We've had the good luck to share the work of Matthew Kepnes, of NomadicMatt.com, here on Wandering Educators. We've talked about his site, How to Teach English Overseas, and are now happy to share another one of his sites, How to Travel the World.  Based on Matt's extensive experience traveling the world long-term, it is an extraordinary resource for travelers, especially those heading on longer trips or living abroad. Many people talk about traveling long-term - Matt has done it, and has put together a great site to share his experiences and ideas.  We were fortunate to be able to sit down with Matt and talk about How to Travel The World. Here's what he had to say...

WE: Please tell us about your site, http://www.how-to-travel-the-world.com/...

MK: How to Travel the World is designed to teach people about everything they need to know about traveling around the world for an extended amount of time. The three main sections deal with pre-trip plans, life on the road, and life when you get home. There's also information about how to find places to stay, getting cheap flights, working overseas, teaching overseas, and flashpacking. Overall, it's mean to be a comprehensive site that provides people all the information they need to know.

WE: What was the genesis of this site?

MK: The site was created to answer all the practical travel questions I got about long term travel in my inbox.

WE: What is long-term traveling?

MK: I view long term traveling as anything that is one year or longer. Round the world trips, digital nomads, life long vagabonds, gap years, backpacking trips, and the like. If you are on the road for close to  a year, you are a long term traveler.

WE: What are some intercultural implications of long-term traveling? (Do you adjust into a cultural marginal, able to adapt to any culture, or do you tend to do something else?)

MK: Long term travel usually leads people to become travel addicts. Moreover, when they come home, they are usually disconnected from their own culture. The post trip section of my site deals with getting over the emotions of coming home. It's quite a reverse culture shock and many people have a hard time dealing with the tedium of "normal life."  I think long term travel though makes people more culturally aware as they interact with lots people from around the world.

WE: What are some practical hints for long-term traveling?

MK: Avoid expensive meals, eat locally, find cheap accommodaion, and always watch your budget. Most people don't watch the money and the biggest factor that causes stress on the road is money issues. Watch your money and enjoy your trip.

WE: Are there ways to give back to local communities, while you are a long-term traveler?

MK: Yes, you can teaching English in local communities or volunteer with local aid groups. Moreover you can also work in orphanages in developing countries. Lots of places need help and volunteer work is usually easy to find.

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

MK: Travel. It's the best thing you can do in the world.

WE: Thanks so much, Matt! Your site is an excellent resource!

For more information, please see:
http://www.how-to-travel-the-world.com/