Denise Riegel

1. When do you leave?
   July 2004

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   6-12 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   15,000 US

4. How old are you?
   50

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA

7. Occupation
   Assistant Construction Manager

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   It's my career

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    Still open, but think I'll travel east, Africa, W Europe, E Europe, SE Asia, New Zealand, S Pacific

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    Have wanted to join the peace corps since 1970 and never had the chance. My way of seeing the world and meeting people of different cultures. Life gets more global every year and I want to participate, or at least understand more about someplace other than home. Ultimate goal? To make a difference in someone's life as I hope everyone I meet along the way will make in mine.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Going it alone. But who can wait for someone else to get the time, courage or money.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Very much so. I think many are jealous. I don't expect the "she's crazy" attitudes until it gets closer.

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)?
    Not there yet. Reading a lot and learning from other people's experiences.

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 grew up in a small town. I moved as an adult to Hawaii with my husband and everyone throught we were crazy. It's opened my eyes to the world. Honolulu is very global. I met so many people from other countries and realized there is a wanderlust in me I must pursue. RTW is a way to learn about this new part of me. I hope it changes me and makes me more aware of people as individuals, no mater what walk of life they're from. I'm sure I will learn a ton about myself along the way. Kind of a mid-life enlightenment!

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    The most exciting thing I have pursued - ever.

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 get to see the surface of things on a one or two-week vacation. Getting into the thick of life and discovering the common things within non-common countries is what I'm looking for.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That you will get sick somewhere and have no avenue out.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    People, people, people. I am looking forward to meeting them everywhere.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Read as much as you can. There are some really awesome books and internet sites out there with people willing to share. Learn from their experiences and mistakes.