Claudia Mayer

Round-the-World Traveler

Round the World Travel Guide
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Claudia on the setup for an eye-popping travel snap.

1. When do you leave?
   August 2003

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

3. How much have you saved?
   $11000+

4. How old are you?
   26

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   Hauppauge, USA

7. Occupation
   Mechanical Designer

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   One more paycheck and I’m gone

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Start off easy in the Scottish Highlands and Islands for 5 weeks, then head on to India (see some Boots members!). From there, then Thailand, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan Province China. I may be up for any additional spots as well.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I was backpacking in China during the summer of 2002 for 6 weeks, and I realized that it just wasn’t enough time. I felt too constrained. I met a girl named Mel (an Aussie of course) who was working her way around the world for 2+ years. I was so inspired that as soon as I came back I made it my goal to do something similar. Also, now I have friends to crash with in various countries and I want to visit them.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    The adjustment when I return and also what I am going to do with my life! Also, getting hurt or sick, as I got a little busted up on my trip in China and had to visit a somewhat scary rural Chinese hospital for some “interesting” suturing work.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Yes, but only grudgingly. My mother keeps telling me that she could die while I am away, half kidding, half not. My siblings and friends are very supportive though the friends are all professional types who think I am just out there. The coworkers don’t know just yet… they’ll find out soon enough.

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)?
    My camera. I couldn’t live without it. My minidisc player with a mic so I can record people’s stories and tales, and the sounds of my travels.

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 will increase my confidence that I can do anything! Also, I have found that the longer the trip, the more you learn about yourself, your limits and your goals. Trains, planes, and busses are great places to contemplate the direction your life is going.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    I am so excited that I can barely let a day go by without thinking about where I will be a year from now.

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?
    RTW trips expose you to people/experiences that you would never have the chance to meet otherwise. It shows you what is really important in life.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That it’s a waste of time or that it’s dangerous to travel right now.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    I love the nervous anticipation of getting off a plane and having no idea what to expect.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Don’t go nuts planning.

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