Issue date: 4/10/01 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: www.goeurope.about.com

DURHAM, N.H. (U-WIRE) — There are three basic areas in which people are educated during life: school, work and travel.

Most people have to take out loans to go to school and spend most of their lives working to live day to day, but according to Gil White, author of “Europe on 84 Cents a Day,” it is possible to travel around the world for just 84 cents a day.

“Some people think that in order to live for 84 cents a day, I must have slept in ditches or waited for a ride all day,” White said. To the contrary, White feels that he truly experienced the culture of various countries because he chose to travel the way he did, which was cheaply and creatively. White chose modes of travel and accommodations that were unconventional to the typical traveler who would more likely be staying at a hotel or hostel. As a result, White was able to gain a valuable education about the culture and people of the countries he visited.

White began traveling at the age of 16 when he moved from his native country, Canada, to outside Sydney, Australia, to play tennis. Later, during the early ’80s when he was in college, White traveled throughout 54 countries. He now travels with his wife or with the Seniors Canadian Tennis Team, which he said is “just another opportunity for getting around.”

“Traveling is an important point in your life,” White said. “Traveling has put mine into a different perspective.” He stressed the value of travel as a way of experiencing the world and dealing with day-to-day situations. He said he has never learned so much about himself as he has learned by traveling and experiencing other people and cultures.

White said he feels that people should foster a “sincere interest in people ... it’s really meeting the people. Statues and mountains can’t talk back to you.”

He said he feels that his travels “may have said more about the people than anything else, the fact that people will help you out.” He said he noticed a big difference in cultures, particularly in how much people trusted each other. He encouraged people to trust others when looking for a free ride.

“When people are driving they are lonely, they are bored,” he said. “Girls, go with a guy. He will get more rides than she ever would.”

Having accepted more than 2,000 rides, White can be considered an old pro at hitchhiking.

The practice is safe, he said.

Continued...

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