19
Had a chat with a hostel owner in Medellin who said slow internet is the real test of a digital nomad
She said anyone can work from a beach but try uploading a 2GB file on a shared connection in Colombia and tell me you still love the lifestyle, so now I check local speeds before I even book a room.
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
sean_perry9h ago
Respectfully disagree with her take. Slow internet is annoying sure but it is not what makes or breaks this lifestyle for me. The real test is how you handle being alone for weeks at a time without your usual support system. I can work around bad wifi with a local SIM card or a coworking pass. But when you are in a new country with no friends, no family, and you hit a rough patch mentally, that is way harder than any upload speed. Internet will always get fixed. Loneliness is something you have to actually deal with.
2
umamurphy8h ago
Has anyone actually looked at how bad internet affects your ability to build a local support system though? @sean_perry I get what you're saying about loneliness being the real test, but if you can't even load a video call or use a translation app, it's way harder to connect with people nearby. I spent two weeks in a spot where I could barely send a text message and missed out on meeting someone because I couldn't confirm plans. Slow internet doesn't just hurt your work, it cuts you off from the people around you too.
0