couple of years. After I finished my study of geography, politics and urban planning I decided to stick to the travel industry. What could be a better job than working together with people from all over the world during the best time of their life ... holidys!
I started at the reception at Wombats City Hostel Berlin right from the beginning. Being part of the "first crew" was/is an indescribable experience cause you get the chance to grow up with the business. That´s why Wombat´s Berlin is kind of my Baby.
After a couple of months the big bosses decided to deprive me from the reception to the back office ... am I too ugly? Now I am the Manager of that wonderful crew.
Come and visit the wonderful city of Berlin. I traveld a lot, moved a lot and saw a lot but Berlin is one of the most thrilling, exciting, open minded Cities I know. There is so much to see, so much to discover and so many impressions you´ll never forget.

Your stay in the Wombats City Hostel shall be one of these experiences an we try hard to make your stay the most comfortable you´ll ever have.

See you in Berlin!

DENIS:
Originally from a small city in the north of Italy, I came to Berlin whit a bag full of clothes and a head full of dreams. After intending to stay three months to find myself, I’m still here (they are now more than 2 years) and still searching, and it seems its going to take still long time...

SEBASTIAN:
WELCOME TO WOMBATS BERLIN!
My name is Sebastian. That’s a fact. The rest is just a quick story of my life:
I’m born in former East Berlin, but don’t really remember the time where bananas were available only once a year, capitalists were our biggest enemy and people could only travel east – no way to go west (except trough your self-made tunnel)!
Today there is. So I’ve traveled Europe and Australia so far, learned to love the hostel life and started working in Hostels in 2003. Since, I’ve worked in Hostels in Mission Beach (QLD, Australia), Prague, Munich and Hamburg but always came back home: to Berlin (the heart of Europe, “poor but sexy” and a must go for you!).
I’ve made it to Wombat’s in April 2008 (after begging for weeks and a few beers) and work part time at the reception. Apart, I study, sleep long, go out (in different ways), play table football (!)…
I’m very happy to meet you in Berlin!
(You’ve been here and we’ve met? Stop stalking me! But come back some day! And no: It’s not our baby - it’s only yours!)

ANDREA:
Hi! I’m Andrea. I accidentally moved to Berlin from Canada in April of this year. Not sure at first how long I wanted to stay, as soon as I started working for Wombat’s I knew I was in this for the long haul. I finally have a job where I get paid to talk about travelling. What more could a person want? (okay, Sebastian just reminded me that getting paid to actually travel is better than getting paid to talk about it but you know what I mean)
I’d love to write more but my mom is visiting from Saskatchewan (if you can pronounce that, come see me for a free drink) so I have to go take her to the Christmas Market. If you want to know more you’ll have to check in. See you soon!

MAJA:
My name is Maja and I am one of the receptionists.
Before settling down in the exciting city of Berlin I used to live and work in other cities and Hostels around Europe.
It all started in "The Base" in Vienna 4 years ago and now I am back in another Wombats Hostel because it's just great fun.
Even though I didn't travel much anymore in the last months I still feel like getting around because of all the different kind of people I meet in Wombats every day.
If you are in Berlin it can never be boring because there is so much to explore and I will be glad to recommend you all the nice places around here!

ANNI:
Sláinte,
My name is Anni.
I am one of two real ‘Berliners’ working at the Wombats reception and as I grew up in Prenzlauer Berg. I can definitely give you all the information about the city, the place, the food, especially Döner and Currywurst and even a bit more.
I trained myself hard to be able to mark all places in Berlin you can think of on a map in less than 30 seconds including explanations and my personal opinion … and all that mirror-inverted.
How I came to Wombats? I lived in Ireland for a year and after coming back in April 2008 I impressed the Wombats-managers with my farmers’ knowledge about dairy farms, milking cows and my first hand reports about Irish-Pub life. They had no chance, accepted my talents and gave me the job.
Since that I try hard to convince every single guest to go to my favorite places, to try my favorite food and to laugh about my jokes (I don’t care if you just pretend that I am funny).
Next to my work and my International Business studies, I love sitting the whole day in small cafes in Prenzlauer Berg, shopping on flew markets in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, enjoying a good movie in one of the small independent cinemas or just have a drink in the Wombar with guests and colleagues (and maybe you and your friends in the future?)!

