Dear Future World Racers,
I am so excited that God has called you on this journey. I will soon be going into my 8th month on the race. The World Race is in no way easy, in fact this is the hardest and most difficult journey of my life, but this is right where I am supposed to be. I am not the same girl once was. I clearly remember the moment I was called to the race and the application process. I remember clearly the fear I had about raising $14,300. That was a huge amount of money, but you know what God does provide. I was one of the few to be fully funded before I left. My top 4 financial supporters were my grandparents, my church, an anonymous person, and a guy I worked at a summer camp with who paid his own tuition at a school with a $32,000 tuition bill. God will use any one to help you out. Right now I would like to help you out as much as I can when it comes to the dreaded packing. I think I know what I am doing now when I pack. Oh by the way since my word document says I have 9 pages I am breaking this up into 3 parts.
Since I am a female thisfirst part is aimed mostly at other females because it is clothing, but a married couple on my squad have a great list for both guys and girls (Josh and Bri Rene).
Let me tell you my route and what the weather was like for me first. This may help. Since I am currently in month 7 I can’t tell you what the weather is like in my last 4 countries, but I will try to remember to fill them in as I finish them.
October- Guatemala. The temperature fluctuated a lot. It was almost hot during the day, but very chilly at night. I lived in my jeans, socks, and fleece.
November- Nicaragua. It was so hot out. I never wore my jeans or my fleece and most of my time was wearing shorts and a tank top.
December- Costa Rica. It was very VERY cold where I was. We were in the mountains and I lived in many layers of clothing. The wind is what made it so cold.
January- Philippines. We were told it would be so hot out, but it was the perfect temperature all the time.
February- Thailand. It was hot and humid. We were in a very touristy area and our ministry contact told us to look like tourists when we went out into the bars so we could wear whatever, but within reason.
March- Malaysia. It rained all but 3 days that we were there. It was sometimes very hot and sometimes very mild out. This was definitely the most conservative country so far.
April- Cambodia. April is their hottest month so be prepared to sweat A LOT. Girls you have to wear bottoms that go to the knee or longer.
May- Kenya. TBA
June- Uganda. TBA
July- Tanzania. TBA
August- India. TBA. (My teammate was their last August and said it was scorching hot)
CLOTHING
This is probably one of the most difficult areas of packing so let’s tackle this first. My advice is to find light weight and breathable clothing. You are probably going to sweat a lot so I would bring colors that don’t show sweat a lot, but bring whatever you want and that you won’t get sick of quickly. AND You will buy clothes for cheap in other countries. I'll tell you what I brought and what I would have done differently.
Shorts: I brought 2 comfy mesh shorts, my hot pink Umbros, and my black basketball shorts. I dropped one of my mesh shorts because I didn’t need two and although my Umbros dry quickly they showed sweat easily (maybe I should have opted for black pair).
If I were to pack again I would bring:
2 pairs of lightweight basketball shorts. If they go to your knees all the better because most countries in Asia women don’t show above their knees.
1 pair of comfy shorts to lounge around in when you are at your place or to sleep in.
1-2 pairs of Bermuda style shorts. Let’s face it you are going to want to look a normal person every now and then. The best part you can dress them up or down.
Shirts: I brought a lot, but I also ended up dropping a lot. I brought 2 tank tops, a cami, and I think 6 t-shirts and 1 “normal” shirt. Oh and I also brought a black Columbia fleece. The truth is you are going to get sick of the tops you have. There will be squad free tables where you can switch clothes and you will buy cute or new clothes in the countries you go to for pretty cheap prices. If I could pack again I would leave my world race shirt at home because I don’t wear it that often and I don’t want to toss it, but I don’t want to keep carrying it around.
If I were to pack again I would bring:
4-5 t-shirts or the Nike quick dry style t-shirts. Opt for light weight cotton. It’s more breathable and it dries faster.
1 tank top. You can’t usually wear this out and about but it’s good to wear around your place or to sleep in. Besides you can cut up a t-shirt to make a tank to work in if it’s okay to wear tank tops where you are.
1 cami. I am so glad I threw this into my bag last minute. It’s good to wear under shirts that may be inappropriate to wear.
1 -2 normal shirts that you can easily dress up or down.
