We are always on the lookout for incredible resources for our Wandering Educators. We've found one such website, called Sosauce. How is Sosauce different than other travel sites out there? Sosauce is for travel geeks (yes, we proudly call ourselves that), who desire to share and talk about true intercultural travels, as well as explore the world around us. We were lucky enough to sit down with one of the founders of Sosauce, Sean Pfitzenmaier, to learn more about the site. Here's what he had to say...

WE:  Please tell us about your site, Sosauce.com.

SP: Sosauce is a site for travel geeks, those who like to explore both globally and locally.  If you’re interested in finding the places throughout the world where famous mathematicians developed formulas or where the best bakery is in your local neighborhood then Sosauce is for you. 

Sosauce is a place where you can document your interesting travel experiences through interactive maps, photos, journals, videos, and reviews.  We’re big on interaction so we’ve built in numerous ways for you to share and discuss those experiences with your friends or the public at large.  One of our biggest innovations is our group technology.  Now you can write a group journal, create group albums, and even have group trips.  Each member of the group has the same access to the content as the owner so if you traveled to Costa Rica with a few friends you can copy their photos into your own album.

We also place a great deal of emphasis on design so that your content is presented in the best possible light, and so you feel good while documenting your experiences.

Finally, we work hard to present you with the most fascinating content as soon as you login. We seek to keep it fresh and interesting!

WE: What was the genesis of the site?

SP: The original idea was born out of our general frustration with the lack of meaningful interaction online. Here was this powerful form of new media and yet we were stuck with the level of interaction social networks were providing.  An analogy we like to use is comparing social networks to a sidewalk conversation.  But what about that dinner table conversation? What were you to do when you wanted to share your experiences and not just links or messages? There were sites that focused on specific types of content (i.e. photo sites, blogging sites, etc.) but they weren’t robust enough for a true, immersive experience sharing site. 

The interesting thing is that all of us are avid travelers and we would sit around the small table while building the foundation for the site discussing our travel experiences.  We began to use Sosauce to share our travel experiences and found that our early users were doing the same.   So we tailored the site to meet this clear  need.  Here we are, Sosauce- a site for travel geeks!

WE:  What can users of the site expect?

SP: Users can, and should, expect a lot.  If you join Sosauce the first thing you’ll notice is our design. The design is young, hip, and fresh, yet subtle enough so that the content is presented elegantly.

People can also expect interesting content. You’re not going to be inundated with Joe Blow’s drunken European exploits but stories that are different and engaging.  We pride ourselves in that we have the highest photo display quality online so you’ll notice that the photographs pop.  In fact, a good number of our users are amateur photo enthusiasts using SLR cameras. 

Lastly, people can expect an educated and cultured user community.  Sosaucers are those who seek to explore the little things that make life interesting, enjoy particular areas of expertise and are naturally curious about the world we live in.

WE: How have your travel experiences informed this site?

SP: Most of my travels have been to the developing world.  On Sosauce I have trips detailing my first trip to Africa, visiting Malawi and Zambia and the personal awakenings that resulted from that trip. You can also read about my trip through Southeast Asia, visiting Burma when it had just opened to tourism, or my time living in Nigeria doing some economic development work amongst others. I’m just one example.  All of us involved with Sosauce have unique trips that contribute to the site and the general community.

WE: How can travel be socially responsible and help intercultural understanding? Does your site help to contribute to this?

SP: Most definitely! I can’t overstress our desire to create intercultural understanding.  In fact this is the premise on which Sosauce is built. The reason we travel, and the reason we built the site is for this purpose.  Can you imagine the impact of a world where someone from India can share real, meaningful experiences with someone from South America?  So many of our world’s problems are caused by misunderstanding.  If we can help close the gap then all of us would consider Sosauce a success.

There’s also the environmental aspect.  We all know that flying is one of the worst things for our planet, yet the need for travel is undying.  Thus we seek to feature people and experiences that have taken eco trips or are actively doing sustainable activities in their own communities.  Once again, the more we can do to enable people to inform one another about environmental issues the better off we are.

Sosauce is simply a conduit.  It’s going to be the community behind Sosauce that really makes a difference.  We just don’t want to get in the way.

SoSauce in Thailand 

WE: Thanks so much, Sean. In a world where information can become commonplace, your site stands out for its honesty, extraordinary content, and philosophy. Bravo!