Brian Setzer - Round-the-World Traveler

1. When do you leave?
   June 2006

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   6-12 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   30000

4. How old are you?
   29

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   Oklahoma, USA

7. Occupation
   Mine Superintendent

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?
    Oklahoma -> Boundary Waters -> Glacier National Park -> Portland -> San Diego -> Cook Islands -> New Zealand -> Australia -> Southeast Asia -> Return to USA

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Have always wanted to go to Australia for an extended trip and found a bunch of other places that I want to see also.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Staying healthy. I have ulcerative colitis and know that it will be difficult to deal while being on the road for a year.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Extrememly supportive by everyone. My family and friends are all for it and jealous. My company gave me a year leave of absense with no hassles what so ever and are bringing back to the same position.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Just Enough

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Most indispensable is my camera. I plan on bringing camping gear and doing lots of hikes.

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?
    Help me decide what is important to me. Do I want to live closer to family, stay in the same career, travel more??? Just planning what to do and where to go has has already improved my daily outlook on life.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    I'm treating it as a once in a lifetime opprotunity.

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 get a deeper experience of the places you visit and get to see a lot more of them.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    Most people never even consider something like it. You can find lots of reasons not to do it, but once you decide you are going to I haven't found a single reason not to.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    Love new experiences, seeing natural wonders, spending time alone, meeting like minded people.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    The thought for my trip first occurred to me a year ago and I have been doing research since then. Figure out how long and where you want to go, then do what needs to be done to make it happen. Have fun!