Travel vs. Transit

Penn Station, NYC

Travel and transit, while they may sound similar, they are, to me, polar opposites but inextricably tied together. As I write this I sit on the floor of gate C75 at Newark International Airport. There are no seats to be found because, as is always true in the summer, flights become delayed, gates change at rapid rates, and a great deal of people who never travel suddenly show up. So I sit on the floor contemplating for the millionth time why I continue to put myself through all of this. I determined that my reasons stemmed from my ever-growing love of travel and my ability to grin and bear the transit. 

Sikkal Train Station, India

It’s a delicate balance that I strike each time I throw my possessions in a suitcase and schlep through yet another crowded city. Right now, my love of travel outweighs my loathing of transit, so I press on. What’s the difference you ask? Travel is full of new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences. It is discovering a place for the first time, or like visiting an old friend. Transit is moving from one place to another, switching planes, trains, buses, boats, or anything in between. Most of it, however, involves a barrage of inconveniences. One after another like whack-a-mole, the difficulties pop up: getting to the airport, checking in, making sure my bag isn't too big or too heavy. Don’t get me started on security. The gate will probably change a couple times without notification, and a sorry looking turkey sandwich is $25! It’s painful, just like sitting in economy, knees squished up to neck-level. Some flights are smooth, and some are not. As Forest Gump would say, it’s a box of chocolates. Arrival includes bloodshot eyes and a disoriented expression while faced with the task of reuniting with luggage and navigating the cacophony of taxi drivers, buses, limo drivers, and many many cars driven by people who appear to be behind the wheel for the first time. If we’re lucky, someone is there waiting, and if we're like everyone else, it may just be the beginning. 

Andes Mountains from Above

And still we soldier on through nauseating bus rides and missed train connections, cancellations and hassle. Maintaining sanity is a real challenge, but attitude is everything. So as I begin my next round of transit which will involve an overnight flight and a 5 hour stretch waiting for a Greyhound bus, I must remember that there is a new city, new friends, and new adventures ahead. For now, the transit is still worth it. 

The Kafka Effect

After being in Prague, it's hard not to notice Franz Kafka's influence. Restaurants, cafes, and a multitude of other sites in the city are dedicated to his memory. He's is one of the most well known and talented authors of the 20th century, but this acclaim happened after his life ended.

The more I learned about this celebrated author, the more I realized that his life can be a great lesson to each of us. One of the reasons why Kafka did not become famous until after he died is because he didn't think his writing was good enough to be published. For most of his life Kafka was employed by Workman's Accident Insurance when all he really wanted to do was write. He did write when he wasn't working, but all of his work ended up locked in a trunk until his death. In his will, he asked his friend to burn it all, but his friend decided to publish it instead. He lived with the pervasive idea, as many of us do, that we are not good enough. I call this the Kafka Effect. The more you tell yourself something, the more you begin to believe it. What you tell yourself matters. You can't wait for someone else to recognize your greatness. It must come from within.

The lesson for today is simple, you are good enough, and you can do it.

Would you rather live a safe life that you don't love or take a risk for your passion?

"So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being." ~Franz Kafka







Quote from Brainy Quote

What is Experteering?

Beyond being a fancy new word, Experteering is a new way of thinking about pro bono international work. The word volunteer used to be the umbrella word for anyone who spends his/ her time helping someone or something else. Now we have words like voluntourist and experteer to describe very different things. In the international world, the mere mention of the word voluntourism can incite heated debates on issues of sustainability and dependence in host communities as well as causing damage to the communities that these volunteers are trying to help. It’s a sticky situation because every year, well meaning people fly to all areas of the world hoping to make a difference while on vacation. The problem is that all the good intentions in the world won’t end poverty, stop human trafficking, or educate a population. The need for volunteers has not gone away, rather the need for skilled volunteers has increased. This is where the beauty of experteering comes in. 

More and more, people are becoming dissatisfied with their jobs, and they are doing something about it. When I left teaching it was a huge step into a black hole. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I had to go. What I found was that there were lots of people like me who had left lucrative careers in search of a more fulfilling life. Some of them had a plan, but most just wanted to follow their passion wherever it took them. They were the lucky ones. I had no plan and I was lacking in passion, feeling defeated and confused about the next step. I started traveling more, but it wasn’t enough. Then I found Moving Worlds, the matchmakers of the experteer world where organizations around the world are able to find skilled professionals to help them with everything from fashion design to permaculture and everything in between. It’s a great way to find a new passion while still being able to use the skills you have or shake up your life a little bit without ditching your regular paycheck. 

Teacher workshop at Vanavil

Through Moving Worlds I found Vanavil, a small school in southern India. While they were looking for an English teacher, I quickly learned that it was only the tip of the iceberg. I was able to assess the needs of the school and look for ways to meet those needs on the ground. Not only did I teach English, I conducted teacher training workshops, helped to make a computer lab operational, assessed students, and lots of other little things along the way that were very similar to what I did when I was a teacher in the states. Now that I'm back home, I will continue working with the school by writing curriculum and helping with Vanavil's mission of  keeping kids off the streets and in school.Through this work I reignited my love of curriculum development, and I can't wait to explore all of the thoughts and ideas that have resulted from having a meaningful experience in a place that needed me.  Experteering has allowed me to stay fresh in my field while expanding my skills in a completely new and challenging context. 

