Patrick Falterman
Encyclopedia
Patrick Falterman II is an American
itinerant
and travel writer, also sometimes known by his pseudonym "The Modern Nomad." He is most well known for his writings about hitchhiking
in Central and South America, and is the creator and writer on "HitchTheWorld.com", where he writes personal accounts of his hitchhiking with a stated goal of "giving as many people as possible a better-informed view about who hitchhikers are, and what it [hitchhiking] really is, and to remove the negative stereotypes associated with it."
Falterman is a strong proponent of free travel, open borders, and world unity. During his wanderings he writes about the lifestyle of a traveler-by-occupation.
on Minot Air Force Base
and was the first of three children to Cindy and Patrick Falterman I. He has two younger siblings, brother David and sister Ellen. He attended Encino Park Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas
until age 9 when he moved to Cleveland, Texas
. From 2004 through 2008, Falterman attended Tarkington High School.
, sold all of his personal belongings, and overdrew his bank card
by $1,200 to purchase supplies. Falterman then headed to Arizona
, and after spending several weeks camping in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness
near Flagstaff, Arizona
, got a job working as a door-to-door magazine salesman in California
. Falterman found working for them a distinctly disagreeable experience, so he decided to travel to Tijuana, Mexico, in order to leave behind what he felt was a life of "being a machine for society." Since then, Falterman has not returned to the United States, and has spent several years hitchhiking around dozens of Latin American nations with little to no finances. Falterman worked temporarily as an English teacher in Punta Arenas, Chile
at the Tronwell Institute to better provide himself income before continuing onward in his hitchhiking.
Falterman went on to write a short poem under the bridge using a discarded can of spray paint, thus establishing his itinerant alter-ego.
after entering the country illegally via a remote border crossing near Uyuni
. He was later caught by the Bolivian Special Antinarcotics Force trying to swim to Brazil across the Mamoré River,and later fled to Peru
to avoid being deported back to the United States
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
itinerant
Itinerant
An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner ....
and travel writer, also sometimes known by his pseudonym "The Modern Nomad." He is most well known for his writings about hitchhiking
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a means of transportation that is gained by asking people, usually strangers, for a ride in their automobile or other road vehicle to travel a distance that may either be short or long...
in Central and South America, and is the creator and writer on "HitchTheWorld.com", where he writes personal accounts of his hitchhiking with a stated goal of "giving as many people as possible a better-informed view about who hitchhikers are, and what it [hitchhiking] really is, and to remove the negative stereotypes associated with it."
Falterman is a strong proponent of free travel, open borders, and world unity. During his wanderings he writes about the lifestyle of a traveler-by-occupation.
Early Years
Falterman was born in Minot, North DakotaMinot, North Dakota
Minot is a city located in north central North Dakota in the United States. It is most widely known for the Air Force base located approximately 15 miles north of the city. With a population of 40,888 at the 2010 census, Minot is the fourth largest city in the state...
on Minot Air Force Base
Minot Air Force Base
Minot Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation in Ward County, North Dakota, north of the city of Minot. In the 2010 census, the base was counted as a CDP with a total population of 5,521....
and was the first of three children to Cindy and Patrick Falterman I. He has two younger siblings, brother David and sister Ellen. He attended Encino Park Elementary School in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
until age 9 when he moved to Cleveland, Texas
Cleveland, Texas
Cleveland is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,605 at the 2000 census.-History:In 1854, a church and convent was built by Father Peter La Cour near the town's present site...
. From 2004 through 2008, Falterman attended Tarkington High School.
Hitchhiking
In October 2009, Falterman abandoned his apartment in Houston, TX with five months still on his lease, dropped out of community collegeCommunity college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, sold all of his personal belongings, and overdrew his bank card
Bank card
A bank card is a plastic card issued by a bank to its clients that may perform one or more of the following services:* ATM card, card used for transactions at automatic teller machines* Debit card, card linked to a bank account and used for making purchases...
by $1,200 to purchase supplies. Falterman then headed to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and after spending several weeks camping in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Kachina Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area located approximately north of Flagstaff within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona....
near Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, got a job working as a door-to-door magazine salesman in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Falterman found working for them a distinctly disagreeable experience, so he decided to travel to Tijuana, Mexico, in order to leave behind what he felt was a life of "being a machine for society." Since then, Falterman has not returned to the United States, and has spent several years hitchhiking around dozens of Latin American nations with little to no finances. Falterman worked temporarily as an English teacher in Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas is a commune and the capital city of Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antartica Chilena. The city was officially renamed Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to Punta Arenas...
at the Tronwell Institute to better provide himself income before continuing onward in his hitchhiking.
Origin of the pseudonym "The Modern Nomad"
Falterman claims his pseudonym originates from a defining moment in his life spent under a bridge in Tijuana, Mexico. He writes on his website:Falterman went on to write a short poem under the bridge using a discarded can of spray paint, thus establishing his itinerant alter-ego.
Controversy
Falterman has often been criticized for his lack of respect for international law. He had issues in BoliviaBolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
after entering the country illegally via a remote border crossing near Uyuni
Uyuni
Uyuni is a city in the southwest of Bolivia. It primarily serves as a gateway for tourists visiting the world's largest salt flats, the nearby Salar de Uyuni.-Origin:...
. He was later caught by the Bolivian Special Antinarcotics Force trying to swim to Brazil across the Mamoré River,and later fled to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
to avoid being deported back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.