Meet our Manager!

Hi everyone! I’m really excited to introduce myself as the Fernweh’s manager! My name is Jiela (like Sheila but with a soft “j” sound), and I have an extensive love for travel, people, & adventure. I was born and raised near Denver, Colorado, and eventually made my way to Fort Collins in 2010 to attend CSU. I studied Social Work and Spanish, and graduated in May of 2014. The following February I left to Southeast Asia, then made my way to teach English for one year in South Korea. I got back this past summer, and now here I am at the Fernweh!

I walked into the Fernweh with curiosity of what an American hostel might look like. I was greeted by Kelsey and she gave me a tour of the house and I immediately fell in love. I believe in destiny! I started working here in August, and I feel lucky to be a part of this amazing team.

I love my job first, because everyday is different. There are always new folks staying with us that make the house feel different from day to day. I am consistently surprised by the variety of demographics that come through our doors. From small children to 80 year olds, the Fernweh provides me the opportunity to interact with all walks of life. Second, I love sharing my knowledge of Fort Collins with guests, suggesting breakfast places, or my favorite hike near Horsetooth. I love helping guests piece together their perfect Fort Collins experience.

I am really excited to start writing blogs for the Fernweh so I can share my love for Fort Collins, people, and travel all in one place. Since I’ve been living here since 2010 (minus 2015 in Asia), I have a plethora of knowledge about this city that I’d love to share with you. I hope you enjoy reading. Can’t wait to embark on this journey together.

xx, jiela