1. When do you leave?
   May 2006

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   1-6 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   500

4. How old are you?
   27

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   New Mexico, USA

7. Occupation
   Student/Waiter

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   I’ll come back if they’ll have me

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Roughly: Australia/New Zealand, (Northern) Japan, (Southern) Japan, India (Bombay), Eastern Europe/Mediterranean (Turkey…Croatia) to Western Europe, back to U.S.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Been travelling for extended amounts of time since I was 16. Longest stay: 1 year , that was in the comfortable country of Spain though. I am going with my husband to be. We have been backpacking/camping for a while and this is something that we have both wanted to do for years. The only problem is time, money, and trying to decide exactly where to go! We want to see everything.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Haven’t planned much yet…lots to do!!! Running out of money. Only seeing a small part of the world.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Yes. They have always known that this is something that I would eventually do. They think it seems fun and adventurous. They are of concered of my safety, which is normal I think. It is hard to not see your family (or in this case, not even talk to them) for more than a month. My fiancee is very supportive too…of course.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Control Freak

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Packing light. Backpack, sleeping bag and mat, stove, mess kit, cooking pot(s), headlamp…I am still working on the list.

16. 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?
    My ambition is to always be a traveller. It is something that I never want to cease to do. My prediction is that this trip will only solidify my passion and further drive me to see and experience more of the world and its environment in my lifetime. My past travel experiences have done just this. They have opened my eyes to so many amazing languages, cultures, natural habitats, and manmade phenomena. I love it!

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Put everything you see and do into perspective.

18. 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?
    To challenge themselves to live outside their comfort zone (anytown, usa). The stress, difficulties, and unfamiliarities that are experienced are well worth it. Whether they think so or not.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    Everyone speaks English.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    Mentally, physically, and culturally challenging. I live spiritually as opposed to materially.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Plan, save, and have fun.