The Exhilarating Journey: Unveiling the Benefits of Hitchhiking

 

In a world dominated by fast-paced modes of transportation, the art of hitchhiking might seem like a relic of the past. However, beneath its unassuming surface lies an adventure waiting to be explored. Beyond the skepticism and misconceptions, hitchhiking offers a unique and exhilarating way to traverse the world. This article delves into the compelling benefits of traveling by hitchhiking, showcasing how this unconventional mode of transportation can foster personal growth, cultural exchange, and unforgettable memories.

 

Hitchhiking From Vienna to Prague, 2023

1. Unpredictable Adventures

Embarking on a hitchhiking journey introduces an element of spontaneity that traditional travel methods can't replicate. The unpredictability of your encounters with drivers and fellow travelers can lead to unforeseen detours, hidden gems, and memorable experiences. Each ride becomes a chapter in a novel that you're co-authoring with the road.

 

2. Cost-Efficiency

For budget-conscious travelers, hitchhiking is a godsend. With minimal or no transportation costs, the money saved on buses, trains, or flights can be redirected towards more meaningful aspects of your journey, such as immersing yourself in local culture or indulging in unique culinary experiences.

 

3. Cultural Exchange

One of the most rewarding aspects of hitchhiking is the opportunity it offers for authentic cultural exchange. Conversations with diverse drivers and fellow hitchhikers can provide insights into local customs, traditions, and ways of life that guidebooks often overlook. Through these interactions, you're not merely passing through a place; you're connecting with its people on a personal level.

 

4. Fostering Trust and Human Connections

In a world often characterized by skepticism and distrust, hitchhiking presents a refreshing change. Both hitchhikers and drivers need to rely on each other, cultivating a sense of trust that transcends societal barriers. The connections forged during these shared journeys can restore faith in humanity and remind us of the inherent goodness in people.

 

5. Environmental Considerations

As concerns about environmental sustainability rise, hitchhiking emerges as an eco-friendly alternative. By utilizing existing vehicles, you're contributing to fewer emissions and a smaller carbon footprint. In a small but impactful way, hitchhiking aligns with the global movement towards greener travel practices.

 

6. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills

Navigating unfamiliar territories and adapting to varying circumstances sharpens your problem-solving skills. From deciphering road signs to finding your way in an unfamiliar town, hitchhiking demands resourcefulness and quick thinking. These skills are not only useful on the road but also in various aspects of life.

 

7. Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence

Hitchhiking isn't without its challenges, especially for those new to the experience. Overcoming initial fear and apprehension builds a resilient mindset and boosts self-confidence. As you conquer doubts and uncertainties, you become more self-assured and capable of tackling other life challenges.

 

8.  Embracing Minimalism

When hitchhiking, you're compelled to pack light and carry only essentials. This minimalist approach not only simplifies your travel experience but also sheds light on what truly matters in life. Letting go of material attachments can lead to a newfound appreciation for experiences over possessions.

 

9. Storytelling Goldmine

Hitchhiking journeys are rife with anecdotes and stories that can captivate listeners for hours. From the quirky drivers you meet to the unexpected places you visit, each hitchhiking adventure becomes a treasure trove of stories that can inspire, entertain, and connect people from different walks of life.

 

10. Self-Discovery and Reflection

The solitary moments during a hitchhiking journey provide ample opportunity for introspection and self-discovery. Removed from the distractions of everyday life, you can delve into your thoughts, aspirations, and dreams. The open road becomes a canvas on which you paint your personal growth.

 

Conclusion

Hitchhiking, often dismissed as risky or outdated, is far more than a means of transportation—it's an expedition into the heart of human connections, personal development, and cultural exploration. The benefits of traveling by hitchhiking are as diverse as the roads themselves. From the unexpected adventures to the deepened understanding of the world, this unconventional method of travel invites you to embrace the unknown, challenge your limits, and create memories that will last a lifetime. So, the next time you see a hitchhiker on the side of the road, consider the world of possibilities that await those who dare to hitch a ride into the unknown.

Break Your Brain Shell

When we perceive our boundaries as a shell, as our brain develops, we start to outgrow this shell. Our continuously evolving and changing thoughts eventually turn into chaos. Like a cluttered house that trips us up at every step or eliminates comfort, it creates an environment for us. If you are someone leading a normal life, you tend to develop obsessions more than troubles like these. However, those who cannot fit into their shell have one and only obsession: breaking that shell.

