This started out as a facebook conversation to a future racer/sorority sister of mine who just recently started asking me more questions about the race. I told her typical things like what to bring, what to expect, etc., then it turned into a more spiritual conversation. She asked how she could be preparing her heart spiritually & what has impacted me the most. The more I wrote, the more I realized I needed to share this with everyone! This will be a three part blog: one with my revised packing list, one with how to prepare spiritually for the race, & one explaining different racers spiritual journey's while on the race.
Revised Packing List:
One of the first things that I missed on the race was a sweatshirt.
They tell you at camp & on other racers blogs to pack clothes that you would normally wear at home. Do not buy out REI, you will not be comfortable. I had planned to have a rain jacket, as well as another fleece type jacket. My route was not going to cold countries, so I did not think I would be needing something to keep me warm. Boy was I wrong!! Yes Mozambique was burning up, but I definitely missed a sweatshirt in the mountains of Swaziland, as well as here in Capetown, South Africa. It is the 50's most nights here, with the breeze from the beach (which I might add, is less than a mile from where we are staying!). Regardless of where we were, it was my nature to snuggle up every night at home to a huge sweatshirt & scrubs (which I did bring, thank the Lord!). So from this, one of the first things I gave away to another teammate was my fleece (sorry mom!) I bought the first sweatshirt I could find as a birthday present at Billabong in Izulwini, Swaziland. Ever since then, I've loved it! I wear it almost everyday, & feel so at home.
The next thing I would suggest bringing would be jeans.
Its only month three, my jeans already have holes in them, & I had to throw them away. I will definitely be shopping for more. So if you are the type that loves to wear jeans (I wore them everyday at home), you WILL wear them, all the time.
Some things I look for everywhere at a markets now are tank-tops.
I've never been a tank top girl, probably because of my huge arms I acquired from Division 1 soccer, but something about them always turned me off. I was always a t-shirt loving, soccer short wearing girl. When other racers suggested bringing tanks in their blogs, I said, "Nope, no way!" Well here ya go, I was wrong again. I LOVE tank tops now. They are so nice to just throw on, & I can't get enough of them. There are a lot of days where its burning up, as well as many, many days we spend out in the sunshine. We've been working on our tans quite a bit, & tank tops are the way to go. This last month (read blog A Month Of Beauty, Sickness, Rest,) I was learning how to let others serve me. Surprisingly, I acquired three new tank tops!! He he =) Granted, it was my birthday & my teammate Desirae bought me one, another teammate Brittany gave me hers, & a squad leader gave one of hers away. Thank you Lord! The one thing I was beginning to enjoy, I received more favor than I imagined!
The most important thing for me is an external hard drive.
One thing world racers tend to do is take lots of pictures & videos. I came on the race with a brand new computer…. its month three…. & I'm almost completely full on my computer hard drive. I also have acquired about 50 movies & 2,000 songs on my computer from other racers :). So one thing I would suggest getting that I did not bring would be an external (preferably a terabyte!).
Bring a hammock.
Some of my teammates would suggest just a straight eno hammock, but I got mine off of Amazon for around $40 & it has a BUG NET ATTACHED TO IT! It was probably my best purchase for the race. While everyone else was getting eaten alive by bugs, I've been able to sleep outside any night it doesn't rain. I LOVE IT. But one thing to caution you on, GET ENO STRAPS for any hammock that you get. They are the best, they hold up to 400 lbs., and you & your teammates can enjoy the hammock together.
I'm really glad I packed an REI multi purpose towel AND my robe.
Before the race, one of my best friends, Kristin, got married. When we were getting ready for the wedding, she had bought us all pink robes with our initials on them. I told her right then & there — I'm bringing this on the race!! Haha I know its cheesy having a bright pink robe, but I love it! Its small, short, packs lights, & I love hoping out of the shower and being clothed. I use a smaller REI towel to dry my hair. Both are really easy to pack. I would not suggest using just the REI towel. Though they seem to pack light & may be efficient, I have had so many girls tell me they are glad they brought a regular towel.
If you are a tech nerd like me, bring international adaptors.
