Simone Cannon

Round-the-World Traveler

1. When do you leave?
   November 2003

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

3. How much have you saved?
   enough for 1-2 years

4. How old are you?
   42

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   New York City, USA

7. Occupation
   Tech Manager

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?
    Starting in Barcelona, then on to Southeast Asia, then Australia, then ???

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What
    got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I want to visit so many places, but can’t do it with the paltry two week
    vacations that you get in the U.S. I can’t stand the thought of sitting
    in a retirement home when I’m old and looking back on my life with regret
    for things I haven’t done.

12. What is your biggest fear about this
    trip?
    Running out of money, having things stolen (money, passport)

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc.,
    supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the
    world?
    For the most part, they are supportive. Some have expressed their own
    fears and have difficulty understanding why I would walk away from a
    high-paying career and benefits.

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)?
    Minimal amount of clothes, digital camera, toiletries, book.

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?
    Not sure, but I hope it will change my perspective.

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

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?
    You only live once and you should make the most of it. For myself, I feel
    this is more of an imperative than a choice.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have
    about round-the-world traveling?
    That there is a lot of danger in traveling. I feel that overall,
    traveling is quite safe. The vast majority of people that I have
    encountered while traveling are incredibly helpful, welcoming and friendly.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    New sights, meeting new people, the feeling of true freedom.

21. What is your advice for people planning
    their own RTW trip?
    Save, plan, go

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