Meeting backpackers unexpectedly - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**joe7f** · 12-09-2008, 10:15 PM

Hey Tpunks,

The other day I was talking to a guy and he was telling a story about getting solicited in Amsterdam (by a dude

) and he mentioned that he was heading back to his hostel.

Immediately I said "Flying Pig?" and he said "Yeah!". To me it was kind of weird because I wouldn't have pegged him for a backpacker.

Have you met people in your day to day life that have done what you have done? And I don't mean attending a Tpunk meetup or a Couch surfing social...

--Joey

**offhegoes03** · 12-10-2008, 05:40 AM

Yeah, one of the guys in my lab went backpacking through Europe. But then again, there were two people in my lab that were adamantly opposed to any form of backpacking. It's definitely not for everyone.

**MeTurk** · 12-10-2008, 06:14 AM

Ya loads, it's the done thing here. It's hard to find anyone that hasn't attempted to live outside this country. Even allot of the older generation left but came back during the boom. So many of us have relations overseas it's not such a big deal to go spend a few months on the road calling into relations as you go. Especially if your going to the states.

There's another wave of Irish leaving again due to the recession and all our Polish are leaving too.

**Canadian Bacon** · 12-10-2008, 06:32 AM

Same, a lot of people I know have backpacked Europe, although only a very few have gone to other places, or have backpacked more than once.

There are plenty one-shot backpackers, but for those who make backpacking a life decision (i.e. something that will be part of them forever that they will do again and again), that's pretty rare. But when I do meet those people, its almost like an instant connection, like meeting a long-lost comrade.

Although sometime I do feel that backpackers don't listen very well, we just wait for an opportunity to throw out all our places and best stories... its like the backpacker cockiness. Sort of a bad habit.

**mbo108** · 12-10-2008, 06:51 AM

^ Agreed. There is definitely a level of uponemanship out there.

**simply_angelic** · 12-10-2008, 08:59 AM

That's the only reason I go

**Dig** · 12-10-2008, 03:18 PM

I agree as well with the keeping up with the jones' syndrome. I always try to imagine how it was before I started to travel. I really felt left out not ever leaving the country. Now I have been to some pretty amazing places and I want to let everyone know. I just keep having to remind myself that not everybody likes or has the opportunity to travel.

But I do love swapping stories with fellow travelers

**freespiritz** · 12-12-2008, 08:24 PM

Yeah, I've definitely met a lot of people who've done the one time through Europe thing. I don't think I've met someone (at home) who does things quite the same way and at quite the same intensity that I do though...but it's always fun to meet someone whose gone somewhere a little different like Central America, and trade stories about staying at the one hostel in town that everyone goes to.

**joe7f** · 12-14-2008, 08:51 PM

Of course, I am not sure if there are many even on these boards that travel with your level of intensity :D

--Joey

**Canadian Bacon** · 12-15-2008, 08:00 AM

^ Serious. Although I consider my travel style of be 'intensely chilled'.

**mish99** · 12-15-2008, 11:51 AM

Ive never actually met any backpackers unexpectedly...Although I only have 2 hours off a day in my job so I dont meet many people full stop. Haha.

Not a backpacker, but I met this elderly woman (I would say 70's/80's) at the bus stop and we got talking about my travels. She kept saying things like wow, she really admires me etc.....I just brushed it off. Anyway, we sat on the bus together and she starts telling me that she has no family and im thinking oh my gosh, please dont tell me a sob story...but then she says that because she has no family, and it was Christmas she and her friend (also elderly) just packed there bags and travelled South America! Alright, so not backpacking, but I thought WOW, she doing that at her age, not sitting around feeling sorry for herself, but getting on with the rest of her life. I really want to be like that when im her age!!

Another thing, her friend she travelled with took a gap year when she was 18, which was looong ago, and went to America. Being a woman and doing that in those days, when it just wasnt done, I can really truly say I admire her.

Sorry, I went off the topic majorly, but this woman like totally changed my life with her stories!!

**The Monsignor** · 12-15-2008, 07:32 PM

< I'm in it for the chicks...