Hitchhiking

Even though this blog is supposed to be me, “sharing my commute with you”, I may have left out one detail about my travel logistics – mostly because I didn’t want my parents to be worried but mainly because I didn’t want them to be bugging me with their worrying.  This way of getting around is often times the cheapest, the most convenient, the most comfortable and the safest. And that is hitchhiking.

Taxis (and any other form of public transport) can be a pain. Most taxis wait at the taxi rank until it is completely full. This can be 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or more. Full means the maximum number of passengers and all of their personal belongings. If anyone decides to get off, then the taxi will honk and stop and try to pick up more passengers along the way. Sometimes taxis go off the main road or drive backwards to pick more people up. Also, it is very common that some old lady will be on your taxi and demand that all of the windows are closed. So beyond being cramped, it is also hot, stuffy and sometimes smelly. Especially if travel is over an hour, this is not a pleasant experience.

The most common alternative to public transport to PCV’s is hitchhiking. In Lesotho, instead of sticking out your thumb to wave down cars, you point down to the road. Because PCV’s are clearly outsiders, it is easy for people to notice and usually curiosity will get them to pull over.  Sometimes I have been walking on a road and just been offered a ride. This might sound sketchy, but the friendly, community based culture in Lesotho creates a very trusting environment.

The first time I hitchhiked was the first month I lived in Lesotho and visited the mountains – there was no other way of getting back to training because the bus had gotten stuck on the narrow road – and since then, I have had a pretty good experience with hitchhiking. Only wealthy people are able to afford a vehicle, which also usually means they are educated and they speak English. I have met interesting people and oftentimes they know of Peace Corps or have met or worked with other PCV’s. Many drivers I have met have also been driving for work with their official vehicles – police officers, government employees, or NGO’s. Not only do you get your own seat, but there is also a seatbelt and breathing room. I have gotten hitches in Audi’s, BMW’s, Mercedes’, and VW’s (I didn’t know they were so bad then), among others. Of course, I still trust my gut and think about safety. (I have turned down rides before because drinking and driving is a huge problem in Lesotho.) And I have only hitchhiked once since moving to this new site. But overall, it hasn’t been a bad way to get around.