Whoa. Today is our last day in Chichicastenango before we head to Antigua for The Awakening, a conference that we’re having with a Gap Year squad (the version of the Race that’s for 18-22 year olds).
I’m getting sentimental. I even took a picture of the sweet little street dog that follows us around every day.
SHE’S SO CUTE.
With all the retrospection and sentimentality that comes with the ADDED realization that I am soon going to be back in America here in roughly 40ish days, I wanted to share 10 things about me that may have changed in the last 10 months.
Sometimes change is deep and retrospective.
These, though, are realizations I’ve had that have left me laughing. Or crying inside. Or both.
1. My standard of cleanliness
I don’t know if I’ll ever approach a toilet the same way. My cleanliness standard now consists of “on a scale of ‘hover’ to ‘I would touch my bare bottom to that toilet seat’, how clean is this toilet?”
And food? Forget the 10-second rule. I doubt that any food will ever be “off limits” due to it being on the floor, on your lap, etc…
(Edit: My former teammate, Liz, read this and reminded me of a funny story about food and limits. I gave myself food poisoning in El Salvador because I left a burrito in my purse overnight, wrapped in tin foil. The next day, I figured that it’d be fine because the house got cold at night. Aaaand I ate it without a second thought. Well, IT WASN’T FINE. Have you ever done sports ministry, terrified of your own bowels at the mercy of a bad burrito? I do not recommend.)
On a personal scale, well, I’ve showered 3 times thus far this month. Before you judge me, let me remind you that it’s rainy (COLD) season in Guatemala and I’m tenting in a concrete compound/open house. I have baby-wiped or done 10-second rinses, but for full-on, stand-under-the-water, condition-my-hair-and everything-showers,I think it’s been 3.
Although…I kind of doubt I would’ve done it after I gave it a second chance, honestly.
I strategically splashed water on myself and shaved the other day and I literally spent the rest of the morning curled up in the blanket I had to buy myself because this wimpy Alaskan girl needed to amp up her body heat. Wet = Cold and Cold = useless Brittni. THUS, 3 showers, friends. 3 showers.
2. My wardrobe
So I wear the same outfit 4 times a week, what’s the big deal?
But seriously, if I EVER try to wear my mom capris (the black ones I’m wearing in literally every picture) please just light me on fire then and there. They’re so wonderful for the Race, but they do kill a piece of my soul every time I put them on.
I’m at this point where one of my first priorities upon reaching America is to find my black skinny jeans. And promptly put on a cardigan, scarf, and my rain boots.
I also carry socks around in my day pack. Because if there’s one thing that I can count on, it’s that I’ll get cold sitting in a café or if the temperature drops below 70 degrees.
PS. BUT I’m not throwing away my tie-dyes. Noooooope.
P.P.S. Are chokers “in” in Alaska? If they’re not, THEY WILL BE.
3. My Resume
I was updating my resume because HELLO non-missionary life is coming at me at 90 miles per hour. And I was sitting there, trying to think of how to put the Race on my resume. I mean, I have a lot of new skills that could come in handy at any time.
Need me to haul bricks for 6 hours a day? Heck yes. I’m your girl.
Do you have a bunch of non-English-speaking-children you need entertained? Look no further. I even know cool hip-hop dances to go with some worship jams.
I can bike while holding a hoe, shovel, and pick-axe.
I’ve been in front of crowds to speak too many times to count.
I settled for “working on a team, cross-culture communication, flexibility and problem-solving in changing and new situations, adapting quickly to changing environments, and public speaking” –LOL.
4. My Budget
On the plus side, PRAISE for not living off of less than $5 a day for food (don’t worry, this was totally fine, 100% of the time)
On the negative side, I have noticed myself balking at a meal that’s over $10. I feel like adjusting to paying for my usual meal at my favorite Chinese restaurant will make me really miss Asia. #streetnoodles
On a more serious note, it’s been a very interesting year not receiving an income. I haven’t not had a job since, like, my sophomore year of college. It’s been freeing not waiting for paychecks and knowing I’m provided for. It’s made “splurges,” big or small, special and it has really shown me how blessed I am to have my supporters. It’s also given me confidence that God will provide in the next season, too.
5. My language
Akwaaba.
Look at those oberonis.
Are you getting wifi today?
Same same. (or the botched Spanish version: mismo mismo)
____ But it’s fine.
My personal creation: s(h)ituation. (see earlier burrito story)
I’m calling Carl(os)!
nonverbal:
Throw up the peace sign. Anytime. Translates to: “all good in the hood,” “I know I’m being screwed but whatever,” or “I’ll probs cry about this later”…in some instances, it may also replace the middle finger.
Nepali/Indian head wobble. Translates to: “maybe??” I still catch myself doing this when I’m being indecisive. It’s great.
Additionally, some people on my squad have this horrible (actually hilarious) habit of mis-pronouncing words in a deeeep southern accent, and unfortunately it’s rubbed off even on me. I can’t help it—at some point it became funny to say “Mercy Bow-Coop” instead of “Merci beaucoup” to each other, or pronounce the “h” in hola. Don’t worry-I don’t do it in front of/while speaking with locals. That’d be messed up.
Explaining “but it’s fine”: I don’t know if this is a new lingo “thing” now or not, but I know that “but it’s fine” is definitely a lingo staple on my squad. It’s kind of like saying, “I know this isn’t fine, but I’m going to say it is until something can be done.”
Example: “I had diarrhea the entire month of November, but it’s fine.”
