- When do you leave?
- How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 Months - How much have you saved?
2000 p.m. - How old are you?
48 - Nationality
Germany - Where do you live now?
north-west, Germany - Occupation
teacher - Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It’s my career - Have you traveled around the world before?
No - What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
Thailand, Fidhi-Islands, N.Z., Australia,North America, Canada - Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
All 3 children grown up, youngest starting university, I saved up for this sabbatical for a few years, looking for new challenge after 25 years as Mum,wife, teacher in small town, husband will join me twice on my RTW as he can’t take sabbatical, but I want to travel on my own, too, to see some of this planet, meet people and experience my own strength and endurance and talents and… - What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Getting very ill, being robbed or hurt by nasty people, feeling lonely, coming across big problems - Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Husband: Go! You deserve it! I’ll join you! But please be careful!
children: Go, Mum, go! We’ll miss you, but are planning to fly out to see you the other side of the planet. And you’ll come back, so have a great time. You looked after us, now we are old enough to do it ourselves and you look after yourself!
friends: either:Wow! You are brave! I envy you! or: Don’t go! The world is a horrible mean place! - How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough - What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
2 moskito nets, sleeping bag,1 small, soft pillow,2 jeans, 2 shorts, 4 t-shirts, 1 fleece, 5 days underwear,
boots, sandals, sneakers,
minimum but sufficient cosmetics/sanitary stuff,medical supplies, paperwork original and copies e.g.passport, credit card, dollars, trav.cheques,driving licence,then the hardy stuff like swiss army knife, aluminium box, string, locks…
Indispensable:passport, money, ticket, mobile phone - 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?
broader outlook on world, hopefully little upsets at work will not matter to me as they do s.t., contact with other cultures will make me more tolerant for others and grateful for what I have.I will grow with the experience, whether it be inspiring, nerving, lonely or hard work - If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Planet earth, here I come! - 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 think it would be more peaceful on this planet if more people go on RTWs, as they are forced to deal with other cultures and values, they would see so many more different walks of life and they would see that most of the people have to work for their life’s success and with that I don’t mean financial success. - What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Women should not go on their own especially if they are 48 and happily married. - Why do you like to travel?
As a teacher I always had the lovely summer break and loved to be on the road for the whole length to see and experience s.th. different. Even when my children were 5, 3 and 6 months I took them in the car across the Alpes into former Yugoslavia. Also I like to spend time in a place to get to know the locals’life and their daily routine and worries and special talents… - What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Will answer that one when I get home next May.
November 2005