Can You Believe We Only Have One Third Of This Thing Left?

 

  I can’t hardly comprehend that all we have left is one third of the year. Knowing we have three months left is crazy. Back in January it didn’t feel like this moment would ever come. Now it is here and as I’ve done with the other notable time markers this year I’m going to also take note of some of the things I’ve learned in this past few months.

 

Who knew Africa would be cool and feel good compared to Asia?

 

In Africa you will eat tons of rice, beans, potatoes, greens, bananas, and pineapples. 

 

You will not eat much meat and you will crave it more than candy.

 

By month 6 you are a pro at finding three places. 1)where you can get internet cheap and fast(ish) 2)where you can buy a coke or some type of soda. 3)where you can find any American food either a grocery or a restaurant. 

 

By month 7 you are just always tired no matter how much you sleep.

 

African people are very welcoming and hospitable.

 

There are two food groups they believe in in Africa, carbs and carbonation.

 

In Uganda everybody has a guestbook for you to sign. I mean everyone, the school you visit, the church you preach in, the person who is feeding you lunch, everyone.

 

A myth that many racers think before heading into Africa, you will not eat much at all. This is actually a lie; you will eat more food in Africa than you’ve eaten in your whole life. The people love to feed us and we are blessed by them and we are also never hungry.

 

You can put up five tents in one not so huge bedroom. All you need is some rope, clothes pins, and some mad MacGyver skills.

 

The longer you are on the race the less stuff you feel like you need.

 

If you are on a team of musical people every time you travel you will hate all the instruments your team carries and someone will probably threaten to set them all on fire at least once every travel day.

 

After 8 months of never having your own room at night when you do sleep alone in a room it’s weird and uncomfortable.

 

However, when you get to camp out in your tent its fantastic because you have your own space, but you know just outside your tent is everyone else.

 

White water rafting on the Nile is a crazy insane experience even if you take the boat that doesn’t want to flip over.

 

A sandwich with lots of meat, veggies, and cheese, is a beautiful thing after two months in Africa.

 

We may not be able to speak a person’s language but smiles go a long way.

 

Traditional village dancing takes a lot more than I’ve got in me, but I try and it is kind of funny.