Stephanie Warren

1. When do you leave?
   January 2005

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

3. How much have you saved?
   $10,000 for the trip

4. How old are you?
   30

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   Atlanta, Georgia, USA

7. Occupation
   Executive

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?
    Changchun, China (Jilin Province)(1-3 months), Thailand (3 months), Laos, Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Egypt, St. Petersburg, stop back in ATL, Costa Rica (6-12 months)

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I have always wanted to travel and wished I would have done it when I was younger. I continued to use my job as an excuse until I decided I am done with the corporate world. I have no children, husband, or pets; therefore, I have no more excuses. I thought 3 weeks in Peru (May 2004)and 3 weeks travel every year thereafter would satisfy me until retirement. It actually did quite the opposite.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    Missing my family. I don't fear anything about the trip itself, because I will enjoy all experiences good or bad. I should probably worry about money, but I plan to teach English in China and Costa Rica.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    I imagine my family honestly thinks I am a bit flighty, but they are being supportive. My mom seems to understand that this is a once in a lifetime thing that I will regret if I do not do. The co-workers that know either think I am brave or nuts. Most do not really understand why I would even want to visit such countries.

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)?
    Likely too much, but I will try to keep it light. Whatever I can stuff in one backpack and one day pack. My passport, digital camera, and ipod (for storage too) will be the indespensable items. Oh yes, money too.

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?
    It will, at the least, give me a better understanding of other cultures. One can read about other countries and cultures, but I don't think one can actually grasp it without seeing it. I think it will make me even more compassionate and more grounded. It took me years to realize that I would be happier making a liveable income and living my life than making a ton of money and living my job. I hope that I will realize more about myself and what I want to do with my life. I am trying to redirect my instincts from being money-hungry to being intent on happiness.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    An experience of a lifetime that I wll never regret but would surely regret if I never do it.

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?
    I cannot think of any 2 week vacation that would allow one to really learn about a culture. Even RTW trips are just a glimpse into a culture. That is why I plan to spend my last 6-12 months living in Central America.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    I think people think it is for hippies, bums, lost souls, etc. I think it is for those possibly a little more in touch with life.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    How could you not? I cannot understand anyone not wanting to visit people that live differently from them. That is what life is about to me.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Research. I was amazed at the lack of research people did before going to Peru. You can't survive off of Amex and ATM cards. Yes, there really are cities that do not have banks and ATMs.