- When do you leave?
- How long do you plan to be away?
A Few Weeks - How much have you saved?
Not enough! - How old are you?
46 - Nationality
Canada - Where do you live now?
Canada - Occupation
teacher - Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It’s my career - Have you traveled around the world before?
No - What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
Travel with RV across Canada to the east coast, then south to Florida across to California, north to British Columbia then home. Next fly to Mexico across to Thailand, down to Australia, then the Maldives, Egypt, Europe then home. - Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
We have always wanted to take year off from our teaching positions to travel to various places in the world with our kids. We also get to be their teachers for the year too. - What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Because this involves our children we are particularly concerned about the possibilities of terrorism or disease. - Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Most are wholly supportive but a few have wondered if we have taken leave of our senses. Some cannot understand why we would risk such a large financial commitment on a “holiday”. - How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough - What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Very little. Each of us gets one 26-inch wheel bag with handle grip. A camera and journal will be invaluable. - How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
I expect that it will give each of us some much-needed perspective and a real taste of the various cultures in our world. - If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Excited! - Why do you think people should go on round-the-world trips? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
Short trips usually don’t allow a person to unlearn the norms and biases of the culture of home. - What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
The cost is probably much less than most people would expect. - Why do you like to travel?
Travelling is like hands-on learning. It is more effective and far more enjoyable. - What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Think about how you can do it for yourself and your family, then figure out how it can all be accomplished.
July 2004