65 WR things after 150(ish) days on the race
Note: some of these things I have brought. Some I didn’t, and wished I had. Something’s are my thoughts, other things are just random.
1. Bring a watch
2. Spare nalgene lids (they break)
3. Fluffy socks if you like them and want to have warm fluffy feet on cold days/nights. Many people have been jealous of mine.
4. A good raincoat that actually doesn’t get soaked through on the first downpour. -_-
5. An excessive amount of underwear (can never have too much)
6. Compression socks for long travel days (32 hours on a bus? No worries, I’ve got compression socks so my feet my feet and ankles don’t explode.)
7. If you like your stuffed animal you cuddle with at home (*cough* like me *cough*) bring it or one that you don’t mind getting dirty and potentially lost. I bought this little donkey while in Greece. He’s adorable. His name is Aegeus, which is Greek for “protector”.
8. If you don’t journal you should. Bring a journal.
9. This also includes pens and pencils that you like to use. Don’t forget a pencil sharpener!
10. If you like drawing or doodling, bring a notebook of blank paper. I’ve enjoyed having one.
11. Coloring books. Not just for kids! It’s super fun and relaxing way to spend a long layover or in downtime when you have nothing else to do.
12. Now with both 10 and 11, make sure you bring colored pencils, markers, etc, whatever flies your kite.
13. A sheet that’s fitted to your sleeping mat. My teammate did that and it’s absolutely genius.
14. Make a sleeping bag liner out of a bed sheet. Easy and cheaper than buying one.
15. Bring a pillow case for your travel pillow. That way you can wash it and have a clean surface to sleep on.
16. Extra headphones you love. I started with 3 pairs… I now have one. But… I also gave my other two pairs away so…that’s on me.
17. Expect the worst, pray for the best. I’ve always been pleasantly surprised when I’ve had this mindset! My idea of a hostel before the race was like a military camp hospital (giant tent included), with cots lined down the walls and center with people running around in everywhere in a chaotic/crisis type situation. Don’t ask me why I thought that, cause I don’t know. But, all that to say I’ve loved every hostel I’ve been in so much!
18. A pocket knife or three. I’ve used my knife so many times on the race for various reasons. Preparing dinner, cutting boxes, etc. I also brought a multi-tool and that’s been great too. Bring a sharpener too.
19. Waterproof sacks to carry things in you don’t want getting wet. For instance, clothes, Bible, journals, books or whatever.
20. If you like to wear certain thing at home, you’ll want to wear it on the race. Bring one of your favorite shirts that’s easily replaced. Or if you like wearing beanies. I wear mine when I can, but usually it’s too hot. But even then…
21. Sunglasses.
22. Case or fabric cover for glasses so they don’t get scratched.
23. If you have glasses in general. Bring a hard cover case for them. Maybe a spare pair of glasses just in case. Make sure you bring a case for those as well. And bring your prescription too.
24. One can never have too many carabiners. I wish I had more. It’s nice for attaching things to your pack, or locking zippers in a casual way that’s not as obvious as locks.
25. A speaker to connect to laptops, iPods, or cell phones for music listening, movie watching purposes with your team and squad. Dance parties are a thing.
25. If you like reading (especially real physical books like me), bring one book you love, or one to trade out later with a squad mate or a hostel library. I did not bring one and wish I had. One of my squad mates bought a favorite book of mine a dropped it when they finished it. Guess who has it now? Can you guess what book it is?
26. Kindle or iBook app. I’ve read over 10 books so far…
27. Download books, movies, etc when you have good wifi, or before you leave. It’ll save you a lot of heartache in the end. I currently have 6 books I haven’t read already downloaded for those long bus/plane rides. Or if I don’t know when I’ll be getting internet again.
28. External hard drive. For all your pictures, friends pictures, movies, etc. make sure it’s comparable and can be used with both Mac and PC. I didn’t bring one, but now I have over 3,000 pictures on my phones SD card… If it gets stolen or lost I’m i. Big trouble.
29. Treat yourself. Sometimes you really do need that cone of ice cream, or box of pizza, or 3 doughnuts, or liter of soda, or bar of chocolate. Priorities. And you never know when they’ll be available again.
