hitchhiking Va to Cali

[dandeliondust]

hello i am planning to hitchhike across America in late May/ early june. it's my first time but i have been feeling quite confident as i have a bunch of friends (a lot being female bodied) who have hitched and hopped trains been giving me advice. one thing i am concerned about hitching is the fact that i am Mexican. With all these laws against immigration going through i am worried about the prejudice still prevalent in the south. just to make it clear i was born in california and am lighter complected. i hope people can give me advice on any of that if possible and anymore advice on traveling for female bodied people

thanks
scarlett

[Laz777]

I don't think being Latina will hurt you. I've gotten many rides from immigrants and from people of all colors.
people that have picked me up all have one thing in common: a good heart.
a dog is a girl's best friend, though. you will likely meet creeps.
either that, or find a sidekick here (female, if possible), because another set of eyes and ears for a woman on the road will be a big + to discourage a would-be road suitor. female, because unfortunately, someone you meet here could be as potentially a creep as anyone you meet on an onramp.
I discourage weapons. they've been debated back and forth here to death, but let that be your choice.

[poolcbp]

laz777 is that a coffee stain on your mustache?

[Ayurveda78]

Definetly a good idea to find a female travel partner or a dude you already know..I would carry a small knife something legal maybe some pepper spray..Remember almost anything can be used as a weapon.. Don'tr be paranoid, just cautious..Stick to your intuition and safe travels

[TheWindAndRain]

In the most racist areas I've ever been in the south (Western Arkansas and Louisiana) no one seems to have anything against latinos. They will talk openly about hating black people though. I feel like the most heavy discrimination of latinos is in the midwest, but even there it's not bad.