Dear current and future World Racers,
I just thought I’d post a little piece of advice after being
on the Race for almost 6 months now.
Last month while I was in Mwanza, Tanzania my recently purchased iPod
Touch was stolen right out of my backpack.
I THOUGHT that my backpack was locked up secure enough, but apparently
it wasn’t. I had a carabiner on the
side strap of my backpack, and I had all of the loops connected to my pocket zippers
hooked to the carabiner. This only gave
way for the front pocket to be opened just a little. I could barely fit my small hand in there
with a lot of difficulty.
Me and 2 of my teammates left a hotel lobby after having
some coffee and getting some wi-fi and headed for “home� a little later than
normal. It was already dark
outside. We normally try to make it back
BEFORE dark, but we ended up leaving late that evening. I put my iPod in the front pocked for easy
access for me to grab in case I wanted in on the ride home. I’m not sure when exactly it was stolen –
waiting at the dala dala stop, getting on or while I was on the ride home, but
nonetheless, when I got back to the house I found my front pocked barely open
and my iPod Touch nowhere to be found.
All of that to say, current and future Racers, keep your
guard up and your valuables in an inside, inaccessible pocket. After my experience I’d say that key rings
are a better option than carabiners to lock your zipper pockets. In crowded places and in the evening it’s a
better bet to keep your things in front of you instead of behind, that way you can have your hands and your eyes
on your belongings and decrease your chances of getting things stolen. People are much bolder at night than in the daytime as well. Keep your eyes open and watch out for one another!
Your fellow Racer,
Jessica
“For the Word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything He does.”
Psalm 33:4
