Luke Ludke, a rising redshirt junior on the wrestling team, recently returned from a week-long trip to Dubai and India where he spent time sightseeing and visiting his father, who currently works in the city of Chennai. The excursion to India was not the first for Luke, who spent all last summer based in Chennai as an intern with the U.S. Consulate.
“I had an internship with the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, India working for the Department of Congress,” explained Ludke. “My main job was to find local businesses throughout Chennai and small businesses in the United States and have them try to import (or export) their goods to each other.”
The city of Chennai is located in Tamil Nadu, one of 29 states in India and home to the United States Consulate General. “That's as south of India as you can get,” says Ludke.
“I was staying there with my dad because he also works there, which is one of the biggest reasons why went there.” While there was still a taste of home, the first experience in a new country is always a bit overwhelming.
“I remember stepping out of the airport. First walking into Chennai was a huge culture shock that just hit me.”
Ludke's original dream as a student at Mason was to one day work for the FBI or DEA. Following the internship in Chennai his plans to work internationally have remained, however he would now like to be employed by the Consulate after his experience – working from one to another on multi-year contracts. “As long as it involves traveling that is something I would want to do”
The Clayton, NC native also made time for sightseeing with trips to the Taj Mahal, Giant Buddha and one of his new favorite places, Sri Lanka. He also befriended a Tuk Tuk taxi driver named Giri at his second day on the job who volunteered to drive Ludke to and from his internship every day. On the daily trip home the two would stop at a local street vendor, grab a cup of tea and exchange stories on differences in cultures, families and other topics.
“Every day I would step outside and see a new thing,” Ludke said. “The biggest thing I took away was how much family and tradition means to them.”
Ludke's years at Mason and as a member of the wrestling team have certainly helped him with his travels.
“Mason helped me a lot because it is a very diverse school. You meet a lot of new people at Mason and the diversity definitely helped me in India when it came to communicating with others and learning about new cultures and traditions. Mason wrestling helped a lot for my internship there: time management skills, discipline, [and being] respectful.”
