Ridingwithstrangersmaikemewe
Riding with Strangers: An Ethnographic Inquiry into Contemporary Practices of European Hitchhikers Wissenschaftliche Hausarbeit zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Master of Arts der Universität Hamburg von Maike Mewes aus Hamburg Hamburg, 2016 I inhale great draughts of space, the East and the West are mine, and the North and the South are mine. Walt Whitman Song of the Open Road, 1856 Dedicated to all hitchhikers i Acknowledgements I wish to thank all those who have supported me in the process of writing this work, through their encouragement, advice, time, and companionship. Prof. Sabine Kienitz, for her enduring support, open mind, and unwavering patience in the prolonged supervision that this work required. The many hitchhikers, who shared their views and wine and journeys with me, allowed me insights into their lives and thoughts, and patiently tolerated my inquisitiveness. My parents, for everything. I could write another 100 pages about how you have sup- ported me. Thank you. My siblings, for keeping my spirits up and my feet on the ground. My grandmother, for tea and talk. And Annette, for always being there for me. Jana, for going through the entire process with me, side by side each step of the way, sharing every eye-roll, whine, and plan doomed to fail. Dominic, who endured us both, and never tired of giving his insightful advice, of making us laugh and of making us food. I could not have done it without you. All friends, for supporting and distracting me. And all the drivers who gave me a ride. ii Table of Contents 1.
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