REBECCA:
Nationality: German
Languages: German, English, Spanish and a bit Swedish

I grew up in the hardcore Bavarian countryside till I decided to study in Spain for a while. I didn´t want to go back to Germany so I stayed in Valencia for another 6 months. After that experience I wanted to see more of the world and travelled throughout Europe. My destinations included Great Britain, Sweden, Finland and Italy. At the end of my journey I visited, for the first time of my life, Berlin. I know... it´s a shame for a German girl to see the capital so late! Anyway, I felt immediately in love with the city and swore to myself that I will live here at some point in the future. And here I am, loving it!
Besides my lovely job at the hostel I'm studying business administration at the University of Berlin. I don´t look like a typical business student but I like to go against the grain! What am I doing all the time?....Hmm....besides my interest in travelling and speaking other languages, I guess I hang around in a lot in the different areas of Berlin, exploring and enjoying my life here. Such as listening to good music, feeling the good Berlin vibes, exploring its vast array of  restaurants and going out to mind out blowing parties! I don´t have real hobbies, there is no time for such crap!
If you have any questions about Berlin or need some special recommendations, just pass by at the reception desk!

My favorite places in Berlin:
Hang out and Food:
Kauf Dich Glücklich or Glücklich Am Park, Prenz`l Berg
Bar Möbel Olfe, Kottbusser Tor / Kreuzberg
Prater Biergarten, Kastanienallee / Prenzl´berg

Museum: Pergamon Museum, Berlinische Galerie and Jüdisches Museum
Parks: Görlitzer Park 
Swimming: Wannsee, Stadtbad Schöneberg

AMY:
Nationality: British
Travel Destination: All over Europe and Southeast Asia.
Languages: English and currently studying German.
About me:
Where does one begin?
I´m a London girl born and bred but after finishing my Photography degree in 2006, I grew rapidly bored of custom English behavior. After visiting Berlin in early 2007, I knew instantly that this was the city I wanted to start a love affair with. And so, here I am!
My hobbies involve photography, film, sculpture, music, dancing, travelling, Lego, cake and naturally, a good old English cup of tea! Besides working and dancing at our wonderful Berlin reception, I also frequently freelance for bands, DJ´s and club nights. In the future I hope to go back to school to study sculpture and digital art.
How I got to be a part of Wombats?
Ha! Well, I actually started the Wombats team with a pair of Marigolds and a mop!  Martha Stuart, eat your heart out! After a considerable amount of deviling around at our 7th floor Wombar, I proceeded to dance with a substitute teacher...so I´m told?! And that´s how I got my promotion to reception! I know, impressive huh?
My favorite places in Berlin:
Hang out: Kreuzberg!!
Food: Aki Sushi (Oranienstr.), Yellow Sunshine (Wienerstr.), Morena (Wienerstr.) and Maroush (Admiralstr.).
Museum: Neue Nationalgalerie, The Guggenheim and The Hamburger Bahnhof.
Cinema: Babylon – A great selection of art house films.
www.guggenheim.org
www.neue-nationalgalerie.de
www.hamburgerbanhnhof.de
www.babylonberlin.de
So, come to Berlin and stay at the best hostel in the city! I look forward to shaking some tail feathers with you!

DIANE:
born and grown up in austria in a small village near by vienna.
in the age of 17, i quitted with school and was ready for new experiences.
start working for a upper-class wine company in the center of vienna. i slept also in the catacomps of my companys building. so it was not only a job. it was my home. that was a hard time, but informative.
2 years i did good work and made also my diploma for sommelier.
than the team broke away and i want start to work with new people, so i got a new, better job.
between this time and now, i did such a lot jobs, that i can tell you: its never wrong to decide to do something else, when you don’t feel good, with the things you are doing-just change it!
after 4 year in the gastronomy as a bartender and waitress, i thought, its time to change something again and i got the best job i ever had: at the reception at wombats, vienna.
i was so lucky after my interview, that i don’t thougt that i will get this job, so i went home and 2 days after that, they called me and asked, if i will work for them. i hit the roof! that was one of the importants moments of the last 2 years for me.

worked for wombats in vienna and now i´m here in berlin.
in vienna, it was a easy job for me, because i know every stone in this beautiful-nostalgic city.

