Tracy Martin
Round-the-World Traveler Round the World Travel GuideYour One-stop Source to Plan & Book Around-the-World Trips
I know that I want my career to focus in some way on global interaction and communication, although I knew that before the trip. I am certainly more aware of the unfathomable levels of poverty that exist today – beyond anything that I could have comprehended without actually experiencing. In many ways, I have a different perspective of my own world and how fortunate we are for the things that we have.
Tracy and her husband Henry, post-wedding and pre-backpack – but not by much.
August 2000-July 2001
27
US$28400
USA
Maryland, USA
Before we left, I was not certain where I wanted to focus my energies. I knew that I was interested in technology, but I did not want to be a programmer. I knew I wanted to return to school, but I was not yet ready to make a commitment to a particular program. I returned with a clearer focus. Although the economy has made it difficult to find a job, I have applied to several graduate schools and hope to enter in the Fall.
San Francisco (California), Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, India, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain
For me, there were several reasons. I have always wanted to travel, to see and experience different cultures. I don't know where it came from, but I knew that I needed to get it out of my system before I was ready to "settle down." When I met my husband-to-be while travelling through Europe, I knew that settling down was lurking on the horizon. Fortunately, we had a shared feeling of restlessness and we decided to capitalize on it before it was too late. We explored other options – the Peace Corps, the JET Program, teaching English in a foreign country – but in the end, we decided that we wanted the flexibility to decide where we wanted to go and how long we wanted to stay there. So, a trip around the world was perfect.
Ugh! There are soooo many... I would have to say Toni, the older Englishman who runs the hostel on the main island in Tonga. Part of what makes him memorable is that he lives in Tonga, so far removed from the rest of civilization. It was such a shock for us to be there, especially because it was our first stop. At first, he strikes you as somewhat harsh and is definitely a straight-shooter. But he is incredibly knowledgeable about the islands, about the people, about the culture, and even about the world. He doesn't care that he's killing himself with cigarettes and is content to live in a small trailer. And the best part is that he takes care of this little Tongan boy, "Little Toni," as if he were his own.
Just Enough
Nalgene Bottle. I can't stand to be without water, so that little blue thing was a godsend.
Sooooo much. Long underwear, wool socks, a fleece, mosquito net, permathrin, DEET, most of our cold weather clothing, most of our clothing. It's so easy to buy these things anywhere in the world now, for so much less than we paid, that it was hardly worth collecting it all before we left.
I don't think I really know yet. Not having rejoined the working world, I'm not sure that I have a true sense of its impact. I do know that I have a much broader perspective of the world and a greater sense that while things are separated by huge distances, cultures are becoming closer and closer. I have a greater appreciation for the creature comforts and a greater awareness of all the uselessness that abounds in our society.
It was 11 months of excitement and frustration that helped me realize more about myself and blessed me with wonderful moments that are now beautiful memories.
We'll never stop travelling, as there is so much that we have yet to see; we have only scratched the surface. At the moment, we are planning to settle down a bit, so there is nothing in the works for another RTW adventure. But who knows what the future holds. Given the right circumstances, we may do it again.
The difference between one- or two-weeks and an RTW adventure is the difference between a vacation and a trip. A vacation is exactly that: an escape from life's routine that allows you to relax and be pampered. A trip is work, but with an incomparable reward attached. It's the difference between being an observer and being a participant.
The power of accomplishment in the midst of overwhelming obstacle. I've learned so much about what I can do and what we, my husband Henry and I, as a team can do.
Most people think it is one long, luxurious vacation and that it's easy and free of frustration. While there are certainly moments of relaxation, it's also a daily struggle to find food, adapt to thousands of different beds, to figure out how to get from point A to point B, to keep from getting ripped off, to stay within your budget in the midst of "it's cheap, it's cheap" coming from those around you and your own head, and to keep your eyes on the prize without getting too caught up in the frustration.
I love other cultures and societies. The thrill of getting off a plane for me just can't be put into words. There is something truly magical about witnessing the beauty of other countries – it's always unique, and one place is never exactly like another.
Be well-prepared, but keep yourself open to other suggestions. DO NOT OVERPACK. Like the saying goes, "Lay it all out on the bed and then take half away. And then another half. And you probably still have too much." Don't get caught up in the frustrating moments because it can ruin the trip. HAVE FUN!
