Jamie Greene is a USA collections manager embarking on a round-the-world journey.
The Snapshot
- **Departure:** 2003
- **Duration:** 1-2 years
- **Age:** 24
- **Budget:** $17,900 USD (2026 equivalent)
- **Nationality:** USA
- **Occupation:** Collections manager
The Route
London, Paris, Munich, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Vilnius, Riga, St. Petersburg, Moscow, TransSiberian, Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Tibet, Nepal, India.
Regions: Europe, Southeast Asia, Russia/Trans-Siberian
2026 Note: Travel conditions, visa requirements, and costs have evolved significantly since this profile was originally recorded.
In Their Words
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
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go? I’m going to Asia because I haven’t been there yet. I got turned on to independent travel through work I was involved in Africa. This trip was sparked while in Morocco two years ago.
What is your biggest fear about this trip? That I don’t have enough money saved. Also that the numerous language barriers may pose a problem (practically as well as emotionally).
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? Changed Life I have no idea - my name isn’t Kreskin. Since I’ll not only be completely engulfed in new experiences every waking moment, but will also be engaged in research and writing while traveling, I’m sure I’ll change more than I can even imagine. Let’s hope for the better.
If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be? Opportunities like this don’t happen in the real world unless you MAKE them happen.
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? There’s nothing wrong with short vacations - not everyone has the luxury of breaking all ties and taking off on a whim. However, you’ll never really know a place or people unless you devote a lot of time to the effort. I’m interested in understanding the energies which drive humanity, and obviously that’ll take more than a couple weeks on a package tour.
2026 Context
- This profile was recorded before departure. Many travelers never return home quite the same.
- This journey is now 23 years in the past. The world has changed significantly.
- Exchange rates and travel costs have shifted considerably since the original planning date.