Scott Stewart - Round-the-World Traveler

1. When do you leave?
   March 2007

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

3. How much have you saved?
   $30000

4. How old are you?
   40

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   North Carolina, USA

7. Occupation
   Unix Systems Architect

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?
    That's one I haven't quite figured out yet. I'll likely start in the UK and move east. Too early in the planning stages to know anything for sure.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I've dreamed about escaping the cubicle for nearly 20 years. Financial security isn't all it's cracked up to be. Guess I've finally had enough of playing it safe.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    My biggest fear isn't about the trip, but rather the year leading up to it. Will I have the guts to leave my friends, my comfortable life and a lucrative career for the great unknown? I certainly hope so.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    My friends think I should have done this yesterday. As for my employer...well, let's just say they won't be too happy 'round the office when the cat's out of the bag.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Winged it a lot

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Whatever I can fit in a backpack. A journal and a language guide will be my most important items.

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?
    It's probably wishful thinking, but I see this trip as a sort of "vision quest". I'm not exactly the spiritual sort, but I hope that after interacting with people from other cultures and engaging in new experiences, I might have some inkling into where I go from here.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    What's the word for restroom in ________?

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?
    I'm not sure it is for everyone. That said, everyone should avail themselves of the opportunity to travel somewhere outside of the realm of experience at some point in their life. There's no better teacher than experience.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    I'll know the answer to that when I return.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    I like collecting all of those neat little soaps and shampoos from hotels.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Listen to the advice, but trust your instincts. Then, go!