Face it. All backpackers are likely to encounter situations that can really test you. They can send your plans into a whirlwind, cause arguments with other travelers or end your trip completely. In the face of adversity, it’s always best to take a deep breath, relax and understand that others probably go through what you are experiencing.
You’ve come so far along to plan this trip, why let these petty situations ruin it? Luckily, if you are human and you have traveled, you might be able to recognize some of these scenarios most Backpackers face.
1. Problems entering/leaving a country
All travelers have different circumstances when it comes to how easy or difficult it can be to enter or leave a country. Some might research all the travel rules about what one needs for crossing the border and will face issues, while others sort of wing it and have no troubles.
Also, depending on where you call home, it can be easy to understand your time allotted in a country while some have to read and analyze travel procedures before even thinking about entering a country.
For instance, suppose a page in your passport rips off. Obviously, it wasn’t your fault, but technically, border patrol strictly enforces that your passport must be in good condition. This may/may not be a problem when you’re trying to travel. When you’re playing the game of “Let’s travel the world”, you understand the precaution that anything goes. The rules of the game are stated as anything can happen: Border patrol can decide if you’re $2USD short of your visa fee that you can’t enter the country.
Since entering or leaving a country is a big deal, it’s best not to get angry at the workers if you are having trouble. They have a lot of jurisdiction and you could easily land in jail. You must know you aren’t at home where you think you might be able to talk your way out of it. Remember, these people have total control to whether or not you will enter/leave a country. I wouldn’t want to mess with them either.
It’s best to stay calm and take a deep breath. Smile politely and ask what your options are. Let them know you are truly sorry for whatever situation you are in and let them know you are willing to work with them in order to satisfy both parties.
2.Losing items/Getting robbed
Whether you are a backpacker or a regular traveler, everybody hates losing something. It seems like no matter how many times you reorganize your backpack and try to keep it clean, your socks go missing all the time. (Even at home, it seems like socks go missing as well!)
Losing something small like the address of your hostel can be a pain, but easily recovered by finding an internet cafe or asking for directions. But, losing items can be a bigger pain. You might lose your wallet, passport or entire backpack completely.
It’s easy to go absolutely nuts trying to find your missing items, but looking for something without a clear mind isn’t going to help. Try to think clearly and remember where you could have lost it or where you last had the item. Retrace your steps and ask around; you never know how helpful anyone could be.
If you’re at the point where the item is missing and you’re crying over spilled milk: Remember, it’s okay. You can obviously deal with the loss of the item(s), but it is best to accept your losses and move forward. You wouldn’t want to have negative feelings about losing something when you are gaining so much in the experience of travel itself.
A scenario that is anyone’s fear is getting robbed at gunpoint. If you’re traveling unsafe countries, getting robbed can happen not only at night, but during the day. Never underestimate your safety. We’ve all heard horror stories about getting robbed in taxi’s, in tourist areas or even 5 minutes away from their hostel.
Always try to move quickly and don’t attract attention if you are traveling solo. Drawing attention or looking flashy will give the impression you are not from around the town or that you have a lot of money. Leave important items in a safe or locked with your backpack during your day travels. If you find yourself in a robbery situation just do whatever they ask and contact the local police immediately.
3.Arguments with a fellow traveler
@ryan digital
As humans, we have different ideals, opinions and ways of travel. Sure, we share the common goal of budget travel and packing our backpack to see beautiful sights of the world. But, it is our differences or social situations that can unfortunately allow us to argue with others.
Arguments happen all the time between travelers. You might be sharing a hostel room with 6 other guests who are traveling together and are very loud and come home drunk while you are more of a quiet soul who parties once in a while. Arguments between hostelmates happen all the time; big or small. It’s best to understand that you are all traveling and sharing the room. Communicating efficiently helps a lot when you are sharing a space. All parties of the room have the right to do as they please, but its also kind to be considerate to others.
You also might argue with other travelers as well. Sometimes if you are in a group, you might want not want to do something others are doing and it raises tension between a group. It’s easy to feel isolated, or guilty for not wanting to follow the crowd. Have no fear: Don’t let it make your blood boil and get upset over something that actually isn’t a big deal. Maybe you’ll want to do something else:
Go ahead. This is your trip and it’s okay to do so. You can do a group excursion another time, or possibly later in that day. It’s easy to get upset over not getting your way, but it’s even easier to avoid arguing with a fellow traveler to keep the peace on the road.
4.Not understanding a foreign language
If you’re bilingual, trilingual or you only speak your native language, you have definitely come across a moment where language was a barrier. You can’t understand them and vice versa. There is nothing more frustrating then not being able to express yourself, or not being able to understand someone else. Especially when the language can be extremely different or unlike others. You might find yourself bilingual in English and Spanish, but you’ll find yourself completely clueless in India. All you want to do is find out where the nearest hostel is and it seems like trying to understand Quantum Physics.
No matter how many language books, applications or podcasts you try before your trip, it is impossible to learn every language prior to travel. It’s typical to learn some common phrases such as “Hello” and “Good Morning”, but don’t overwhelm yourself unless you are really committing to learning the language.
Also, be understanding of others with language barriers. It might be frustrating to not communicate, but don’t get angry over something that isn’t anyone’s fault. Use hand gestures, pictures and a big smile to get your point across. Remember, if you’re traveling, it’s natural to pick up on other languages anyway, so there is no point in getting upset when you can use it as an opportunity to learn new words!
5.Unexpected changes in travel
What makes a backpacker is the willingness to experience and explore new lands, on a simple budget. Often in travels abroad, unexpected scenarios can pop up. Your train to the next town might overbooked and the next one isn’t until next week, even though back home you are used to daily train service.
What happens often is changes in budget while traveling. You might overspend in a city you really enjoy. Or, you might break your laptop charger and might have to pay more in a city where laptop chargers aren’t a hot seller. When you’re trying to stay on budget, these unexpected expenditures might really get under your skin, but accept that these might be essentials, or if you’re overspending, try to look your budget over.
You might hear of other backpackers talking about a city you MUST see that isn’t on your itinerary route and you might have to bend over backwards to fit this into your plan. Traveling is easy, but it is only easy because of the blood, sweat and tears you put into it. It’s that reward of getting to that location and having those experiences that make it worthwhile.
While unexpected scenarios might deter us, all backpackers must know that anything can happen. Whether you are traveling 3 months or 2 years, something is bound to pop up and having a set mind is best to deal with any situation accordingly. Life is too short to be worrying about problems anyway when you are surrounded by beautiful landscapes of the world.
An important message for all backpackers, or anyone considering travel is to NOT take these 5 scenarios as something to make you reconsider the experience. The road less traveled is far more interesting and worthwhile of problems big or small, as long as you can wrap your mind around the idea that you are the maker of your destiny.