Take a look at my recent interview with Moving Worlds about my experiences in India. 

If you have questions about experteering or where to start, I would love to hear from you. Post a comment below or message me on twitter @eedowd27.

Why I Won't Write About India

I’m miles, and what feels like, years away from India, the place in which I struggled both physically and mentally to adjust, but can’t seem to stop thinking about. It almost doesn’t seem real, my time in a small village in Tamil Nadu, trying desperately to help the children to learn English letter sounds.

How do I begin to write about a period of my life that turned truth on its head and made me question every thought I had ever had?
How do I write about the intense highs and lows that would happen within minutes of each other? How do I write about all of the strong and beautiful people who became friends?

How do I return to a life of comfort and hot showers, cappuccinos and complexity? 

How do I write about it in a way that others will understand?

The answer is, I don't. At least I don't do it right now. I wouldn't do it justice. If you have been there yourself you know what I mean. If you haven't been yet, go and find your own India. 

I learned how to push through the challenges to find what I considered ‘my India.’ I found it in the quiet moments, the moments when India didn’t know I was watching. It’s easy to find the difficulty. It’s easy to find reasons not to do things. In the village, my survival depended on me pushing past what was hard, on seeing the beauty in the ordinary. I will continue to breathe a sigh of relief and smile when I see toilet paper in a bathroom. And I will stop and listen a little bit more to who and what is around me, finding the quiet simplicity in each day. I won't write blogs about weekend trips and local poverty. There's much more to the story than that. 

What this all boils down to is that I love India too much and want her all to myself.  So few places exist in this world that aren't touched by western tourism, but I was lucky enough to be invited into one. And that, my friends, is why I won't write about India. 

Travel Vaccinations: Do you need them?

This is a common question among travelers to countries in Africa, South America, and South East Asia, and it's easy to just ignore it and hope for the best. But these diseases are the real deal, many of which can have a deadly outcome. First and foremost, you must visit your doctor for general health and a travel clinic for country specific recommendations.

Here are some things I have learned along the way regarding health abroad:


1. Where can I get vaccinated?

There are lots of travel clinics in the US and abroad. The US tends to have them separate from doctors' offices while in the UK it's possible to go to your registered surgery. In the Netherlands, KLM runs some of the travel clinics. You can find the nearest one to you by calling the local health department, asking your doctor, or doing a simple internet search. The one I went to in the states is called Passport Health, and they operate all over the country.


2. How do I know what vaccines I need?

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the US State Department websites are a good place to start. They will list recommended vaccinations and other pertinent health information. There's a good chance you will already have some of the recommended vaccines and just need a booster.

Also visit the website for the country you are planning to visit to see if there are any entry requirements. While the country may not have any entry requirements, that doesn't mean you are out of the woods. Visit a travel clinic for region- specific information. If possible, it is also a great help to bring your vaccination record to show what you have received, what you need a booster for, and new ones like yellow fever.


3. What can I expect at a travel clinic?

When you book your appointment you will need to let them know where you will be going and for how long. If you are visiting more than one country, be sure to tell them. When you arrive, the nurse (it's always been a nurse for me) will review your trip information, let you know about general health and safety advice, and provide you with printed information about the country, vaccine recommendations, and medication information. Then you will get any necessary vaccines right away all at the same time. You will be in and out in no time at all with a yellow card to prove your new vaccination history.

Even though you will be provided with printed information, you should also take some notes while you are there. Make sure you understand all of the information provided and ask questions if you don't. You control the appointment. If you need something explained again, just ask. It's their job. You may also be given prescriptions for things like anti-malaria pills and pills for travelers diarrhea. If you have insurance, they should be covered.

You will also find out about bug spray. Yes, it needs it's own paragraph because it is that important. So many nasty diseases are contracted by tiny mosquitos like dengue fever and malaria. The best way to protect yourself is to get a good bug spray or cream and use it like your life depends on it. Because sometimes it just may. All it takes is one bite, so you can't be too cautious.



4. What is it going to cost? 

Brace yourself, the price tag on these appointments can be very high, and it may not be something you have factored into your overall budget. An office visit alone can cost from $0 to upwards of $100 which includes the information packet and consultation. Then, each vaccine carries it's own price tag. Travel clinics in the US don't usually take insurance, so if you are concerned about cost, visit your primary physician first to see what's covered. When all was said and done, the clinic visit for my trip to Tanzania was around $800 for six vaccines, and my recent visit for my trip to India was about $600. All I'm saying is be prepared.


5. What else do I need to know?

Give yourself at least six weeks to get all your doctor appointments and vaccines. Some of shots (or jabs if you are in the UK) require two courses and need a couple weeks in between doses. Plan for that. And if you have everything sorted with weeks to spare, then you will have nothing to worry about except what to pack.

