It’s time for me to see globalization — a topic I have read and written so much about — up close and personal. I may spend up to two months abroad this summer. In the next 15 months, I plan to see Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This summer, though, I’m starting where most people start: Europe. I don’t like the fact that everyone flocks to the same five cities, but there’s a reason for this after all — the Eurorail makes it easy and cheap.
1. Do you have friends or family in Europe who could provide me shelter and/or local expertise for a day or two when I’m out there?
2. Do you have friends in business, technology, journalism, or academia who I can hook up with to have some stimulating conversations? (I speak English and decent Spanish).
If so, send me an email. Thanks a lot.
If you want to provide tips or insights into specific parts of my itinerary, or on travel in general, hold your horses for the moment. I’ll be posting more on this blog and on my companion travel blog in the next couple weeks.
Ben, check this out: http://www.servas.org/newsite/
When I was a student, I used this network for mu roundtrip in Europe. Not only I saved a bundle, but it was far more fun than just traveling, because of all the hosts, some of which I corresponded with for years. Mind you … there was no email back then, so preparing the trip via snail mail had to start several months in advance:-)
I’ll write more later, have to run now.
Here’s the US branch: http://www.usservas.org/traveler.html
I know people on every continent except Antarctica, and I’ll bet I can find someone there. Just let me know your itinerary, and I will hook you up.
Travelling Europe on a Budget
http://www.europestring.com/
Europe for Visitors
http://goeurope.about.com/
Travel Blog | Travel Journals, Diaries and Photos
http://www.travelblog.org/
Hi Ben! Been following your blog for awhile now. It’s great stuff!
I was wondering if you’ve heard about Nicholas Kristof’s Win-A-Trip Contest. You can find it here at http://kristof.page.nytimes.com/. Basically, any college student can win a chance to travel through Africa with him on a reporting trip. Since you’re still a senior in high school, I’m not sure you fit the rules, but maybe you could give it a try.
I’ve lived in Japan for the past three years and translate from Japanese to English. I’d be more than willing to help you out when you get to this part of the world!