2002

Q: Where are you going again?
A: South Africa, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti

Q: When will you be back in California?
A: Probably in mid-August 2002, only to leave for Latin America.

Q: How will you travel? How does your plane ticket work?
A: I have an around-the-world ticket with the Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, etc.) with set destinations and flexible dates. I have a rough itinerary of dates to start with, but I can change them along the way.

Q: How can you afford this?
A: Well, I've been saving up for graduate school. However, I never figured out exactly what to study in grad school, and when this idea and opportunity arose, I knew this was the best possible way to spend my money. It may not be formal or accredited, but I know it will still be a very educational experience.

Q: What are you packing?
A: As little as possible! I have a relatively small pack (large when compared to a school bag, small when compared to a Samsonite suitcase), a small collection of carefully selected clothing items and some laundry soap, a water filter, notebook, camera, guide books, malaria pills and bug repellant, sunscreen and two hats.

Q: Who helped you prepare?
A: Everyone I met, and especially Amy, Sonya, Laura, Krista, and several others who were invaluable in getting my apartment packed and belongings moved. Many thanks to Lis and Ida for storing all my boxes, and to all the various people looking after various items. Thanks, too, for all of the tips and advice you have sent my way (don't stop!).

2005

Q: How can you leave for 5 weeks?
A: With lots of notice, an understanding manager, and a software release schedule that magically adjusted itself so I'll be here to do production for the help files, I'm taking 5 weeks of unpaid leave--I only have one day left of acrued vacation and that's not enough.

Q: How did you pick Nepal and Senegal? Aren't they pretty far apart?
A: The way I figure it, once you're going basically half-way around the world, you may as well keep going all the way around, and visit two really far-away places on one loop, rather than taking long round-trips. I've been wanting to go back to Nepal for a while to see people, and my friend Vern is in Senegal for a year, and as usual, when she offered to visit, I took her up on it.