Angela Weller
Round-the-World Traveler Round the World Travel GuideYour One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
One RTW wasn't enough for Angela (red hair) – she's planning another for 2003.
January-December 1995
23
US$20,000
USA
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Before I left for the trip, I had very little experience with ESL. When I returned, I was able to find an English-teaching job fairly easily and worked my way into the technology field based on the ESL experience.
I spent most of the time working in Japan and taking side trips in Asia. The last 4 months of my trip was entirely spent in the Middle East: Egypt, Jordan and Israel. I got my Scuba certification, DJ'ed in Israel, and painted shirts in Egypt! I also visited Amsterdam as I flew around.
I was having trouble finding a "real" job after college and had the opportunity to teach in Japan. It seemed like a fun thing to do and, as I had spent a year living and traveling in Europe, I knew I enjoyed the experience of new places.
My best friend in the world was made on this trip. His name is Will and he is an American-Israeli. His grandfather is a famous archaeologist, so I was able to go out on the digs for free! We have visited each other several times in the intervening years, and I plan a stop in Israel to see him on my 2003 RTW journey.
Winged it a lot
My bandana. It kept my hair out of my face when needed and could be used to tie things up in a pinch.
My mattress pad. I don't think I used it once and ended up ditching it in Israel.
I gained an enormous amount of self-confidence on the trip. I was traveling solo (for the first time) and living on my own, so far from home. I also learned a lot more patience. I had traveled in the Middle East before, but not to the same extent. That, coupled with Asia, curbed some of my "control freak" personality.
Learning to Fly.
I'll be undertaking another RTW in 2003. I've done many smaller trips in the interim: Israel and Egypt, all over the US, Croatia, Bosnia, Estonia, Russia.
I think an RTW trip is the best immersion experience. You will have to learn to fend for yourself in strange environments, assuming you are traveling on anything less than an extravagant budget. You will also be forced to trust other people in order to succeed. People who are very different from you. On a short vacation, difficulties and stresses are often handled by reminding yourself "I'll be home in xx days". Not so with a long trip. RTW travel is a lifestyle. It has all the incumbent ups and downs of any other lifestyle and is not for everyone.
Self-reliance. I had always had a safety net. I found out that I can take care of myself in (almost) any situation.
That it's all fun and games. When you're on an RTW trip, you have to deal with the everyday grind just like at home. Except, with language and cultural issues to challenge you. The laundry has to get done, the bills have to get paid, etc.
I enjoy the experience of travel. I like planning trips. I am a very social creature, so for me long-term travel is a great chance to meet new people from all over the globe, as well as see some incredible places.
Budget more carefully than I did! I ended up working more than I would have liked at the beginning of my trip, because I kept blowing money in Japan. Japan is really expensive!
