I know a lot of Racers have done this blog before but when you find yourself without electricity and laying in your tent you begin to come up with some interesting facts about being a World Racer. World Racers are also a culture unlike any other. We no longer fit in the American mold and we certainly stand out almost everywhere we go. I hope you enjoy the following!
You know you’re a World Racer when you/your/the/etc…
1. only change clothes when you shower
2. dip your clothes in water and then put them back off in efforts to cool off, repeat about 5 times a night
3. carry a roll of toilet paper in your purse/pocket, and never go to the bathroom without it
4. steal napkins from restaurants just in case you need TP in the future. It’s not uncommon to have TP from the last continent you were on
5. take anything that is free. Free zip-lock baggies at the airport, score!
6. can find a use for anything
7. find yourself constantly going thru your stuff wondering what you can get rid of to make sure you make weight for the next flight, or just to make your pack easier to carry
8. constantly thinking about how much something weighs and where it will go on travel days
9. always have dirty feet
10. can fall asleep anywhere
11. ear plugs and eye masks are a new addition to ‘nightlies’
12. using baby wipes constitutes taking a shower
13. do the sniff test to see if clothes are clean
14. get excited for a real toilet. Get even more excited when this toilet has TP. Get even more excited when you can flush TP
15. snacks are worth more than gold
16. have more than one currency in your wallet and you try to pay with the wrong currency
17. can say hello in multiple languages, often saying the wrong greeting in the wrong place
18. can’t remember the last time you saw a mirror
19. take a picture of yourself so you can see if you’re presentable
20. save everything for Africa. We’ve saved and purchased medicine, baby wipes, bug spray, spices all for Africa when the truth is we could have used them in other countries.
21. get excited to meet up with the squad b/c you know there will be a ‘free pile’
22. take things from the ‘free pile’ but then decide that they weigh too much so you put them back
23. forget what side of the road they drive on, so you forget which way to look when you cross the street
24. 3 countries in 1 day? easy. 6 countries in less than 30 days, done it
25. think you’re tent means privacy. If my door is zipped up then you can’t see me or talk to me
26. heavy rain on a rooftop = shower when the water is out
27. except food from strangers
28. the 5 second rule is extended to 5 minute rule. Drop your candy on the gas station ground and eat it? Yep
29. Sunday bests equals stained shirt, torn skirt, and chaco’s
30. assume clothes are clean b/c they are folded. Worn a shirt 3 times but folded it and put it back in packing cube, now it’s clean
31. are constantly thinking of blog titles and in the form of blogs
32. talking about the bathroom is normal dinner conversation
33. start referring to countries when trying to explain a period of time, not which month it was
34. use earplugs as nose plugs when the water has been out for 5 days and you can’t flush the squatty potty and your whole team has dysentery
35. can shower and use the toilet at the same time
36. heat up the water for a shower over the fire
37. use shower water to flush the toilet and brush your teeth
38. drink water out of a trashcan
39. have memorized your passport number
40. only source of light is a headlamp
41. eat every meal like it’s your last
42. realize that the only thing you’ve eaten that day is ice cream and chips
43. calories don’t count
44. are constantly gassy
45. $1 feels like a splurge
46. can’t remember the last time you’ve used a cellphone (I’ve used a cell phone a grand total of 3 times this whole year)
47. are obsessed with peanut butter
48. are on a first name basis with your teammates parents
49. get excited for slightly better than cheap shampoo
50. have eaten enough rice for a lifetime
51. get excited for instant coffee
52. say something embarrassing to your teammates assuming that no one around you speaks English but to find people staring at you and responding in English
53. eat bad/flavorless food and pretend it’s something you’ve been craving (we crave Mexican food the most!)
54. are facebook friends with at least one person from every country you’ve been to. And your FB wall has posts in other languages
55. always thinking of a new sermon or something to share in case your contact asks you to speak in front of a large group last minute
56. know your teammates wardrobe, even down to their underwear and socks
57. an 18 hour bus ride is now no problem
U SQUAD! U KNOW!
