Richard Stump - Around-the-World Traveler

1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
   August 21-January 1, 2000

2. How old were you when you took this trip?
   29

3. Nationality
   USA

4. Where do you live now?
   Tel Aviv, Israel

5. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: Military Officer
   
   Now: Architect
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   My extensive overseas experience (both working and travelling) helped me obtain my current work with a large engineering/architectural firm that does a lot of overseas work. I am currently a resident project manager in Israel. Companies who do a lot of international work are always looking for single men and women who have a proven record of being able to adapt easily to other cultures.

   Additionally, an RTW trip of at least 3 months' duration will allow you to gain new insights into your life, career aspirations, and personal goals. My outlook on life definitely changed during my trip – travel is such an important part of my life that I am now reluctant to tie myself down with too many long-term professional responsibilities that would prohibit travel.

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   Starting in the United States (all travel legs were by air unless noted otherwise):

   • Chicago-Mexico City (Mexico)
   • Guatemala City (Guatemala)
   • Lima (Peru)
   • Santiago (Chile)
   • Buenos Aires (Argentina, Uruguay)
   • Cape Town (South Africa)
   • Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
   • Overland to Singapore
   • Denpasar/Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
   • Sydney (Australia, Tasmania)
   • Auckland (New Zealand)
   • Honolulu (Hawaii)
   • Anchorage (Alaska)
   • Back to Chicago

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   An RTW trip had been a dream of mine for several years. After the military, I knew I had an opportunity to take several months for travel before I switched careers.

   Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
   

   • Best Moment
     Ten days in the Cape Town area

   • Worst Moment
     Almost drowning in a river in New Zealand

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     Not leaving enough time to see each country

   • Biggest surprise?
     The honesty and friendliness of the South Africans – black, white, colored and Cape Malay

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   Musta'in Kerto, a batik artist and student in Yogyakarta. He is one of the kindest and most generous people I ever met, and he has taken many travellers in Indonesia into his life and shown them the beauty of Java.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Just Enough

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   A PacSafe – I never worried about the safety of my backpack and its contents.

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   Nothing. I packed light.

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   The answer to this question is sprinkled throughout this interview.

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   It was the best and most intense travel experience of my life... until the next long trip!

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   Absolutely!!!

   I plan to spend several months in specific areas of the world... while an RTW trip is a great smorgasbord, it whets your travel appetite for a more intense travel experience in the places you enjoyed most.

   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?
   First of all, 1-2 week vacations and RTW trips are completely different animals. We Americans have absolutely no idea how to take a REAL vacation, and two weeks isn't enough.

   RTW trips (in my humble opinion) should last 3-12 months (or more). It takes that long for a person to really relax, change his or her viewpoint on the travel experience, and to remove himself from the trials of everyday life for a long and significant period of time. This is the greatest benefit (and in many ways, largest concern) of an RTW trip.

   However, you'll return with an understanding of the world, of yourself, knowledge that you don't need to have many possessions to really enjoy life to the fullest (when you spend 4 months living out of a 50-lb pack, you learn this very quickly), and it will change your life. Guaranteed.

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   We place far too much value upon material possessions, and not enough value upon experiences and learning from others.

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   I don't know what the myths might be, but anyone with a sense of adventure and an open mind can take an RTW trip.

   Why do you like to travel?
   It challenges me in every way, allows me to learn more about the world I live in, and gives me opportunities to write about and sketch the most amazing people and places.

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   

   • Get to know the Airtreks.com people.
   • Plan your itinerary, and set a budget. (You'll probably break it if you're not careful).
   • Be realistic in the amount of time you need to see a place.
   • Don't rush.
   • And Enjoy!