30. I would suggest bringing an unused Bible. That way, if you like writing in it, you’ll have a Bible filled with things you learned from the race. Which would be pretty rad.
31. Stock up on music. Listening to the same stuff over and over and over.. Well it can get boring.
32. Listen to podcasts!
33. Try new things! Food, clothing, hair styles.
34. Make lasting memories! This is where a journal comes in handy to help you remember all the fun times, not so fun, and thoughts that go through your head. We won’t mention how many journals I have…6…
35. Spare batteries for headlamp.
36. Shower when you can, you never may know when your next one will be. Especially on or before travel days. And especially if the water is working. Bucket showers are okay.. But…
37. Learn something new!
38. Bring a good hairbrush if you’re into brushing your hair and all that jazz.
39. If you like to wear makeup everyday, you probably will want to wear it everyday on the race too.
40. A deck of cards. Even if you’re not the biggest card game fan like me. I like shuffling okay?
41. Be crazy, get a dreadlock or two, or a whole head. Name them if there’s only a couple. Mine are named Fredrick and Harold.
42. Despite popular opinion, Chacos aren’t necessary. I personally prefer barefoot or flip flops. Yes some days I choose my Chacos. But if you don’t have calluses built up to the shoe, they’ll hurt your feet if you wear them for extended periods of time. For instance when I went to Victoria Falls for 4 days, they were the only shoes I brought…ow.
43. Duct tape. I’ve wanted it so many times.
44. Some type of stain remover designed for travel.
45. Also, don’t expect your white clothes to remain white. Hand washing can only do so much.
46. Travel size pictionary, Phase 10, or any other card games.
47. Gather memories by collecting patches, or bracelet, or rings, or stickers, or something else! One of my teammates brought thread to make the colors of each countries flag in bracelets or anklets.
48. Choose. You choose your mood wether you believe it or not. Choose to be happy, choose to seek joy, choose to love your team and others no matter the circumstance. Speak life!
49. Laugh and dance often! Dance parties are not overrated. Even if there’s no music. Dancing on a mountain top in Lesotho while looking down into the valley below watching the sunset? I think yes.
50. Be goofy, cause not being goofy or not being yourself is no fun.
51. Embrace the unknown. Grow in it.
52. Hand sanitizer.
53. Rubik’s cube. Challenge yourself.
54. An adapter with multiple ports to charge items. I bought one at Target that has 4 different plug ins. Also a power strip is a good idea.
55. TOILET PAPER. Always have some on hand. A lot of pubic restrooms, besides being pretty gross, have no TP. Sometime you have to pay to use the facilities as well. Be wary though, sometimes they’re just charging you cause you’re a gullible foreigner. If locals aren’t paying.. Why should you? Also, going outside is a thing. I’ve gone outside a lot in my lifetime before the race (sometimes living on a farm does that to you). But so far I think I’ve gone more outside in the race than in my entire lifetime all together. Mind you, it’s only month 6 of the race for me, still have 5 more months to go.
56. Baby wipes aren’t just for babies. For those times when you decided that showering wasn’t worth it before your travel day. They come in handy. Or for TP as well. Also when you decide to cut your leg open on a Zimbabwian public mini bus and its bleeding. Not only cleans you up, but helps you not get some sickness from the unknown germs in that bus.
57. After praying for rain in Africa, take time to play in it. Run in it. Laugh in it. Dance in it. Praise Jesus in it.
58. Learn as much as you can. About the people, culture, language, all of it!
59. Say hi to your family when you can. That’s also vice versa, family and friends, say hi or send an email, message, Facebook wall posts, and let your racer know you’re thinking of them and missing them even when they don’t have wifi to talk with you at that moment, or week, or month.
60. Make friends. Including kids and chameleons.
61. Take selfies, cause it’s fun.
62. Put flowers in your hair.
63. Bring a little reminder of home. Mine is a lego Gandalf keychain my brothers got me.
64. Do something crazy.
65. This year is gonna change your life in more ways than one. Expect change. Let yourself be wrecked for the ordinary, and don’t settle for anything less than Jesus.
Cheers!
