I am planning to come to Odessa, after the Rainbow gathering.

This is the post posted few months ago on the Hitchwiki forum:

"First of all, I think we are all agree hitchhiking is very much about connection and inspiring trust in people. With this regard, I think we could use a peer to peer approach, meaning here a peer exchange of experiences, objects, memories. This could be done at two levels: with whoever pick-us up and with the other hitchhikers.

I’m gonna explain:

- we could decide to exchange with each driver something. We could give an hug, our printed magazine. Or, thinking at the topic of postcards (http://hitchwiki.org/en/789/Ideas ) we could print a postcard using Amylin drawing for 789 logo, on which we could write our name, from where to where we shared the ride and a personalized message. If someone has a Polaroid she could take a pic and live as a gift.

- the driver gives us a ride, of course. But it would be nice if he could give us something physical. It could be a pen, a chewing gum (possibly not used), a plastic bag, a magazine, a picture, a business card… Whatever. It is not important what. It is the exchange activity that counts.

Once we are in Odessa, we collect all the objects, together with whatever else we wanna share (posters with indications, pictures, stories written on paper, draws, maps…), and we create an installation. Should be easy to find a piece of wood and attach the objects with strings… kinda wind-chime . The installation will work as an anarchic archive of our experience and it could be exhibited in a public space in Odessa, where locals could see it. However, the main thing would be the process of collecting and sharing these objects: the process of creation.

At the end of the gathering, each of us could take one object with her (non necessary your –own).

How does this sound? Too complex?

Other ideas:
1- take a pic of each of your drivers. It could be published on Flikr? They are also part of the experience aren’t they?

2- contact with locals in Odessa: balloon sculpture (I can do a workshops if there are funds to buy the balloons), face painting, juggling, free hugs…

what do you think?"

hugs
valentina