Alumni Interview with Charlie Aziz

What inspired you to go abroad?

I wanted to go somewhere that was completely unknown to me in order to really know what the world is like. With math and science never being my forte I took many history classes which intuitively drew me into the exploration of our own planet. Going abroad and traveling are one of my biggest passions. To have the opportunity to travel is really valuable and not to be taken for granted, so I saw this chance as a unique opportunity to test myself and learn in new environments.

Why did you choose Where There Be Dragons?

There were a couple factors which influenced my decision on choosing Where There Be Dragons. Mainly I was thinking about traveling but not sure where or how. Luckily I received information through my friend Maddi who went to Nepal. I asked Maddi to meet with me and asked her about how the trip genuinely was and how her experience went.

I will not go into too much detail, but it didn't take long for her to tell me a myriad of stories filled with adventure, laughter, and awkward moments lost in translation. She told me that, had it not been for Dragons, she would not have known the places they traveled to even existed, nor would have visited them if she had come on her own. She described it and explained that although it is quite structured, a student doesn't feel that they can't do what they want to do.

This was really important for me because I wanted to travel somewhere organized but I did not want it to feel like I would be going to a country and missing out because we have to follow a certain protocol. Not at all. The program is structured in a way to truly understand the country and the beauty being abroad as a traveler instead of a tourist.

What was your favorite part about Indonesia?

This is a hard question because Indonesia is an archipelago with each island to its own taste. In my experience I found that we started in a less rugged area and progressively moved to a more rural area. I enjoyed them all differently. 

First in Jogja, I enjoyed the culture shock and the velocity of the city. In Flores I enjoyed drinking coffee with my homestay father and his friends at his house watching the sun set over the most perfectly symmetrical volcano. Overall when I am having an "elevator conversation" about the trip and I get asked "so what was your favorite part?" I tell them Sampella, the village of the ocean. A small village composed of connecting peers to little square houses standing on four sticks above the ocean floor. Where the nearest market is a short boat ride away from the village. 

Where people dive several meters into the water with goggles made of wood and a spear in their hand. Why? Dinner. This is what you see above. Below the sea water lies the whole spectrum of the color scheme splattered over corals, rare fish, terrifying sea snakes and underwater cliffs that drop into the abyss. There is nothing like Sampella, the land of the ocean.

What made your experience abroad unique?

Indonesia for me was an escape from habitual routine and schedules into a place with the most welcoming people. I bonded with homestay families.

The first night I spent in Indonesia I was taking a "mandi" or shower in Indonesian (which is splashing yourself with buckets of water) when there was a small earthquake. So small I did not feel it. My homestay dad rushed in the shower and brings me out to the middle of the street and starts shaking his hands frantically. Me and him proceeded to have a dance-off in the street until my homestay sister "Ani" came out with her phone on google translate with the word "earthquake". We laughed until we cried and though I didn't know any other sayings besides "good morning" "goodnight" "thank you" I felt welcomed by them. I would talk in Spanish with them and they would talk back in Bahasa Indonesian while looking at a picture book or hanging out.

My homestay is really what made my trip. I also really bonded with my homestay dad Steven in Flores who had an extroverted personality and a loud giggle. Steven is a chef and we cooked at night while having a laugh, making jokes, and playing music all together. I was invited to a wedding with him and had so much fun being the tallest person there dancing traditional dances in a western manner. I bonded with my homestay families—they helped me explore their town by taking us to local places.

Not only did I bond with homestay families, but I also bonded with an Indonesian street artist who I now work with to spread his art in the United States. I also bonded with the younger kids. Overall, people are incredible if you get to know them especially when you're open to awkward and new experiences that will become great memories.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The staff was unbelievably supportive and attentive to the whole group at all times. It's an enervating job that they do with a lot of liability and room for error, but there was never a time where I felt unsafe or disappointed with them. Rachel, Rita, Micah and the rest of the staff who supported us truly know what they are doing. There would be times when everyone gets time off and we would all just hang out, eating with them and waking up with them. The local staff is there to work, but they understand that it's also something new and exciting for the students and they carry that positivity throughout the trip.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish that I had spent more time with homestay families. I feel as if there times when I decided to hang out with the group instead of being at my homestay. I would've also brought some candy with me from home.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

Overall the structure was pretty similar day-to-day. We would all meet in the morning at a certain house with the instructors and discuss plans for the day. The plans varied depending on where we were but we always met in the mornings, sometimes lunch, and then we would all meet at night before we went to our homestays for the night.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I really liked hanging out with the locals and walking around my homestay area trying to get to know the area. People would often call "Buleee!"—which is gringo in the local language—and it was an attempt to make conversation with them. People were all super friendly, I never encountered a problem.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

Homestay families are really, really respectful towards their guests. I was given the main room. I was lucky to encountered that. I will have to say that the homestay meals were phenomenal. I was overfed a variety of food that was delicious—even if I didn’t know what I was eating most of the time! The great thing is that neighbors, family, and friends are always coming by and dropping in to say hello!

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

If one is committing, seriously commit to it. Don't go and expect to party and not sit down for lectures and lessons. This is not a tourist trip, it's rugged travel. Leave your phone at home you don't need it for three months! If you decide to absolutely go with the flow and not expect anything, you’ll have so much fun!

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

It has simply made me more aware of how people live their lives. There were times when I felt tired of being in the homestay area at the end of our remaining time and the idea that these people are not on a vacation, this is how they have and will continue to live their lives. It has made me more appreciative of where I am now and has made me more open about traveling with homestays and being in really, really remote places. I would actually like to come back to Dragons and lead a trip someday because of the impact it had on me as a student.

Would you recommend Where There Be Dragons to others? Why?

Absolutely I would. 100%, 10 out of 10. I would not recommend it to someone who is looking for an accommodated style of traveling—even though there is nothing wrong with that. It's more the kind of trip where you pack four shirts, two shorts, a raincoat, and a sweater and say goodbye to anything you know for three months. Go for it!