Time to kickoff another GO! Overseas interview. This week we are proud to feature Laura Walker who is currently embarking on a round-the-world trip that has so far taken her to Italy, Jordan, Kenya, and Rwanda. She was last seen on her way to Malawi seeking new adventures. In the midst of all this exciting travel Laura was kind of enough to sit down and share her thoughts with us about traveling overseas. Enjoy!

GO!: Hi Laura, thanks for joining us. Shall we start with a brief introduction?

Laura: My name is Laura Walker and I am currently on an exciting adventure traveling, volunteering, and running around the world. I fundraise for organizations that support education in micro-lending in the countries that I visit. I run a travel website at www.AWanderingSole.com where I blog about my travel adventures (and mishaps) and track my running and fundraising efforts. And why do I do this? Well, why not?! I love to travel, explore new places, and meet new people. It's been such an amazing experience so far.

GO!: You have incorporated your passion for running into your travels. A unique round-the-world-trip of marathons if you will. Can you tell us a little more about why running is important to you?

Laura: I started running about five years ago at the urging of my college roommate. I decided to compete in my first marathon last October and utilized it as a tool to fundraise for secondary education for orphaned kids in Kenya. It was a successful fundraiser, and I was thrilled with all of the support I received. I knew I wanted to continue running when I planned my around the world trip, so I decided to continue with my fundraising. And why education? I believe it's the most important gift you can give someone. Food, clothing, and monetary donations are only a temporary fix to poverty. Education however, is a means of providing self-sufficiency.

GO!: Have your friends and family been supportive of your travels?

Laura: Most definitely. My family wasn't exactly thrilled at first with some of the destinations, (especially considering my recent trip into the Congo) however they are fully on-board with my desire to see the world and are extremely supportive. I mainly keep in touch through email and Skype. This trip was my first time using Skype and it really is a great tool. It makes such a difference to see my friends and family using video, instead of just hearing their voice.

GO!: How did your blog, A Wandering Sole, come about and what have been your goals for the project?

Laura: Two years ago I spent a summer in Africa and set up a blog. I posted on it twice the entire summer. On this trip, knowing that I would be gone for eight months, I was determined to maintain a blog to inform friends and family of my trip. However, it transformed into so much more. I want A Wandering Sole to inspire people to travel and to volunteer. I like adventurous activities and want to encourage people to visit places that aren't necessarily highlighted in their guidebook. I also hope to raise awareness for NGOs abroad. The list could go on and on, but ultimately, I want others to realize that we only live once, so take a chance!

GO!: What do you want to accomplish through your travels and writing?

Laura: I am happiest when I'm traveling. There is nothing more enjoyable to me than discovering new and exciting places. I also love to meet new people and have realized that regardless of cultural differences, we are all human and have a common bond. Through volunteer work, I get to know communities better and see how people struggle in other parts of the world. I have met so many amazing people through my volunteer work. I can see that I am making a difference when volunteering through small, local organizations. As for writing, well, I write for many reasons. It's a documentation of my trip, it keeps my friends and family informed, and it provides travel advice and stories for the public, along with raising awareness for organizations.

A specific audience is difficult. My writing is obviously geared towards those who like to travel, but really my audience should be everyone. I wanted to inspire people to travel and to do something unconventional. I meet many people on the road and share my website through word of mouth. I also use Facebook and Twitter to provide updates from A Wandering Sole.

GO!: It seems everyone has started a travel blog at one point or another. Why do you think this form of blogging has become so popular?

Laura: Travel blogging is appealing because people want to hear about your travels, and it's an easy way to keep people in the loop. People are interested now more than ever in taking around the world trips or traveling during a gap year. Even if there are a lot of travel blogs , there's a big audience for it and they are waiting to read what you have to say.

After I decided to start a blog, I contacted several travel bloggers, and they were extremely supportive. The travel blogging community has far exceeded my expectations. Everyone supports one another- it's wonderful. I wasn't sure that A Wandering Sole would be able to stand out from the pack or not. After all, I have no background in writing whatsoever. But surprisingly, I have received such positive feedback about my running, fundraising, and volunteer work on my trip. It definitely puts a spin on traditional travel.

GO!: Can you tell us a little more about your volunteer experiences in Africa and how they have impacted your travels?

Laura: Volunteer work has enriched my travel experience. It's so fulfilling to be apart of organizations that are helping children go to school or making women into business-owners. Having such a close connection with the local community provides me with a better cultural experience. It has molded me into the person that I am, and I have a better perspective on various things, such as government's effect on poverty, for example.

GO!: What is it about traveling abroad that inspires you?

Laura: I love a good adventure. Traveling abroad provides experiences that I would never have back home. In three months time, I have tracked gorillas in Rwanda, trekked up an active volcano in Congo, run to the lowest point on Earth in the Dead Sea Marathon, started a micro-lending project that will provide higher level education for three boys, and woken up to monkeys in my bed in Kenya, listened to personal accounts of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Every day is new and exciting. Of course, there are downsides to any good thing. I miss my family and friends. I hate missing out on birthday celebrations and family barbecues. I've learned not to take relationships and time with friends and family for granted.

GO!: It is June 3rd, 2030. Where are you and what are you doing?

Laura: Wow. Tough question. I have no idea what I will be doing six months from now, let alone 20 years from now. I'm not sure that I'll ever truly settle, but by then I hope to have a place to call home. However, I will never stop traveling. It's become a part of who I am.

GO!: Any last words?

Laura: If you're thinking of embarking on your own adventure: Do it! You won't regret it.

If you would like to make a $5 donation to my cause, please visit www.giveforward.org/solepurpose. Now stop reading this, and go make some travel plans.

Discover Related Content:

Interviews, Volunteering Abroad