I am so thankful for my teammate Julian who lent me his adaptor for my apple products. Supposedly, there is a pack that apple provides for complete international traveling. It has adaptors for every plug around the world. If you own a macbook, GET IT. You will not regret it. (If you don't own a mac, buy a converter, so that any U.S. plug you will have can be converted to an international plug.) I love my macbook pro!! Don't ever let anyone tell you its too heavy. I've used ethernet cords in multiple internet cafe's to be able to get on the internet on my computer instead of the huge 30 year old computers they have there. Some of my teammates have the macbook airs — WORD OF CAUTION Yes, they are light, but they do not have the capability to use an ethernet cord. I am so thankful mine does!!
Bring covers for your technology!
I am so thankful for my Life Proof cover for my iPhone (makes it completely waterproof – best thing everrrr!). I would suggest getting a key cover for your macbook & a waterproof cover for an iPad (I'm getting one as soon as I find one here in South Africa). I brought a lot of technology with me because I enjoy it. I make videos every month, & though some think its too much, I love it. I use my Macbook, iPad, iPhone, & Go PRO on a daily basis, multiple times a day. I LOVE THEM. (One thing to caution you — do not get attached to your technology. There have been people that have gotten things stolen, which is one reason I brought so many different things. My team has not had any thefts yet, Praise Jesus!) Side note: bring a waterproof camera/video camera. You will not regret it.
You can never have enough crystal light packets.
You will drink water everyday on the race. You have the option to buy coffee & tea with your personal money (or other sodas), but you will get tired of water. I would suggest stocking up on crystal light packets because they DO NOT sell them overseas. I love my tea as well, so if you've got a good brand of tea, bring some of that as well. The brands here are decent, but not the greatest with our budget.
I would suggest bringing a butterfly chair.
I do not have one, don't know if I will have enough in my budget for one, but man o man they are amazing. I cannot count the amount of times on a daily basis that we go without chairs, sitting on concrete ground for worship service. Your tail bone tends to get a little sore, as well as the muscles in your back. I tried one of my squad leaders butterfly chairs & they are amazinnnggg!! I believe they bought them at REI.. they aren't the typical "butterfly chairs" you would think of. They are very small, square, & have two feet that touch the ground. Your body weight balances it out, and you two feet become two more feet for the chair– if that makes any sense!
I love my Croc Flip Flops.
I've worn them everyday, all day. I rarely wear my tennis shoes (only to work out), & occasionally wear my keens (which is great for hiking & jumping off waterfalls — get some!! the real ones!!) So I would suggest a nice flip flop if you wear those on a daily basis. Make sure you try them out, & wear them a ton at home to test for blisters & such. I have not gotten any from mine — they are amazing!! (And cute!)
Girls, bring nail polish & nail polish remover.
This is one thing that we ALL love that makes us feel like girls every now & then. We love painting our nails. I usually only paint my toe nails every now & then, but its nice to feel like a woman from time to time. (Side note: we also used nail polish in Swaziland for a girls night we had with the orphans. They LOVED getting their toes painted. I wouldn't suggest sharing any other hygiene products with them (they may have fungus in their hair, or lice… so nail polish is your best bet!)
Bring RAIN COVERS.
I am so thankful for my rain jacket — some people either forgot, or just didn't bring them. Get one, I don't care how much it costs… you need one. Also, I have a rain cover for my day pack (I think I bought at Dicks Sporting Goods) that covers the size of a school daypack. I've used it quite often for when I am carrying my technology with me on trips into town for the internet. My airporter is also somewhat waterproof, which is amazing! Get covers to keep your stuff dry!!
Lastly, I brought a two-piece bathing suit.
Almost every girl here has brought a one piece. I personally can't stand them, therefore I brought a two-piece & one of my mom's coverups (I think its polo brand, tennis dress looking coverup). Its the material of a bathing suit, & I love it! I've worn it on hikes down to the waterfall, & even swimming in the ocean. I am completely covered, as AIM rules states we cannot show our stomachs. This is just my personal opinion, so get something comfortable for you. Most of the time, you also have to wear shorts with your bathing suit to cover your legs, to stay modest for the culture you will be engulfed in. However, I do not have to because the tops of my legs are covered from my dress=)
Finally——–IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING YOU WILL FIND IT OVERSEAS!!
I hope this helps! These are just my experiences, and my personal opinions, everyone is different!! Please comment if you have any questions or details as to where I got everything. I bought mostly everything on my original packing list from Amazon (get the student account & its cheaper & free shipping).
Read ahead to next blog, (Part 2: Spiritually Preparing for the World Race)
