Caroline Ulmer

1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
   October 2002-April 2003

2. How old were you when you took this trip?
   24

3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
   10,000 Euro

4. Nationality
   Germany

5. Where do you live now?
   Stuttgart, Germany

6. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: Student
   
   Now: Job searching
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   So far job interviewers have been from neutral to very positive about it...it is definitely a career plus in my eyes.

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   USA- East Coast, West Coast
   New Zealand- both Islands
   Australia- all the way around and through the middle
   Thailand- Centre and North

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   I have studied international business, therefore have lived abroad for a while and love travelling. Once the travel bug has you it will never leave you again!

   I decided to do a world trip about two years before the end of my studies and started saving money. The time in between studies and your first job is ideal, a once in a lifetime chance. You are young, you are free, what holds you back??

   Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
   

   • Best Moment
     Many...Skydiving in New Zealand, diving the Great Barrier Reef, smiling children in Thailand.

   • Worst Moment
     Christmas day (24th in Gemany) alone in Sydney, and the moment when I realized I am running out of money

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     Missing friends at home

   • Biggest surprise?
     Amazing Thailand

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   Another hard one...maybe Marion, I met her in Cairns, then again in Sydney, then we did a roadtrip down to Melbourne together, met again in Perth and then again in Bangkok. Now we often meet since we only live 30 minutes away from each other :) it's a small world.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Just Enough

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   Teva sandals, flip flops, credit card :)

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   I had quite a bit of stuff, but no matter how often I repacked, I didn't know what to send home.

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   It didn't really change my life, I have travelled before, but I have grown personally and have achieved something for myself.

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   Something worth to be repeated.

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   Yes, definitely another RTW trip..maybe not alone next time..although travelling alone has advantages as well.

   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?
   Only on a RTW trip you can challenge yourself and you can learn enormously about you and others. You may find what is most important to you in life and what you don't need anymore when you come back.

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   That traveling is great for a certain period of time, and although you meet many great people on the road, real friends and family can't be replaced by that.

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   That it is always fun and great...there will be hard times too, but they are important because you will grow personally.

   Why do you like to travel?
   Because I am very curious and want to see things from different points of view, want to meet new people and learn new things.

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   Don't hesitate, dont wait for anyone to join you, start saving, and go to the places you always wanted to see.