I miss when Airbnb experience was kinder
Time destroys everything
Hello! Today I introduce a new section in this newsletter, Who is This Digital Nomad (read at the end). The goal is to make a mini profile in the style of an airplane magazine so other stories can inspire you.
Le Temps Détruit Tout.
This phrase from the film Irréversible, by Gaspar Noé, marked me as a teenager. Time builds everything and destroys everything.
And time has destroyed something about the Airbnb experience. In the beginning, the hosts were genuine. They sent personalized messages, welcomed you at the door, showed you every corner and every particularity of the apartment, gave tips on what to do in the region, such as a cute cafe or a busy bar.
Even before becoming a nomad at the end of last year, I traveled a lot, always staying on Airbnb. And it's been a while since the experience changed. Usually, the rent is offered by a company, which owns several Airbnbs in the city. Messages are standardized and sent by a company agent, and there is almost no exchange between hosts and guests.
Even super hosts fall into this pasteurized category. More than that, there are more and more rules. One that annoys me the most is "you cannot receive visitors".
I was once turned away from a friend's Airbnb by this stupid rule. In its origins, Airbnb preached ideas like "live like a local". How am I going to live like a local if I can't receive visitors?
But nowadays, Airbnb is very different from the company that emerged in 2008 in California during a Democratic convention in the Obama era (If you want to know more, there is a book about the history of Airbnb).
That's why I was surprised by my current host.
[1:08 pm, 06/03/2023] Mateus Camillo: Good afternoon, Emilson, how are you? Time passed so quickly, and Wednesday I'm leaving. I loved the studio flat. I wanted to combine the checkout with you. I saw on Airbnb that it's at 6 pm. And the key I leave at the concierge? Tks.
[1:32 pm 06/03/2023] Host: Hi, kind guest, how are you? Impressive how it's flying, right? I'm going to be 100 years old these days... lol Yes, you leave it unlocked with the key inside, just let me know in advance so I can get organized here, ok?
During my 37 days, he wrote me twice, asking if everything was ok, if I needed a cleaning woman, and telling me where I could find a new bedsheet. He even invited me for coffee one day when he was around the building, but unfortunately I was busy at the time. He is also a kind host.
It's a service. I'm paying. The host is making money. Airbnb is also getting some of the money. But it's not that tough to be a little kind like in the beginning. It is a pity that connections have become less and less humane.
Who is This Digital Nomad
Name: Luana Castro Vieira
Place of birth: Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Age: 37 years
Education/Currently Job: Public Relations, work with Employer Branding, Employee Experience, and Organizational Culture
When discovered nomadism: In 2015, through an article on the Hypeness website about the Casal Sem Vergonha ("shameless couple")
When did you decide to be a nomad, and when did you become one? What motivated? Since 2020, I've been testing nomadism, but the change only happened at the end of September 2022. The opportunity to travel more often and discover new places was what most motivated me to make the decision.
My favorite place: Itacaré, Bahia, Brazil (or, for now, my favorite place in the world).
An unforgettable moment lived as a nomad: I can't think of a moment but a context that became routine in my experiences (how crazy is a routine in nomad life, right?). I have chosen to stay in beach villas, and what I like to do the most is wake up early, run, and swim in the sea. Would we ever say that someone born in Minas Gerais would experience this? Just missing the cheese bread for happiness to be complete <3
What does nomadism mean to you? Nomadism means experimentation and self-knowledge. Knowing places and people and getting to know myself. Experiencing new flavors, realities, cultures, and how I feel and react in different contexts.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to be a nomad? Understand very well what home and a safe environment mean to you. When you need shelter, know where or who to turn to, whether inside you, somewhere, or with someone.
“How crazy is a routine in nomad life” - Luana Castro Vieira