8 Rules of the Road

I wrote this with my little sister in mind because she is about to embark on her journey across the world. From Brazil to S. Africa she’ll soon be off on her own way again and maybe be a little more prepared after reading this. It’s also a compilation of lessons I’ve learned in the past three years. We, of course, are beginning with some music. I still find myself constantly going back to hip hop, it’s a much needed break from the pop, metal and dub step that seem to have taken Ukraine by storm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76-7RoeWWw0

1. 1.     Commitment is scary!

The first rule to consider: Only commit to something that’s more than 1 month in the future if you are the one planning it or incredibly pumped about doing it. If you can’t even help yourself from grinning when pondering where you will go and if your conscious is consistently slipping into day dreams of foreign beaches, towering cities and ancient cobblestoned streets your feet will one day trod, then it’s a sign that you’ve stumbled upon a worthy journey. As you walk throughout your daily routine, drifting thought clouds of future sabbaticals and sacred weekend breaks should lift your spirit like a breath of fresh air, and never bring another wave of stress.  A free schedule is very conducive to adventure. A schedule full of dates about things you just kind of shrugged your shoulders at isn’t fun and that’s what traveling is supposed to be; fun and even impulsive at times. Stepping blindly into Ukrainian spa nights, Spanish graduation parties with free kegs or barbecues by the cool waters of a gently flowing river are all the rewards of open dates and blank slates. Choose wisely.

1. 2.     Control your own fate.

There will always be times when you find yourself in a situation following others. This is perfectly normal and fine. The responsibility of leadership in a group of traveling companions can be a lot to handle and I find it very enjoyable to wander along, keeping pace with the others who are marching on with a destination in mind BUT in my experience it always pays to have a backup plan. Never be so lackadaisical that you end up in some smoke filled dive bar pumping dub step music with no idea where you are, no patience with those around you and nowhere to go! From day trips to afternoon hikes, keep an eye out for where you are and a plan B in the back of your head. It’s always nice to bail on an adventure when it begins to go awry and have a convenient option nearby to explore. Sometimes this requires some research and sometimes all it takes is a keen eye and a thirst for the curiosities of life around you.

1. 3.     Drink and eat outside.

I hope wherever you are headed to has clear skies, sprawling parks with cool stone benches and freshly baked bread. Strolling through the park is a great way to pass an afternoon but an even better option is to spread out a blanket, bring some beer and snacks and lay back and watch life march by. A country is so much more than its cities, monuments and museums. Its culture is often truly reflected in the everyday people. How they walk, dress and spend their lazy Sunday’s in the park. Never be so busy that you don’t have time to kick your feet back, bullshit with friends and take in the sights and sounds of life in another world. Take a moment to watch the beautiful and curious. Allowing yourself to momentarily drop into someone else’s shoes as your gaze falls upon them walking through the park is an opportunity to let your imagination run wild. You never know where inspiration can come from either; one moment of unabashed confidence can lead to invitations to family dinners, pick-up games of basketball under the floodlights or a date with a pair of piercing blue eyes and a cute smile to boot.   Don’t leave when the sun begins to set either. The cool reprieve of a summer night draws people from their homes and into the streets. Evenings outside lead to some of the best nights I’ve ever had. Don’t let yourself drift away until you are ready to let go of what might be.

1. 4.     The company you keep.

Crowds of travelers all too often attract unwanted attention.  Large groups have trouble making decisions, trouble staying together and in general always permeate an aura of confusion; when it’s difficult to make a decision as simple as where to stop for lunch you know you’re in trouble. Pick a few people who are open minded, operating on a similar budget as yourself and are, in general, jolly characters and you can’t go wrong. Part of traveling can be learning how to deal with the chaos and personality clashes of life but if you can, just avoid all that nonsense. Really it just takes away from an experience that can be so much better with the knowledge of how to compose a company of travelers.

1. 5.     Memories.