1 cardigan if you wear them a lot at home. I wish I would have brought mine. We had a few countries where is was cold and it would have been nice to have instead of my Columbia fleece. Some girls bought some while on the race and others dropped theirs. It’s your call.
1 sweatshirt. You’ll wear this on the airplanes and air conditioned buses. If it has a zipper excellent. The only thing I would change about mine is I wish it had a hood.
Skirts/dress: I brought 4 skirts and 1 dress. Ridiculous I know. I dropped one skirt that kept riding up my legs when I walked, but I haven’t worn another one very often. The skirt I wear the most is my old navy one that top folds down. I love it! The dress I brought just had little straps , but I layered a white tee under it to make it appropriate.
If I were to pack again I would bring:
1-3 skirts. Make sure they go to your knees. If you are going to bring three the third should go all the way to the ground. I haven’t needed to have one that long yet. When I do I plan on wearing a sarong or buying one in the country that I am in. Also my teammate reminded me that a long skirt is a great way to cover up unshaved legs. You will get sick of shaving or you won’t really have a lot of water to do so.
1 dress. You will want a cute dress that can be worn dressed up or down. Again make sure it comes to at least the knees. If you need to cover more leg throw on a pair of leggings.
Pants: I brought 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of leggings, old navy yoga capris, and a pair of pants that rolled up into capris. I’ve gained weight and dropped my jeans. They were heavy anyways, but they were nice to have to just feel normal and to wear the cold months. I am very glad I brought my leggings, My yoga pants I love dearly, but I really only wear them on travel days so I am about to drop them. They get hot and they don’t dry easily.
If I were to pack again I would bring:
1 pair of jeans. A little bigger size and lighter weight.
1 pair of comfy pants perhaps PJ bottoms. This is up to you. I wish I had mine for the months that we had cold temperatures, but I am pretty sure the rest of our route is pretty hot so I probably would have dropped them by now. A lot of the girls wear theirs on travel day.
1 pair of capris or you can opt for pants that roll up into capris or pants that zip off into capris or shorts. I didn’t go for the zip off kind because I don’t like them and knew I would hardly wear them.
1 pair of light weight breathable capris or pants. I have gauchos that I picked up and love them. I also picked up a pair of Aladdin pants, but they can be hot. I wear those on travel days. Some girls have the pants that you tie on around your waist. You’ll know what I mean when you see them.
Socks: I brought 7 pairs. You really only need 2 or 3. Worst case you buy more in another country.
Undies: I brought 14 including 2 pair of exificio which are great for travel days. I would do the same. I love having clean underwear to put on everyday.
Bras: I brought 2 normal bras and 5 sports bras. On of my normal bras broke and a girl on my team gave me one of her 5 that she brought. My other normal bra is one that can be worn a couple different ways so it has come in handy.
If I were to pack again I would bring:
4-5 sports bras. They get sweaty so you will want a clean one every other day.
2-3 normal bras.
Swimsuit: I brought a one piece because that is what I had from working at a summer camp. I wish I would have bought and brought a tankini. Some of my squad mates had to bathe in a river and you can get more clean by wearing a tankini.
Rain jacket: I haven’t used my a lot, but it has come in handy especially using it as a wind breaker.
Shoes: I brought my sanuks, old navy flip flops, chacos, and tennis shoes. I don’t think I would change the number I brought but rather what I brought. My Sanuks have gotten stinky, but I love wearing them as my dress shoes (along with my flip flops) and on the air planes and buses because my feet get cold. I haven’t worn my tennis shoes that often so I would have opted for a lighter less bulkier pair. Like maybe my keds or my converse. If I brought my Keds I don’t think I would have brought my Sanuks. I wore my Chacos a lot back home so I love having them. The only thing is I wish mine didn’t have the toe strap it tightens up and sometimes your feet swell. It just has been annoying to adjust a lot. Some people said they wish they would have never brought or bought theirs. As for flip flops, mine wore out quickly and so I have just bought new ones as I needed them. They will be your shower shoes as well and no one wants to shower in chacos and have wet straps all day. I think I maybe would have brought tevas or rainbows, but they cost more money. Flip flops are really cheap to buy in other countries as well.
Okay next up Part 2: Electronics, Gear, and Bed stuff.
