Matthew Williams’ travel company in India isn’t just business

At 25, Ponte Vedra Beach native Matthew Colaciello Williams has already traveled around most of world, studied anthropology at Northwestern University and speaks four languages.

He’s lived in India for the past few years and comes home to visit family. Williams will return to India in August with a new challenge — his travel company Vasudhaiva, which he started with friend Shannon Sati Chmelar in January.

Skirt! recently talked to the activist, multimedia performer and travel enthusiast.

 

What’s it like living in India?

The first time I went to India I went to live in a Buddhist monastery to train there in philosophy and meditation. That was an altogether singular experience in my life ... Being in that monastery and in that experience was kind of like having a number of peak experiences all compressed into one four-month period. I gained so much insight into the way my mind works.

 

Your mother is a performer. Does any of your interest in the arts come from her work?

Absolutely. I’ve been in improvisation classes since I was 13 years old. And my dad’s a musician. It’s not what I want to do with my life, but it’s definitely a useful means of communicating to people about the things that I do.

 

Why did you want to start a travel company?

I’ve been in India since 2008. I’ve been there in various ways that were not through work. I went there to study; I went on a scholarship. I want to continue living there so I can continue the environmental work I’ve been doing, and I also want to continue studying philosophy there ... I wanted to use those skills. When I am there, I often work as an interpreter spontaneously. I’ll see Westerners that are there trying to buy clothing, and next thing I know, I’m interpreting what kind of cloth they wanted.

 

What does the travel company specialize in?

I never imagined I would have a travel company, but if I wanted to stay in India and do the things I wanted to do, which do not equal a living, I needed to do something to make a living. And if I’m going to make a living … I would really like to do something I love. It just so happens that I love travel, I’m passionate about it, it’s transformational potential, and I’m passionate about offering it to other people who want to share that experience and catalyze the kinds of realizations that can come from travel.

 

What can people expect on a trip to India?

What you see in India is always going to make you think. I would like to provide people the kinds of experiences I’ve had bringing people to monasteries, bringing people to holy sites, and also bringing people to have dinner with locals I’m friends with. I’m firmly committed in having people meet in a very human, one-to-one basis. If you go with an open mind and a compassionate mind, so much is possible.

 

Tracy Jones: (904) 359-4272