Interview: Ludovic Hubler

Ludovic Hubler hitchhiking from Strasbourg, France on January 1, 2003.

By George Davis - On January 1, 2003 Ludovic Hubler (www.ludovichubler.com) stuck out his thumb in Strasbourg, France, and he's been hitchhiking around the world ever since. He intends to tour the continents without spending a single penny on transportation, and after more than three years he's remarkably close to achieving his goal.

Born in Bar-le-Duc (Lorraine, France) and raised in Strasbourg, where he graduated in June 2002 from IECS with a Master of Science in Management degree, the 28 year old adventurer has become an adept public speaker. He presents lectures to school groups and other organizations about realizing his dream interwoven with anecdotal accounts of his adventures among diverse cultures in far-flung locales. The highlights of his journey have been showcased in print and on television around the world.

Last summer we caught up briefly with Ludovic to ask him some of our burning questions while he was completing a lecture series in North America, and since then his appetite for "fee free" wandering hasn't waned a bit. After sojourns in Tonga and New Zealand, he recently made it to Australia by container ship, his global hitchhiking adventure still unfolding.

George: On your website you explain why you initially began hitchhiking: "As it is with all students, my financial resources were limited and didn't allow me to travel around." So you stuck out your thumb! Do you remember your first hitchhiking experience? Were you nervous? How did it go? Anything memorable?

Ludovic: Well, let me first give you a little bit of the background about hitchhiking. When I was about 16 or 17 years old, my mother was over protective and always wanted to give me rides everywhere I went. My father kept saying that he wanted me to be resourceful and told me to hitchhike. I therefore started to hitchhike around my city, then my region, then around France, then around Europe and realized that this means of transportation is a great way to get in touch with the local people. I remember my first time, yes, I was very nervous. I even felt stupid and ill-at-ease sticking my thumb up. I only had to get to a soccer practice 2 miles away...

George: So, in addition to offering an affordable means of travel, there's an even more significant benefit of hitchhiking: getting "in touch with the local people". The reflections you share on your website, in your newsletter and in interviews seem increasingly focused on the people you meet along the way. You seem particularly keen on the connections you make with people who open up and share their experiences and their lives with you. Can you tell us a little about this aspect of social and cultural immersion?

Ludovic: A newspaper in Argentina put as a title of an article about my adventure "Asistiendo a la mejor escuela de vida" (Attending the best school of life). Hitchhiking is indeed an amazing school of life. A school of persistence, patience, optimism, resourcefulness, adaptability, tolerance, diplomacy and open-mindedness. I want my tour of the world to be a tour of mankind more than monuments. Of course, you cannot go to Peru without going to the Machu Picchu but my focus is indeed on the people. I try to meet people from different social and cultural backgrounds. Every single driver has something to teach me and the more people I meet, the more I learn about myself. This tour is my own PhD.

George: Although hitchhiking is legal in many parts of the world, have you ever had any run-ins with law enforcement officers when trying to secure a ride?

Ludovic: Yes, especially in the US where hitchhiking is not legal in many states. However, I mainly hitchhike from gas station to gas station. This technique enables me to choose my future drivers (reducing the risk taken) and increase my chances to be given a ride. I have met many policemen but explained my project with diplomacy (showing them the pictures and articles I carry along in a folder that give me credibility) and they usually let me go. The rule is to keep in mind that they have the power to do whatever they want, so I agree with them even when they are wrong!

George: When you first conceived of hitchhiking around the world, what sort of reaction did it elicit from your family, friends and classmates?

Ludovic: My mother's first reaction was, "Wouldn't you prefer touring Switzerland?" She didn't think I was serious when I first told her. Actually, my parents support me. As long as things are done in a serious way, as long as I stay safe (I try!), as long as I don't ask them for money and as long as I am happy realizing my childhood dream, they are okay with it. You can imagine that many people called me crazy especially when I refused a good job to hit the road. The question for me was the unknown or comfort. I chose the unknown, and I don't regret it at all!

George: If your family and close friends had discouraged you from undertaking this journey, if they had tried to prevent you from setting out in the first place, would you have given up the dream or altered your plans in some way?

Ludovic: Given up? You don't know me! I am very stubborn (probably too much), and I believe in my ideas. I definitely would have taken into account their views, but once I'd made the decision, I'd have still gone for it. I won't deny that I spent many hours rolling in my bed before I left wondering if it was wise to attempt such a challenge, wondering if is was the right moment despite conflicts and wars around the world, wondering if I was really making the right decision... Then one day I said, "Enough thinking, let's start getting ready."

George: When you arrive in a new destination, do you have standard routines for finding lodging, accessing the Internet and securing your other necessities?

Ludovic Hubler hitchhiking the Atlantic Ocean via sailboat.

Ludovic: Internet makes my tour of the world a lot easier. Today, you can have Internet access in the most remote places on earth. I even found a cyber cafe in a small village in the Sahara in Africa. With Internet, I can prepare my next step. I often use wonderful web site like www.hospitalityclub.org and www.couchsurfing.com where thousands of nice people offer places to stay. I often secure lodging but of course not all the time. Many times I've stayed outside or in my tent. (Incidentally I don't have the tent anymore; it was too heavy, so I left it in Brazil). Also, I sometimes ask hotels if I can work for two or three hours (washing the dishes, cleaning the swimming pool, etc.) in exchange for a free night. I have paid for some hotel nights but never more than $5.00 US. In some countries, the price is very low, so I can afford hotels even though my daily budget is $10.00 US.

George: Aside from obvious lifestyle changes (the inability to carry much or enjoy private space, etc.) how has your day-to-day existence changed since becoming a veritable vagabond?

Ludovic: It is true that I can't carry much. I have a small backpack with enough clothes for about eight or nine days. However, I still give a lot of importance to hygiene, and I am always clean. It is also a sign of respect to the people giving me a ride or a place to stay. One key is my capacity to adapt; I find myself every day in a new situation with often new people. In some countries, it is easy to adapt, in others, it is a real challenge where every single thing is different. I enjoy moments where I even have to ask how can I eat or drink without offending my hosts. It is funny to realize that having access to Internet helps me to keep a link with "my world". I do need this link even if I enjoy having new situations every day. One other big change in my day to day existence is that I can't have a "real" girlfriend since I keep on moving. I must keep in mind that this adventure is a step in my life and that I won't be "thumb up" forever, nor can I have everything at the same time. Finding the woman of my life and building a family will be my next dreams when I end this adventure.

George: How do you determine what amount of time to spend in each location?

Ludovic: It really depends on the people I meet, the places of interests, the weather,... Now that I give lectures, it also depends on my lecture schedule.

George: Can you explain your relationship with Rotary?

Ludovic: Rotary club is a fantastic organization trying to make our world better. I actually got in touch with many clubs in the US to give lectures about my travels and the humanitarian missions I have done. They often helped me with contacts of schools around their cities. I always enjoy sharing my adventure with children. I also try to tell them about our beautiful planet. Rotary has a great network around the world but I haven't used it much.

George: In your experience, what has been the most important thing to carry along with you while traveling?