Christina Trotter - Round-the-World Traveler

1. When do you leave?
   July 2006

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

3. How much have you saved?
   $30,000

4. How old are you?
   29

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   Texas, USA

7. Occupation
   Aviation Strategy Consultant

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?
    My husband and I will be travelling to Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Australia, China, Russia, and parts of Eastern Europe (TBD).

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    We have been planning this trip for as long as I can remember. We decided to go now before we have a family and buy a house. We love to travel and especially enjoy meeting new people and learning about other cultures.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Getting arrested or kidnapped.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Yes, everyone has been completely supportive. It's really quite amazing.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    To the Nth Degree

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    3 pairs of pants, 2 tank tops, 2 long sleeve shirts, long underwear, a down jacket, a pair of boots and a pair of Chacos and a host of other stuff.

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?
    I haven't thought about it too much because without question it is going to change us. I'm looking forward to whatever change that may be.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Life experience.

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 don't necessarily think people should go on RTW trips. I think it's up to the individual person. It was important for me to go on such a trip because I have a lot of places that I want to see and there is a finite amount of time that I have to do it. This will enable me to see some of the places that I want to see, but is really only a fraction of the places that I want to go.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That you have to be rich to do it. My husband and I make very good salaries, but are by no means rich. We have, however, made choices: e.g., not owning a home, saving miles, not being big shoppers.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    I love to experience new experiences, see new places, meet new people and most of all, learn.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Don't take too much advice from other people.
    Visit us at: chrissyandbill.com