“3… 2… 1… Go!”
And we were off, sprinting through the campus gates towards the nearest gas station. It was the mid-semester break week, and 22 teams of two were taking part in a Euro-version of ‘The Amazing Race’ from Utrecht to Budapest. How were we covering those 1500 km? By the cheapest means possible: hitch-hiking.
I made a last minute decision to sign up for University College Utrecht’s (UCU) bi-annual hitchhiking trip. One week later, off I ran with my partner, Sophie, in hopes of being the first team to make it to the Hungarian hostel. It was a fantastic experience, and only once was I worried for our safety (we almost had our bags stolen in Gyor near the border in Hungary, but a helpful petrol pump worker came to our rescue).
We found some of the other teams at this gas station just South of Frankfurt!
We were advised to hitch-hike only at gas stations. That way, we could approach whom we wanted and not vice versa. Over the course of our twelve rides, I discovered that people are generally quite willing to help a traveler out – the hardest part was finding people going in the right direction. Once in a car, we kept up a friendly conversation. It was difficult at times, having been awake for so long, but we worked hard and made it to Budapest in 26 hours (fourth place!).
Since the Netherlands is fairly central within Western Europe, and the train system is fantastic, traveling was a big part of my exchange. I was able to visit neighbouring cities and countries for a quick weekend trips! I would like to think that I became a much more experienced traveller over the course of my four months abroad, and have some tips to share.
This is me passing the time awaiting a ride in Linz, Austria (in handstand of course!)
Sophie and I (featured image) were partners for hitchhiking, and then traveled together to Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague before returning to school at the end of the week. Traveling as two is not the easiest thing. When you explore, eat, and stay in the same hostel together for even a week, it feels long. Not only do you need to take care of yourself, but you also need to make every decision take into account what your partner wants, needs, or expects. Thus, you become the master of compromise. Over time, compromise becomes harder and harder, and for me would sometimes turn into frustration.
On that note, I have some pointers for traveling with another person:
- Look for someone with similar interests, who is flexible and willing to try different things that might be outside his or her comfort zone.
- Expect to disagree!
- Sometimes, you should compromise. Other times, it is best to do your own thing. The break will be good for both of you! That way you can go at your own pace. Just be sure to always be considerate of how your partner feels. Maybe they need space or comfort because the traveling has made them anxious.
- Think about what you want to spend your time doing – are you a heavy museum-goer or are you a more relaxed sight-seer? Do you like to go to bars or clubs? Are you a night owl or a morning lover?
- Keep an open mind!
At the end of our trip, Sophie and I decided that we were not perfectly matched for traveling together, but agreed that we had had a fantastic adventure. Although I can’t say I will be hitchhiking again soon, this was one of the top adventures of my exchange!