Today was just another day in the life of a world racer in Africa but thinking back on all that has happened I am amazed that I am able to go to bed joyful, ironic since my last blog was titled waking up miserable.
5am-wake up to multiple mosquitos stuck in my net and itchy legs
6-still can’t fall back asleep because the heat is already too intense
8-bread and jelly for the 30th day in a row
9-head into the heat to pull out every BLADE OF GRASS from a large un-shaded field
10-realize that I have only made it down one of the 100’s of rows
11- go to take a drink of my water and realize it is burning hot
11:30-look down and realize my IPod has overheated, won’t turn on and has probably gone to IPod heaven
12-head to lunch and see that we are covered from head to toe in dirt and sweat
12:10-realize we have NO water to wash ourselves and attempt to get water from the small drip off the roof
12:15-jump in the deflated kitty pool filled with dirty rain water to wash ourselves off
12:30-a semi-truck backs up and lands on top of the septic tank, making a 5-foot hole in the ground and damaging the tank
1:00-realize we may or may not run out of drinking water and 2 out of our 3 emergency water filters have broken since they probably shouldn’t be used to filter mass amounts of water for 20 people
2:00-head out to chip paint off the floor of a 100+ degree room with turpentine
3:00-realize we still have 2 more hours in a sauna chiping paint
4:00-someone raises the question, “who thought going on this race was a good idea?” we all silently nod in agreement and laugh
5:00-FINALLY head in for dinner
6:00-decide a Coke Light and chocolate bar is a must so we take peoples orders and take the trek to the local market
6:30-buy out the entire Coke Light supply at the small shop
7:00-come back and realize we still have no water for showers
8-realize our only toilet that services 20 people is so plugged up that we are no longer able to use it or enter the bathroom
8:30-try to turn on my IPod again and there is still no sign of life which stinks since it is my only source of “alone” time and there are no Mac stores in all of Africa
8:45-have my team pray over the resurrection of my Ipod, along with Brits Ipod and headphones, Shannon and Jess’s computer and Kat’s computer charger
10:00-lay down in bed and realize it is still way too hot and decide to blog about our day
10:20-read the above list to the other girls in my room and laugh uncontrollably because we all managed to survive the day and not just survive but go to bed with joy
11:00pm-ready to tackle that field filled with blades of grass again tomorrow!
The picture really doesn't do our dirtiness justice
The truck on top of our septic tank
Attempting to push the truck out of the 5 foot hole…? It didn't work.
Trying to wash our hands with the small drip from the roof and the puddle
Our only surviving water filter, the only catch is that it only works when we actually have water..
All of our empty water bottles
