Fieke Brouwer

1. When do you leave?
   January 2004

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   I Ain't Never Comin' Back

3. How much have you saved?
   14.000 euro

4. How old are you?
   31

5. Nationality
   Netherlands

6. Where do you live now?
   Amsterdam, Netherlands

7. Occupation
   HR assistant

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?
    Don't have a complete route yet but my trip will include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and NZ.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I wanted to set a challenge for myself and this is what I came up with. I'm about to lose my job which will give me the time to finally do it.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Being lonely and not having enough money to do all that I would like to do.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Some are but most think I won't really do it.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    Planning is for tourists

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Not sure what will but it could very well be my boots and sandals.

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 think it will make me a stronger person both mentally and physically. It will hopefully teach me a lot about other cultures, people and languages.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Exciting, scary but mostly I can't wait to go.

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?
    Because that way you can immerse yourself into other cultures which isn't possible in 2 weeks.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    I can't do it....

20. Why do you like to travel?
    Because there's more to the world than just this tiny little country.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Just do it !!!!