Nothing like the real world: The Yacht Week hostess

My quarter life crisis

This time last year I ran away from the real world. With a thirst to travel and a couple bucks stashed for a rainy day I decided to embark on a summer adventure abroad. Through word of mouth from friends and brilliant Instagram marketing I was introduced to The Yacht Week. If you haven't heard of TYW, pause now and check the site. They promise "the best week of your life" and "nothing like the real world" and boy do they deliver and then some. My interest was piqued seeing the sun-kissed babes in royal blue "hostess" polos posing for the camera holding booze infused watermelons in front of the infamous circle raft of adults in costumes and floaties. I did my research and saw that after completing Skipper Academy in Croatia you too could be the bronzed, carefree hostess with mostess ensuring your guests onboard had the best freaking time of their lives.

Hostess training was held in Split, Croatia through Quarter Deck Academy and I arrived with zero clue and zero expectations on what I was getting myself into. It was almost a mix between rushing a sorority in the south and Top Chef-Shitshow edition. It was a group of about 20 girls and guys from around the world all in the same boat, literally and figuratively, aspiring to become skippers and hostesses for The Yacht Week. Between 4am fake "emergency weather evacuations" and boozy dinners we all became quick friends and a support system for each other. The week of training ended but it was just the beginning of a summer of pure ridiculousness. I sailed three weeks straight in Greece, bouncing around from island to island sipping champagne and falling asleep under the stars. I also spent two weeks in Croatia jumping into The Adriatic Sea's crystal blue water and attending some of the most epic parties I've ever been to. They promised it would be nothing like the real world and it certainly was not--it was a land of make believe where everyone's champagne dreams turned to reality.

Coming back into the real world was a rude awakening that no one can prepare you for. Luckily I was able to cushion the blow with a couple months traveling around Europe but I'll save those stories for another time--I'm beginning to sound like a douche.