it was not a problem to find the right party for everyone, but berlin is different.
you´ve so many, many possibilities.
i mean, its always hard to handle freedom. and this city is so big, for european standards, that you need time to understand a little.
also because of the first world war, the time between, the second world war and than the GDR. its crazy, how this city is recoverable. i mean, the people really love their city. it`s socialistic and friendly. you can feel, that everything is in fast movement, but everyone seems that everything is relaxed.
that’s is one part i really love.
now im here since 2 months and it’s a never ending holiday.
and to work for wombats is the best what you can do, when you are on holiday. i like it, to have the possibility to exchange views with people from all over the world. than i feel, that the world isn’t bad and violent. it is, but…you know.

no i try to give you tips:

what you can do: everything! you will find on every corner something to eat, a nice and comfortable café, a turkish kebap house, pizza, thai food, china food, sushi, ….. its amazing! you can eat 24 hours, 7 days a week.

may be you should go first to a museum.
there is the beautiful museum island with the bode museum, the pergamon museum, the old national gallery, the new national gallery,…..
you are a lucky person when you arrive at thursday, because from 06 pm to 10 pm, its free for visitors.

one of my favourite buildings and museums is the hamburger bahnhof.
its next to the central trainstation, the hauptbahnhof, and there are blue signs and you ve only to follow them, than you will find it in 5 minutes.
there is a great contemporary art exhibition at the basement and there are always changing exhibitions at ground level. you are also allowed to take pictures. if you ve not enough time, take pictures!

when i think about hot chocolate, than i think about “kauf dich glücklich” its one of the mellifluous places for me.

when it really cold and you are older than 20!, you have to drink a russian chocolate. it’s hot chocolate with vodka and it only cost 3 €. you can enjoy it with waffles and vanilla ice cream or a more fancy one.
its in oderbergerstrasse. a side street of kastanien allee.

if you wanna go shopping, kastanienallee it’s a good area. not so cheap but you can find things, where you know, that not 1 million people will wear it.
one of my favourites shops is BERLIN. it’s a snd hand store in oderbergerstrasse. cheap and good new brand clothes. especially for skaters.

before i forget: the pony! its on alte schönhauser strasse, so only 3 min away from the hostel.when you leave wombats, turn right and cross the street. after 300 m you will come to a nice place called pony. you ve to taste astra beer.
they make also good coffees there.

whats is important: open your eyes!
its amazing, how colourful this city is.

enjoy berlin!
its definitly one of the places where i want stay for a longer period!

so we will see us!
have a great time
its to short to think about it

Passun Ernesto Azhand P.E.A.
The Future is uncertain and the End is always near. That’s what Jim Morrison said and it seems to be true. At least it makes sense for me. That was one of my reasons to pack my bags and travel through Australia. Once you decide to live the life of a backpacker you never want to change your lifestyle again.
I tried to live a normal life but I didn’t really manage to get along with it like the way I did before my travelling. I sensed that something was missing.
Maybe it was freedom, or the company of so many different people, which gave me the feeling of travelling the world instead of Australia.
Working in a Hostel is not exactly the same, but I still meet so many diverse people and talking about their travelling experience gives me the feeling that I want to travel again.
So do not hesitate to share your stories with me and I will share the secrets of Berlin with you.
Since I love to go out and party I think I know some spots, which give you an insight view to the world I live in. But there is definitely more than parties, booze and blackouts. The big and modern art scene of Berlin is amazing. You literately smell history when you walk through the beautiful streets of Berlin. If you want to experience open minded and welcoming people then visit us and we try to make your stay even better than you imagined it would be.

Daniel:

Hey, I`m Daniel ,i came to Berlin 4 years ago from the nice area „black Forrest“ that’s south part of germany, but not Bavaria :)

 I worked the opening shift, so i`m here from the beginning :) if you see me at the reception, you had an all night party or you coming early for breakfast because I`m working only nights. If I´m not working, I travel a lot, this Year beside NYC (lived there for one year so once a year I go there), Dublin,Stockholm,London, Munich, Venice,Tallinn and for sure the black forrest :). If you like to make the most out of your  travelmoney, feel  free to ask me .I`m famous for finding the best deals.  If I`m in Berlin I do some projects with kid`s  and I love to play boardgames ( no risk on fun :) ) if you come from the US and you drop me a can of mountain Drew,  you  have a good chance to become my best friend :)