About Me
Not surprisingly you probaly want to know a bit of who is behind this website , so here is a self interview with questions I would expect to hear from you.
Tell me, who are you and where do you live now?
My name is Federico Arrizabalaga Sandoval, a 30 something year old guy who was born in Chicago, raised in Spain and has lived in Belgium and Australia as well. I am currently travelling and have no home, but my family is in Spain.
When did you first start to travel, and how?
Looking back in time I would say that the travel bug creaped in during my latter college years: the need to surf new waves became too appealing as it happens to any surf aficionado and I found myself dragging friends and brother to Portugal, southwest France and northern Spain. It is then that I began to feel the excitement that travelling gave me and thus contemplated going further and for more time.
Looking back in time I would say that the travel bug creaped in during my latter college years: the need to surf new waves became too appealing as it happens to any surf aficionado and I found myself dragging friends and brother to Portugal, southwest France and northern Spain. It is then that I began to feel the excitement that travelling gave me and thus contemplated going further and for more time.
Do you know that there is something called “work” and that it is usually the only legal way to make money, which is what finances travel?
Oh yes! When I was 23 I decided I wanted to make a bigger move, so I got a scholarship and moved to Michigan in the US (check out where Houghton is– it snowed 9 of the ten months I was there). I later got a job in south Florida (ha!) where I started backpacking as much as I could while somehow keeping a full time job: I would bundle all my holidays plus sick days in a 3 week package and take off to Central or South America. I have done similarly since then in my next jobs, with a few long trips between them.
You mean you have actually studied?
Indeed! I have a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in International Management, the latter studied in Australia which allowed some travel in that part of the world.
Indeed! I have a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in International Management, the latter studied in Australia which allowed some travel in that part of the world.
How many countries have you visited?
Hmmm..let’s see: Canada, USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Monaco, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Tunisia, Senegal, Gambia, Egypt, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan…I think that’s it, which makes it 63 so far.
Hmmm..let’s see: Canada, USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Monaco, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Tunisia, Senegal, Gambia, Egypt, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan…I think that’s it, which makes it 63 so far.
Of these, which are your favourite and why?
Costa Rica (beautiful nature, lovely people and great surf) and Thailand (charming people and culture, superb food and a plethora of activities to do) jump to my mind.
Costa Rica (beautiful nature, lovely people and great surf) and Thailand (charming people and culture, superb food and a plethora of activities to do) jump to my mind.
However, you know what? I consider that naming a country as a “favourite” is not a good indicator as to how much you enjoy travelling there. What I actually think is important is the travel experience that stays with you years after being there, and with this in mind sleeping in the desert (Tunisia), the views in Machu Pichu (Peru), Uyuni’s Salt flat (Bolivia) or relaxing in Corfu (Greece) are just a few of the many recurring memories I have.
Any place you would not go back to?
I once said that about Bulgaria because of a bad experience, but guess what, times change, life brings you new ones, and I can now tell you that I will spend quite some time there in the near future.
Do you travel alone?
I have started several trips alone, but as always I end up meeting fellow travellers and making friends along the way. I have also done trips with friends, and ever since I got married a few years ago I have been travelling with my wife Liza, who had never backpacked before and now enjoys the experiences she is living which she never thought she would. Most of them anyhow… J
Finally, do you have any hobbies besides travelling?
Absolutely. I love ocean sports such as surfing, bodyboarding or windsurfing, and just recently discovered I can snowboard too. I like to read, have started travel writing and have enjoyed photography a lot for a few years now, having recently decided to invest in a good dslr camera. I will share many of my pictures in this site.
Ten minutes before I was in that hydroplane flying over frozen lakes and snow covered forests in Inari, Finland.
