- When do you leave?
- How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 Months - How much have you saved?
15,000 US - How old are you?
50 - Nationality
USA - Where do you live now?
Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA - Occupation
Assistant Construction Manager - 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?
Still open, but think I’ll travel east, Africa, W Europe, E Europe, SE
Asia, New Zealand, S Pacific - Why did you decide to take this trip? What
got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Have wanted to join the peace corps since 1970 and never had the chance.
My way of seeing the world and meeting people of different cultures. Life
gets more global every year and I want to participate, or at least
understand more about someplace other than home. Ultimate goal? To make a
difference in someone’s life as I hope everyone I meet along the way will
make in mine. - What is your biggest fear about this
trip?
Going it alone. But who can wait for someone else to get the time,
courage or money. - Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc.,
supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the
world?
Very much so. I think many are jealous. I don’t expect the “she’s
crazy” attitudes until it gets closer. - How much planning and preparing have you
done?
To the Nth Degree - What are you packing? What do you consider
your most indispensable item(s)?
Not there yet. Reading a lot and learning from other people’s experiences. - 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 grew up in a small town. I moved as an adult to Hawaii with my husband
and everyone throught we were crazy. It’s opened my eyes to the world.
Honolulu is very global. I met so many people from other countries and
realized there is a wanderlust in me I must pursue. RTW is a way to learn
about this new part of me. I hope it changes me and makes me more aware
of people as individuals, no mater what walk of life they’re from. I’m
sure I will learn a ton about myself along the way. Kind of a mid-life
enlightenment! - If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings
about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it
be?
The most exciting thing I have pursued – ever. - 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?
You only get to see the surface of things on a one or two-week vacation.
Getting into the thick of life and discovering the common things within
non-common countries is what I’m looking for. - What is the biggest myth that people have
about round-the-world traveling?
That you will get sick somewhere and have no avenue out. - Why do you like to travel?
People, people, people. I am looking forward to meeting them everywhere. - What is your advice for people planning
their own RTW trip?
Read as much as you can. There are some really awesome books and
internet sites out there with people willing to share. Learn from their
experiences and mistakes.
July 2004