Sharing Travel Experiences

Interview: Travel Intersects in Many Places

by Andy Hayes

Today’s interview is certainly one of our more off-beat. While yes, we often feature high-profile travellers, we also feature the everyday folks who join us here at STE everyday for a dose of inspiration and conversation. And today’s traveller is certainly going to offer up a new perspective, a new point of view, and no doubt some good conversation. With that, I’d like to introduce you to Alex Budak.

Could you please introduce yourself?

Sure — I graduated from UCLA in 2007, where I studied Geography and Political Science, and spent many nights camping out for front-row seats to UCLA basketball games. I’m currently living in Washington, D.C. where I am pursuing a master’s in Public Policy at Georgetown, using my thesis to examine the role of new media in American elections. In-between, I enjoy photography, random roadtrips, and good burritos.

On the travel side, I’ve had the chance to study abroad a couple of times, as well as backpack through Europe, travel around in Costa Rica, and volunteer in India. I love how technology has brought about the democratization of travel writing, and I eagerly share stories and photos of my travels online. You can check out my travel adventures on my blog, or read some of my published travel writing.

Tell us what it means to be at the “intersection of policy, technology, and social entrepreneurship”, a statement found your website?

I’m passionate about the ways in which new technologies can transform the world for the better. This ranges from new green technologies, to cloud computing and new media’s ability to bring the world together. I’m currently the host of the Ashoka Tech Podcast, where I interview social entrepreneurs leveraging technology for the social good, and discuss ways in which people can use technology to improve the world themselves. I’m currently studying policy in graduate school, but I’m most interested in how social enterprise can bring about sustainable and long-lasting change — especially in the developing world.

Mobile technology is an area that especially interests me, and I saw first-hand in India this summer how even poor, rural citizens have access to a mobile phone, which really is best thought of as a mobile computing device. The world-changing possibilities resting in ubiquitous connection and mobile computing are broad and quite exciting.

Andy’s Note:  Translation – Changing the world, one day at a time.

Now speaking more about the volunteer work you recently did in India. How did that opportunity present itself, what did you do, and how do feel about it now?

While studying abroad for three months at the Indian Institute of Management, I found myself stuck in an elite, academic bubble. Wanting to break free, and create some positive change during my stay in India, I sought out volunteer opportunities — albeit a bit limited by my lack of Hindi and Gujarati. I found a great opportunity through Indicorps, though, through which I volunteered to coach local kids in ultimate frisbee. Even though I knew little of the sport, I spent many afternoons on a dirt field coaching and mentoring them. In the end, my role was as much to encourage healthy-lifestyles and give the kids an outlet, as it was to teach them how to throw a frisbee. Though I hope the kids are better off for my volunteering, I am virtually positive that I got more out of the experience than I could have given them. It was always an uplifting and inspiring part of my day to work with them, and their energy was infectious.

Andy’s Note:  I have to say I am always struck by the stories people bring back from India.  Really.  Unbelievable.

Tell me about the Galapagos Islands. As the place where Charles Darwin was inspired to discover the process of evolution (as well as one of the best places to Scuba dive), I’ve always been fascinated by it as a place for modern travelers to find their own inspiration.

Seeing nature that has been virtually untouched by human hands for millennia, and walking amongst flora and fauna unlike any I had seen before borders on indescribable. From swimming with baby penguins in warm ocean-waters to standing beneath blue-footed boobies as they soared overhead, I truly felt like I was experiencing the Galapagos Islands much as Darwin must have when he sailed aboard the Beagle. In a time when so much natural life has been usurped from us, the Galapagos Conservation Trust has done a great job of sustaining the environment for generations of travelers to enjoy. Plus, there are giant tortoises — how cool is that?

Andy’s Note:  Giant tortoises?  Sold.  Group trip anyone?

You’ve also studied abroad. Where did you study and what would you say to those considering this kind of travel opportunity?

I’ve been fortunate to study abroad three times in my life — twice during undergrad, and then recently this past summer during graduate school. During undergrad, I did Semester at Sea, where I took classes on a ship that sailed around, with five day stops in eight different countries. My second study abroad trip in 2006 found me in my favorite city in the world — Berlin — studying German literature and politics, all while surrounded by the craziness of the World Cup. This past summer I was in Ahmedabad, India at a business school, but jumping on overnight trains and busses to travel as often as possible.

Studying abroad is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I’ve quite honestly learned a ton inside the classroom, but getting out and experiencing the world is truly priceless. I could have studied the European Union while in the US — but studying it while in Poland left a much more enduring impression. Likewise with reading German poetry and then visiting the sights mentioned, or learning development economics while in a developing country, and confronting the realities daily. All I can say to someone thinking of studying abroad is: just do it! Yes, it’s expensive; yes, it takes you out of your comfort zone and away from friends for a semester. But just go abroad, and you can figure out all of those details later. I don’t know a single person that has regretted it.

Andy’s Note:  How’s come they didn’t have Semester at Sea when I was in school?  That is SO AWESOME!  Your India trains comment reminds me of our community member Arun’s story about travel India by rail.

What’s been your most inspirational travel experience?

After embarking on multiple trips across India with friends, I decided to take off on my own to Delhi and Agra to see the Taj Majal. As India often does, I was nearing my breaking point of frustration after an exasperating and grueling trainride across the Indian countryside. As I jumped in a rickshaw in Agra, all I could think of was my own growing frustration when, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the Taj Mahal. Some people say that it can’t possibly live up to the hype of being a world wonder; however, in reality, it far exceeds it. The mere sight of it snapped me out of my funk, and, quite literally, took my breath away.

Andy’s Note:  Once again, India takes top marks.  I wasn’t kidding when I said it was a top travel destination this year!

Once you’re out of your graduate programme, where do you plan on being based? Any reason why?

A very good, and timely question. Washington, D.C. is the epicenter of young people looking to change the world, so I could certainly see myself staying here for a couple of years. Also, given my interest in technology, moving to San Francisco and the Silicon Valley would make a lot of sense career wise. Slightly less rationally (though exciting), I would love to return to Berlin for a year, or perhaps try my hand living for a bit in Asia.

---

Thanks for joining us today, Alex. That was certainly one of our more fascinating interviews and I really enjoyed speaking with you as it has really got things off to a great start this year and has me reflecting on a lot of things.

Everyone, if you want to connect with Alex you can do so on Twitter, his blog, or his personal website.

Has Alex's many adventures inspired some new travels of your own?

What are you waiting for? Travel more with our special travel deals, such as:

Or, get hands-on travel help from Donna, our travel concierge.