Brother And Sister Prepare For Adventure At Exotic Locales

By Larissa Lytwyn

While his older sisters traveled the world through college and the US Air Force ROTC, 17-year-old Andrew Zimmerman followed them as far as his middle and high school geography classes would allow.

Now a 2004 graduate of Newtown High School, Andrew is eager to join 24-year-old Katie on her ten-month journey, which begins next month, to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Southeast Asia, including Nepal, India.

“I’ve never been out of the country before this, except for Canada,” Andrew said. “After taking a year off to complete this trip, I plan to go to college at Western Connecticut State University [in Danbury].”

His approved admission forms, he explained, were deferred to next year.

Katie is eager to rock climb during her first month in Australia; Andrew will join her in Sydney in September.

“We’re going to be camping most of the time,” she explained. “I think traveling this way will allow us to get a better perspective on the countries and the people we’ll be seeing.”

A highlight, said Andrew, would be seeing the Great Barrier Reef.

“Since scuba diving is really expensive, we’ll probably go snorkeling around it,” he said. “It’s definitely something I’ll be looking forward to.”

The two also said they were looking forward to spending time with sister Kendall, currently traveling abroad at the University of Australia in Sydney.

“She just arrived there this summer,” said Katie. “By the time we see her, she’ll be more settled and know more about the area!”

While having just exchanged a few emails and phone calls since her arrival, Katie said that Kendall reports Australia to be a beautiful place to live.

“She just loves it so far, it seems,” said Katie.

Katie said she was happy to be traveling with a partner, especially her brother.

“I’m really looking forward to just seeing the world,” said Andrew. “I want to gain a different perspective on it than what I am used to. I want to see the different cultures, the different values and things.”

In Nepal, Katie and Andrew are pursuing becoming involved in one of several programs that teach Nepalese monks and others how to speak English.

“I wanted this trip to be more than just a vacation,” Katie explained. “I want to make sure we’re doing something and really getting to know the people.”

Andrew and Katie agreed they were confident about their decision to eschew hotels.

“Being in a hotel would isolate us from the people, and we really want to be right there, experiencing everything,” said Katie.

Katie said she developed her passion for rock climbing while being stationed in Albuquerque, N.M., through the ROTC.

“I’ve grown to really appreciate the land out West,” she said. “At first, I thought it was really brown and flat, but I’ve seen how beautiful the red rocks are. It’s a very unique place.”

The ROTC program, she noted, allowed her the funding necessary to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she recently received her bachelor of science in aero engineering in the department of aeronautics.

“I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut,” said Katie, noting her lifelong fascination with space travel and science. “But I learned that astronauts are essentially scientists who specialize in certain areas.”

Katie learned that by studying aero engineering, she would become proficient in the skills needed to understand space travel transportation — helpful information for an aspiring astronaut.

Both Andrew and Katie have spent the last few months heavily researching the areas they will be traveling via through the Internet and various guidebooks, as well as garnering tips from well-traveled friends and relatives.

“I’ve always believed that it’s important to do what you love when you can, not spend your whole life planning or waiting for it,” Katie said. “I can’t wait to go on this trip!”

Andrew agreed, “It’s going to be a great experience.”