Jennifer Hanner

1. When do you leave?
   January 2002

2. How long do you plan to be away?
   6-12 Months

3. How much have you saved?
   US$20,000

4. How old are you?
   26

5. Nationality
   USA

6. Where do you live now?
   California, USA

7. Occupation
   Engineer

8. Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
   It's my career

9. Have you traveled around the world before?
   No

10. What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
    I have a couple of routes I'm debating on right now. I'm leaning towards Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Argentina. But I think this may be too much in the time period allotted.

11. Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
    I was raised on travel. I wanted to take some time and see a lot of the places I've never been before.

12. What is your biggest fear about this trip?
    My knee blowing out, or getting really sick. I can work around everything else.

13. Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
    Yes. They think I'm crazy, but are all a little envious. A couple want to go with me, others want to meet me in different locations.

14. How much planning and preparing have you done?
    To the Nth Degree

15. What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
    Standard gear plus camping/hiking gear. I could break it down, but that would take too long. Debating on a GSM cell phone for emergencies. My most indispensable item is my camera; I can replace everything else. Items I'm not sure I can replace, I don't take. Water purification tablets are pretty nice too. Losing the stove would be bad, but dealable; I can always eat out for awhile. I'd have to have another sent out if it broke/disappeared. That would suck.

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 don't believe it will be life changing. I do believe it will help me relax and return to work clear-headed again.

17. If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
    Look at all the cool places I get to go hiking/diving/eating!

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?
    It would depend on the person; their ability to travel, finances and job. Not everyone should take a RTW trip. Or they should take one over a shorter period of time. And depending on a person's level of confidence outside of their comfort zones, would determine where they should travel. I take 2-week vacations all the time. And they aren't "regular" vacations.

19. What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
    That it is too much to plan. There needs to be some form of plan. That allows you to plan finances, predict weather and prepare for potential health hazards. The plan can be flexible, but it still needs to be there. And it isn't that hard to do.

20. Why do you like to travel?
    I grew up traveling, and I love to see new places.

21. What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
    Plan your trip, look at what you believe it will cost, and double it. That will give you "oh, shit!" money, and will be closer to what you will actually need. The "oh, shit!" money is very important.