Sometimes the best decision is to pack up and go
The adventurous university student backpacking through Europe, going out into the world to discover the self – it’s cliché and a bit colonial, but it’s something that most students consider at one time or another. Most of us think about taking a trip in this low-cost, independent-style, but only a small percentage actually take the leap.
For many, the decision to stay close to home is a result of very real and insurmountable financial restraints, but many others choose not to travel in this loosely planned fashion because they are worried that they can’t, that something will go wrong, or that they are inadequately prepared. It’s easy to rationalize your way out of an experience like backpacking, but if it’s something that you feel compelled to do, I have reason to believe you will not regret the decision to embark on such an adventure. When it comes to travelling, remember: you can. Something (lots of things) will probably go wrong, but you will figure out solutions. Finally, you will never be fully prepared, but one of the biggest things you will learn is that you need different and far fewer things than what you think you need.
In last week’s article, I talked about volunteer opportunities abroad – backpacking (or suitcasing, depending on how you decide to pack) can be a great way to get the most out of your trip and flight dollars either before or after such an experience. My personal trips were in Europe, but with the increasing number of exciting and affordable opportunities for students and recent graduates to work in Asia, South America, and the remaining habitable continents, Europe no longer seems to be as popular a destination; maybe Eurotrips lost some of their appeal after 2004.
I don’t intend to try and provide too much applied knowledge, because there are plenty of comprehensive books, websites, and products designed to help you prepare for the practical aspects of your trip based on where you’re going. However, I would like to share some of the lessons I learned during my two, very different transcontinental journeys.
Firstly, know yourself. Everyone grows when they experience new things, but very few people actually change. If you need a lot of alone time, travel alone, or travel with someone who is similarly minded. If you’re constantly on your phone for no particular reason, leave it at home so that you’re not tempted. Think about what you want out of the trip –museums, partying, wilderness adventures etc. – and have that in mind when you sketch out your route, pick your travelling companions, and make bookings.
…you will never be fully prepared, but one of the biggest things you will learn is that you need different and far fewer things than what you think you need.
I suppose ‘know yourself’ is intricately connected with ‘know your friends,’ because who you travel with will impact your trip dramatically. As much as you may get along with certain people at home, backpacking is much different – it’s not so much a vacation as a journey with different stresses, decisions, and demands. Make sure that your wants and needs are closely aligned with those of your friends, and that you have a mutual understanding of the situation before you decide to travel together. Travelling has an equal capacity to make relationships stronger or foster resentment. As much as you may love the people you choose to be around, you might only go on a trip like this once, so make yourself a priority.
Secondly, know where you’re going, or, more accurately, know about where you are going. If you’re the type of person who needs a daily itinerary to be comfortable, you are not the ideal backpacker (although it might help you learn to go with the flow a bit more). It’s helpful to have an idea of what you want to see when you’re in a particular city or region so that you don’t get to the next place and realize that you missed out on something spectacular, but don’t try to force a schedule on yourself for the sake of having a schedule. It’s also good to know a bit about the culture of a place, the potential area-specific dangers, and a few key phrases to make your quest a bit smoother. A great way to orient yourself to a new place is by taking a free walking tour, which are offered in most major cities.
Keeping in line with the previous point is something which I cannot emphasize enough: be flexible. It’s good to have an idea of what kind of trip you want, but try not to let your vision be too specific. Opportunities will present themselves as you go along, and if you are too fixated on how you think things are supposed to happen, you may find yourself caught up in unnecessary disappointment, and you may miss out on enjoying experiences for what they are. Embrace the times when you get lost, or when a ‘short walk’ described on a hostel website turns out to be a 30-minute hike up a mountain. You’re never going to see everything in a given place, so enjoy what you do experience to the fullest and don’t worry – you can always come back. Worry is the enemy of enjoyment – there are plenty of practical things that you need to concern yourself with, so don’t create issues for yourself where you don’t have to.
Being as prepared as possible will help you to be flexible; try and have a bit of money in reserve, keep your credit card and bank card in different places so that if you lose one you will still have another, and invest in one of those ridiculous looking money-belts so that, if you fall asleep on a bus, at least your passport is safe. I have had my passport and money stolen on a bus – it is an expensive and stressful lesson.
A fool learns from her own mistakes, a wise man learns from others’. Don’t be a fool, learn from me.
Backpacking can be incredible, and it’s definitely a travel-style only appreciated by the young. Don’t let yourself be discouraged by fear, and don’t lose out because you’ve convinced yourself you can only be satisfied if things play out one way. Backpacking can be a condensed lesson on life – things won’t always happen the way that you want or expect them to, but, with the right attitude, you will fall in love with the journey.