Caught up in the rush of travel it’s difficult to understand that the day to day life you are living on the road is truly one of the most unique and eye opening experiences you’ll ever have the chance to take part in. At times it’s hard to even find time to breathe in between the tours and hikes but try and remember to record what you are experiencing when you have a chance. Keep a journal and take photos! When I am sitting at home, planning lessons for the wild children in my 6^th grade class I will occasionally glance up to see my screen saver slowly shuffling through photos of where I’ve been and my head is instantly flooded with memories of the golden sun of Spain or the friendly faces of old friends. Never hesitate to poke around and pick up the random assortment of small souvenirs that can be found in bazaars, soviet boathouses and ancient castles. These and the small notes you have time to jot down on bus rides will be cherished for a long time to come and will help you share a small part of your journeys with those back home.

1. 6.     Don’t Panic.

It’s been called the best advice ever given to humanity and I carry it with me everywhere these days, tatted up on the inside of my legs, always catching my eye when my head drops down to the floor. The calm, quick acting mind always benefits the owner and his company. Hopefully you’re not in a situation when you even have to consider panic but it can often be found underneath the delicate surface of a jet setting lifestyle. One of my favorite quotes gives context to the mix of adventure and panic that travels can deliver.

“The principal difference between an adventure and a suicide is that the adventurer leaves himself a margin of escape (the narrower the margin the greater the adventure).”

-Tom Robbins

I’ve seen some people do some of the dumbest shit imaginable as pieces of their adventure began to collapse around them. When left with perilously few choices and panic welling up in their throat it can be easy to give in. Often it involves random dashes of madness straight into the hands of trouble or frozen feet with a mouth left wide open. Believe me, I’ve been there and done that. I remember chasing down a couchsurfer at 1 AM in the morning, with 20 euros to my name and a deserted bike path to follow. I remember piss drunk locals, intent on shaking me down for my American riches and I remember all sorts of shenanigans that eventually led back to my bed at in the darkest hours of the night.  Throughout it all, just remember that panic will never solve the problem at hand instead it will just put off finding a way out of them.

1. 7.     Attitudes.

From the anticipation of the trip to the first steps on the train to the final day your attitude decides at least 50% of your experience. You’ll be surprised to meet some people who are spending precious years of their life in some of the most interesting places in the world but who continually manage to find things that could be better. Life could always be better, perfection on a trip will never happen. Know that now and then keep smiling. The bad to the unfortunate are there to test your will and competence but the reward is there if you keep your head up and press on. I’ve done it all from miss trains to planes to reserve a hostel for the wrong month. Things have a way of working themselves out if you don’t dwell on the mistakes and instead only consider the options you have in front of you. This on top of a relaxed smile, even if forced at times, will carry you through the disasters and to sunnier times.

1. 8.     The golden rule of them all: Trust but Verify.

This rule will save you so much trouble and inevitably that’s what traveling can lead to. The idea of leaving your familiar footsteps and habitats behind means that you are going to be away from traditional fallbacks, easy ways out and loyal friends. You will have to place your trust in the unknown at times, the option in which you do not know how everything will turn out. Trust but verify is a simple mantra that’ll keep you in the clear. Trust your logic and instincts and, if possible, keep an open mind, make your own judgments using everything you can at hand.

Of course there is also much more I could say, about specifics of packing and guidelines about how to carry money and who to call when in a scrape but all that information will soon be jammed down your throat by the programs you travel with or found with a simple google search. I hope this provides you with a slightly different approach to your future.

As I am sure is evident after reading through these, my guidelines are shaped by my travels. The world I’ve seen is beautiful, breathtaking and mysterious but of course it can also be unforgiving and unfair. You cannot let your time on the road be defined by failure however and some of the more cynical of these rules were chiseled from my past mistakes and missteps. I hope you can learn a bit from what I’ve been through and also what I’ve been lucky enough to experience.  Much love sister and journey on. Embrace the wonderful summer in front of you and take lots of pictures!

David