The Art of Waiting

If you are traveling, and particularly if you are backpacking, chances are you'll spend a lot of time waiting.

You'll wait in line to buy bus tickets, you'll wait on a bus in traffic, you'll wait to check in to a hostel, you'll wait for a flight, you'll wait when your flight is delayed.

There is an art to waiting. Some people are good at it. Some people aren't. Some people are used to it, and some are just naturally impatient. I like ot think that I'm a patient person, but even I have my limits. Here's how I make my life worthwhile when I have a long wait ahead of me (like my bus trip this week that took 16 hours...)

1.) Journaling
That's what I'm doing right now, in fact. As I write, it's 5:45 p.m. I left my hostel at 8 a.m. today, and I've been waiting on various buses, in ticket lines, and in traffic since then. I'm on a bus right now traveling from David to Panama City, and we've been sitting in traffic for the past three hours. So I know what I'm talking about.

Journaling is an excellent exercise that I recommend for any time, not just when you have nothing better to do. Journaling gives you the chance to organize your thoughts, reflect on your day, resolve issues, and it's just good therapy.

I journal all the time when I travel (maybe because I need a lot of therapy?). Journals are a great way to relive your travels, sometimes even better than photos, and you know how much I love photography.

2.) Reading
Maybe it's not your activity of choice, but it certainly does help to pass the time. Reading's good for you, too--it helps develop sustained associational thinking (i.e., you're forced to think deeply about stuff for a long time). There's nothing like a good story to keep you entertained when the screaming baby behind you makes you want to tear your ears off.

3.) Sleeping
I bet you didn't see that coming--what teacher encourages you to sleep when you could be reading, or studying Spanish, or doing mental math?

But seriously, this merits a mention. YOu shouldn't just sprawl out wherever you are and start snoring. If you find you must nap in a public place, such as a bus, a train station, the airport, the beach, or wherever, there are some things to keep in mind.

First, if you have a bus or train to catch, set an alarm. It would be rather sad to sleep through the departure you've waited so long for.

Next, keep in mind that you are in

public. Do not invade others' space, do not slump or sprawl about inappropriately. People will likely trip over you or just generally be disgusted with your lack of courtesy.

Finally and most importantly, always know where your stuff is. A friend of a friend once fell asleep on the beach in Brazil, and someone took everything--she had to borrow money for the bus ride home, and she had to ride that bus barefoot and in a bikini. Keep your passport and wallet on you at all times, preferably attached to your clothing somehow, and out of sight. If you've got your backpack with you, find a way to strap is on while you sleep. If you're in a place where you can lay down, you might put everything against a wall and curl around it. Check the floor first so you don't lay in anything unsavory.


You might think you'll never do any of the crazy stuff I've been describing, and you're probably right. Just in case, though, it's important to think through everything. If you think it's awful to sleep in a bus station, imagine waking up in that bus station and all your stuff is gone. Worse, no?

Ultimately, waiting won't kill you, and the more relaxed you are (and the less whining you do), the happier your life will be, no matter how long it takes to get where you're going.

6:15 p.m., still in traffic... I think it's time for a nap.


Other helpful hints:
- always have a bottle of water (you'll lose your place in line if you try to go buy water)
- don't rely on electronics to keep you entertained. You may be in a place where it is a very bad idea to flash electronics of any kind. Plus, your battery might die.
- I know I've said it before, but BYOTP. And hand sanitizer.
- Always take a jacket, even someplace warm. It can double as a pillow, or the AC might be turned way up, which is the case on Panamanian buses. You never know. 12 hours on a highly air conditioned bus can be miserable.