Explaining “I’m calling Carl(os)!”: This term started on one team but spread as team changes mixed us all up. Carl (or in Central America, Carlos) is the driver of the “wa-mbulance.” As in, a baby crying, “waaa.” So, in my experience, if you’re whining, a teammate has every right to say, “I’m calling Carl on you.” Or “ I’m calling the wambulance.” This may or may not be accompanied by Jenna Watson playing the Harry Potter theme song on the world’s tiniest violin for you.
Example:
Me: I’m so tired.
Jenna Watson: *miming playing a tiny violin with her thumb and first finger* “Waaa waa wa wa, WAH WAHHH, WAHH.” (Harry Potter theme, in “wa’s”). Want me to call Carl?
6. My Music
I think I’ve listened to more One Direction over the last year than I have in my entire life, combined. No regrets, though. I didn’t know what I was missing.
I love The Chainsmokers. I just wanna dance. #noshame
I’ve developed more of a tolerance for long worship songs, though (We all have that teammate who just wants to listen to worship music and journal for the entirety of team time).
You know what hasn’t changed? Taylor Swift’s relevance in any and every situation. She’s my packing day ritual, and I’m pretty sure Esther still carries that tradition on, too.
7. My Sense of Time
Time on the Race is kinda weird. In my mind, I lump together and link experiences from Nepal to experiences here in Guatemala. But then I remember that Nepal was 6 MONTHS AGO. Or that it’s been 2 months already since leaving Asia, but I can remember Patong, Thailand perfectly and remember where I want to get a tattoo next time I’m in Chiang Mai. It’s strange to think about the experiences from 10 countries and 10 months as “one” experience. In the not-so-distant future, I’ll hit a year from landing in the Ivory Coast while still containing it, mentally, within an experience that will have only been over for a couple months.
Does that make sense?
It’s weird.
Also, 8 times out of 10 I legitimately don’t know what day of the week it is. Not because I’m not paying attention, but because sometimes ministry days run together until off-day, and then it resets my internal calendar.
8. My Relationship with Wifi
When we flew through LA and I took my phone off of “airplane mode” that it’d been in for 7 months, it felt super weird to just…HAVE…internet. Like, available…whenever I wanted (for a couple hours). Cell service, or more accurately, being reachable (outside of those within 10 feet of me) at any time of day might take some getting used to. “Getting wifi” (buying a coffee in a coffee shop and hoping their wifi works) is so normal now that having cellular data seems excessive—although I’ll really enjoy opening SnapChats that aren’t a month old.
9. Other Random Appearance-Enhancing Skills
This is random, but I think I’ve actually learned more about makeup while on the Race than I did in college. Or at least, I’ve learned as much as I learned while living in Europe. I think it’s because the squad ratio is something like 41 girls to 5 guys. So, when something fun is going on and the girls want to get dressed up and pretty for a nice dinner out, a nice photo sesh, debrief, etc, the makeup is rustled up out of bags. Esther has taught me about eyeliner and lipstick, Meagan taught me about eyeshadow, I’m now painting my nails (so I stop biting them!)…who would’ve thought acceptable makeup application would have been an outcome of this year?
Example: I now know that the Kyle lip kit things are a big deal and a it’s a Bigger Deal to find them cheap. That’s something. And I know that the Naked 8 palettes are NOT a thing, sorry Asia/Central America.
Before the Race, I had never had my eyebrows threaded. I didn’t do anything with them, actually. But I tagged along with friends who DO care and now, thanks to cheap, wonderful eyebrow threading experiences in Asia, I kind of know what my eyebrows look like when they are “on fleek,” as the kids say these days. I probably won’t care enough to keep it up/seek it out in Alaska, but it’s nice to know what they should look like if I do.
My hair? Another story. Out of control. Multi-colored. 8-dimensional.
10. I’m Now An Introvert (Shout-Out To Community Living)
LOLLLL
Just kidding!
I’m surrounded by people 99% of the time and I’m not mad about it. While I’ve had teammates that zip themselves into their tent for a “me day,” I still find myself saying, “Can I sit here? You don’t have to talk to me. Just let me sit by you. Please.”
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever “needed” a day by myself. For introverts, the Race might be pretty rough, but I don’t even know what I’ll do when I’m home and realize I have to go somewhere by myself. #panic
Although, I think I can better appreciate “alone time” and a quiet room now. And I’ve noticed that during all-squad activities, I do become magically selectively-introverted.
I’m also fairly certain that living in community has made me *slightly* more organized. I only have 4 packing cubes to look in if I think I’ve lost something.
Although, I still manage to sprawl. I once said, “What am I going to DO with a room all to myself at home!?” to which Hannah said, “Easy, I know exactly what you’ll do–” and mimed a small explosion with her hands. And Liz and Morgan agreed. WHATEVER HANNAH. If it’s not my organization that’s improved, it’s definitely my ability to live more minimally.
At any rate, I can hardly imagine being the ONLY PERSON in a vehicle. I’ll probably just put my big pack in the passenger seat or drive with something (or someone?) in my lap to feel a little more normal.
Funny side story: A friend texted me recently sharing her anxiety about shared living spaces and pooping. I literally laughed out loud. I don’t know if I’ll ever be fazed again by shared bathroom experiences. Not after waking up to a certain male teammate’s peeing farts every day for a month.
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I look back at the last 10 months with a lot of laughter and definitely an ever-changing perspective. But I look forward to Month 11 with a whole lot of hope and excitement!
