I thought I was low maintenance…. and then I started the World Race. In the USA I would define “luxury” as going to the spa or having a nice expensive dinner at a restaurant. Well, when our basic standards in the United States become a far-off memory, we realize that our definition of luxury has changed.
So what is luxury World Race style? Here is how I would define it:
Hot Water: And we are not just talking any hot water. Hot water coming out of a an actual shower head, with decent water pressure. That right there is the dream. Every once and a while we can heat up the water that goes into our bucket shower, but that just isn’t the same as being completely enveloped by hot water. And sometimes we may have a real shower head, but not hot water. In all honestly, all of us maybe take a real shower every 7 to 10 days. Cold bucket showers are a lot of mental and physical work. Lets just say that baby wipes have become our best friends.
Toilets: So far on the Race I have been lucky enough to have a western toilet every where I have gone. I have only had to use a squatty potty once…. and it didn’t go to well. What I wouldn’t give for a full on western toilet. But just because you have a western toilet doesn’t mean that it meets our standards. Most bathrooms don’t have toilet paper, so if you forget yours, well, you have to do the shake and dry. Some western toilets here don’t even have seats, and if they do, a lot of times they aren’t attached so you shift a lot. In the house we are currently staying in we’re only allowed to flush if we have “a long job.” I will let you figure that out. It is to conserve water, which makes perfect sense, but after awhile, our bathrooms start to smell like port-a-potties. You also can’t flush toilet paper since most sewer systems can’t handle it, which means that you have a dedicated bag for dirty tissue, thus contributing to the lovely aroma of our bathrooms.
Other Bathroom Stuff: I miss paper towels. Paper towels aren’t a thing. When you go to the bathroom at an establishment, you wash your hands and then look in vain for a place to dry your hands. When you realize that there is nothing, you just wipe your hand on your clothes, leaving you damp for a little. Showers are not a separate unit in the bathroom. Bathrooms are a fully tiled room. After showering the whole floor is wet, which makes just trying to go to the bathroom after someone has showered very interesting. I have almost gone down a couple of times.
Beds: In the USA, we take pride in how comfortable our beds are. I have been lucky to have had beds so far, but that doesn’t mean they are what we consider a good bed. Often beds here are a firm pad, which often doesn’t feel much different than the floor. Many times we inflate our sleeping pad and put it on top of our bed.
Wifi: This one just makes me laugh. Many cafes will offer free wifi, but that does not mean that it is a.) working, b.) good enough for you to actually do anything, or c.) even on.
Eating Out: In the USA we consider a cheap meal between the $10-15 mark. On the World Race we aim to stay under $2. Splurging for us is spending $5-6 USD. And often you feel a little guilty for even spending that much.
With all this being said, I have loved pushing myself and living the way much of the rest of the world lives. I know that I have further to go to actually live the way the majority of the world lives. In the grand scheme of things, what I am actually giving up is relatively limited. Being on the World Race has challenged me to evaluate what my actual basic necessities are. What we define as luxury in the USA is pure fantasy to many here. What I now define as luxury is what we would consider basic needs back home. This is only Month 2. I am sure that I will be constantly redefining luxury as my Race continues. Stay tuned….
