Image source: npr.org
Great news! Paul Salopek responded to our questions we sent to him. Currently, Mr. Salopek is in Turkey observing and writing about the refugee crisis on the border of Syria. Last week, we brainstormed a list of questions we would ask him if we had an opportunity. Mr. Martin sent four questions from Tsukiho, Hanung, Yuki I., and Kennedy. He answered those questions on his blog. We have cut and pasted his response below:
From Paul:
Thanks so much, Rob. To answer the questions:
1. What do you think your entire budget will be for this journey (Yuki, Japanese)?
Paul: It’s evolving, Yuki. I started on a shoestring. Thanks to great partners such as National Geographic and the Knight Foundation, the Abundance Foundation, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, and Project Zero, I’ve now got the shoes to go with it. Daily expenses have ranged from about $2 USD to $500 USD, depending on whether I was traveling with camels and a full team of desert guides in Saudi Arabia or walking alone across Cyprus and living on iced coffee.
2. What has been the best moment of your journey, so far (Kennedy, American)?
Paul: An impossible question, Kennedy—like asking which is the best moment of your life so far? All journeys, short and small, are made up of highs and lows that we sometimes only recognize years later. Mohammed Banounah’s jokes. Seeing the Gulf of Aden from the rocky hills of Djibouti. Or the hundreds of “ordinary” days when walking seems effortless—steeped in meaning and beautiful. Take your pick.
3. How many articles of clothing do you carry with you (Tsukiho, Japan)?
Paul: I’m still wearing the same t-shirt I started with in Ethiopia. My original pants were beyond repair, though. I have replaced them twice.
Mr. Martin’s note: see this article from NPR – What do you pack for a seven year journey?
4. What will you do when you finish this journey—write a book (Hanung, Korean)?
Paul: A couple of books are coming. I’ll pause halfway (2016) to write the first.
Read more about his seven-year journey in our other blog post or on this National Public Radio article (hear him talk in this interview!). Please add other questions in the comment section here. We will continue to ask him questions throughout the year. You can also follow his blog posts and journey using the RSS feed listed on our blog (scroll down and look on the right side of the blog).
Have a great weekend and add some more questions. First, look at his website and the links and learn more about his journey before thinking of questions.
Linking to Thinking 
Vikram,
Thanks for sharing your comment that you also posted on the Out of Eden Blog (‘No Replies’ post). It seems like you are really interested in his journey. Follow it on the blog and our RSS Feed.
Mr. Martin
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I think this journey is going to be very long. Maybe even longer than 7 years. I think Paul is very brave because he is having (maybe) many problems but he is still continuing the journey. He must be very tired of walking the whole day and night! He is maybe going to set out a world record!! It’s incredible!!
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I agree with Perrine. With ISIS roaming around the countries he is in, he might never know when he might be attacked. I think it is very brave for him to walk even tho he know that danger is right next door. I think that his family was very kind to let him do this because you are sending you son or cousin or husband on a 7 year journey. I think that Mr Paul is a very awesome and a brave person.
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Good comment, Perrine and Sriya. A good question would be, “How do you see your family?” I am sure he Skypes with them, but I wonder if they meet him, or visit with him periodically. They must. It will be an interesting journey to say the least.
I have decided to move the RSS feed of his blog up higher on our class blog, so you can see when he posts a new message. My guess is that he will be posting a new one soon.
Happy reading.
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Mr Martin I posted a comment of Mr Paul’s Blog and I can not wait for his reply
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Cool, I am going to find your comment. I know he is a busy guy and cannot respond to all the comments he gets. I hope he responds to your comment, but don’t be discouraged if he doesn’t. I am glad you are sharing your opinion and ideas with him.
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I agree with you all. I also think it is going to be very hard for him to do this I wouldn’t be able to do it. I think seven years is a lot and you need alot of courage to do this. 7 SEVEN YEAR I STILL CANNOT IMAGINE THIS !
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