For a constantly investigating, reading, and questioning mind, this must be the greatest torment, because just when everything seems to be fine, a tiny crackling sound emerges from the mind. During the process of the shell's reconstruction, they will be defenseless, and the paranoia that comes with it must get more excruciating each time. The bigger you are, the more defenseless you are, and the more fragile. We can illustrate this as follows: imagine having a large glass bell jar; even if it falls to the ground, it might shatter, but if you were to throw a glass marble at the wall, it would only result in minor scratches at most.

Development is crucial, but the fear of that breaking or disappearing due to unplanned development can poison all progress. It leads to a decrease in efficiency, and everything beautiful can be ruined by an unhealthy mind. Maintaining mental health is, in fact, one of the most important concerns for us, who are living beings inside the shell.

As humans, we have always pursued the unknown, and it would be accurate to say that this pursuit is not confined to faith or science. Questioning the Creator and questioning the universe are, from my perspective, the same act. However, while one helps in preserving the mental health of society, the other poisons it day by day. In societies that have priorities, we can see that these kinds of problems are nearly non-existent, and even if they exist, there are treatments available. Hopefully, as humanity, we will eventually become a whole and free ourselves from this ailment to build a bright future.

AIESEC PROJECT IN TUNISIA PART-2

    

At the beginning of the project everything was good, I was meeting with new people from other countries and walking around the city. I was also improving my French. Many people were interested in me at there because I was Turkish. On their TV there were many Turkish Series with translation. It was strange for me because I hate watching them but people at there, they love it… Many girls found me attractive and some of them also ask me to get married with them. They were dancing around me and feeding me. I was like a king for some time!

I was trying to get used to this mixed Arabic French culture. They were acting like they are Arabic, but their living style was trying to be like French people. Their meals, houses even mosques were not theirs. Maybe it was because of the city I was staying in. It was the last city which French troops left. About the leaving in 1961 there was a small battle occurred between Tunisia and France, almost 600 Tunisians and 30 French troops were killed in the battle. For me it is so strange because even though they don’t like France they still speak French and use it in education!

We were generally spending time at marina, where all people go to drink coffee or tea. It is surrounded by old castle walls. Sometimes were going to swim and one of the best was going to Cape Angela. It is the northernmost point of African continent. It had a beautiful seaside, there were big rocks in the sea and after diving in the sea, it is possible to sea many different types of fish. Also, there is a monument where you can go and take pictures, it is on the top of a hill. It is almost 17 km from Bizerte, which means it is not that far.

About the bad things, I got infection from my foot. I had to stay at home for 2 weeks, and other people went to visit some places, but I couldn’t. I was staying downstairs, when they turned back house owner also came with them. They forgot to take thresh out so that smell spread everywhere. The owner who is uncle of our project leader started to say some bad words about Turkey suddenly. I was shocked and defended myself, but he got angrier. We started to shout each other (I used cursed Arabic words I learned at there) and he left the house. Days were passing so fast; weather was almost 45 degrees, and we were going to a village which is 1 hour by taxi bus. Imagine there is no air conditioner and just windows, car is full of people, and it is 45 degrees…

In the middle of the project, they moved us to another house which is so old and in bad condition that homeless people even wouldn’t want to live in. It was horrible, I was sleeping on the ground, there were even not enough plates for us to eat together. Even though everything I was trying to avoid bad stuff till I got sick. At the beginning I felt something bite me from my chest, a red spot appeared on the left of my chest. In several days those spots got more and more…

I started to search about it and my friends and everyone. We figured it out that it was zona. Every night I was feeling like I was dying, the zona I have was related to nerve system which bounds to brain directly. It speeded all around my shoulder and chest. I was begging for project leaders to help me to go to doctor, but they were saying that God will help me! After 1 week I finally went to see a doctor, but he didn’t know nothing, and I was all alone there. Meanwhile other project ended, and it was our time to move back to good house but guess what, they were allowing everyone expect from me! I was so angry again and had a breakdown, I was going to beat the uncle if the leader didn’t come to talk with me. (I am holding myself so hard to write in calm, those memories hurting me so much.)

At the end they let me to spend my last days at that house and I turned back to Turkey. There are many bad things happened during the project -they didn’t let the Chinese people make their visa to steal money from them, which I figured out and solve this problem and more problems- which I never imagined at the beginning-. After I turned back to Turkey, I thought I was healed and everything is fine, but it was just the beginning of the real disease to appear. My nerve system got so much damage during the Zona disease and the doctors said that I must had treatments for that because it was the highest level. At the end I lost my 2 years because of this disease and had to quit from FLT because I was fainting 3-4 times in a day and it took so long to recover.