The longer you are on the road, the more protection you may need. For example, a short trip to major cities in India won't require the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, but I needed it. Why? I'm going to a rural area for more than a month. Time and region matter which is why it's so important to see a specialist before your next great adventure.



Ultimately, you make the final decisions as to what vaccines to get and medications to take. The travel clinic will make recommendations, but you are the final say. Travel is risky enough without having to worry about contracting a deadly disease, so take the advice seriously.

Applying for an Indian Visa

I recently read an article about the elusive Indian visa where the author was providing a shameless plug for a passport service without providing accurate information. It got me thinking about all of the faulty information on the internet due to people trying to make money off of their websites. Well rest assured, if you are reading this, I make absolutely no money on this website. The information you read here is based on my own experiences. Here's my take on applying for a visa to India.

When I first started looking at the visa process in India I was overwhelmed. It was enough to make me not want to go. The process has since changed, outsourced to private companies. A tourist visa on arrival was also added for US citizens (and some other countries too). All you have to do is fill out an online application at least 4 days before your departure date, pay the fee, print the confirmation page, and take it with you on your trip with your passport and any other necessary documentation. All the information you need is on the application page. So easy!

If your travel plans exceed 30 days, you will need to apply through the embassy's company of choice. In the US it is Cox & Kings Global Services. What this means is that this company handles all of the paperwork and provides middle man service to the Indian embassy or consulate. Extra costs are involved, but it allows the whole process to be much more efficient. Their website provides very clear instructions for all of the paperwork involved. Follow that, and you are all set. If you have questions along the way, they are very prompt in responding over email as well.

The tourist visa application asks for basic personal information. You will also need to know your parents birthplace, birthdate, and citizenship. Also note, the application asks for an address and contact in India. It's also best to apply for the minimum amount of time necessary. If you are going on one trip, don't apply for the 10 year multiple entry visa even if there is a chance you will return in the future. Other than that, it's a standard application that can be filled out and paid for online.  Then just print it and the other necessary forms listed on the Cox & Kings website, and you're all set.

If you live close to the nearest global services office, you can personally drop off your application. If you don't, you can pay for door to door courier service.

If you opt for the personal approach, it goes something like this:

1. Make online appointment a couple days prior
2. Find the office (for me it was taking a train trip to New York City)
3. Hand the person at the desk your paperwork (already filled out with your passport)
4. Person takes your paperwork, sifting out the unnecessary pages
5. She enters your information into the system while chatting to other employees.
6. Less than 5 minutes later you are getting an email update and are out of the building wondering what to do with the rest of your day
7. Three days later, visa arrives to your house if you paid for courier service (or you go back and pick it up)

Maybe I showed up on a good day, or maybe it's always like that. Either way, I was in and out in less than 5 minutes. The process couldn't have been easier, and I received email updates at each stage of the process. I caused myself all sorts of stress for no reason. The important thing is to allow yourself plenty of time before you are set to go on your trip, and you'll be fine.

**Disclaimer: I am an American citizen with parents and grandparents who are also American citizens. This made the process easier. If you have parents or grandparents with Pakistani citizenship, the process can be much more difficult. 

Lose the Map

Planning is not my thing, and my capacity for directional intelligence is severely lacking. Yet I still travel. In fact, I think that having those shortcomings has enabled me to be a more in- tune traveler. Not having a plan means that I don't have anywhere to be at any given time, and knowing that I will undoubtedly get lost at some point during a day means that I am free to wander without fear. It takes a lot of pressure off. 

Tossing plans to the wind and deciding not to take a day trip to Vienna, instead I took a train to Znojmo. It is the last stop on the local train line in this area. Instead of the hassle of changing trains and traveling for hours only to get to a city just for the sake of it being Vienna, I opted for a direct route that clickety-clacked through vineyards still bare from the winter. I watched rabbits hop away from the tracks at breakneck speeds. And I watched as the tiny train pulled into one of the most picturesque towns I have ever seen and never heard of. 

Without a map I found my way through the empty streets of the town, past a tiny Easter market in the main square selling flowers. I followed the signs to St. Nicholas Church and a deserted castle. Walking through the castle walls with no one to stop me, I emerged alone to stare at the river and the miniature multi-colored houses dotting the hillside. 

I continued to wander without a map, without a plan. I passed signs, some of which were in English informing me of trails into the forest and to the top of the mountain straight ahead. Again I wandered, guided by myself and the colored boxes painted on the trees leading the way somewhere. The somewhere never mattered much; it was all about the walk itself. The whole day spent in the moment, unsure of what was around each bend in the trail. Even though from far away the destination could be seen very clearly. 

Life is like that. Sometimes we are so focused on the map and the destination that we forget to wander, to explore, to look up. The best moments happen when there is no map, no plan. When we are guided by ourselves, there is no wrong, only different options. 

So lose the map, get lost, and enjoy the walk.