Andi Moore from our January 2013 O Squad knows what it means to make the most of an adventurous year on the Race. In this blog she shares her tips on making friends during the Race's unpredictable travel days. Travel on a bus, train, plane, boat, donkey, etc…can last for four hours or four days. Here are some ways you can spread the love and joy you have with those around you while you travel.
1. Get Their Attention:
- Introduce yourself
- Say "Hello!" in their language
- Ask where they are from
- Coo at a baby
- Ask to hold said baby
- Wink at a child
- Wink at a child
- ​Ask to hold their pet chicken
My new friend Faith, a hippie Quaker from Pennsylvania,
and her green chicken Picante.
2. Be courteous:
- stand up and offer them your seat.
- help them put their belongings on the overhead rack.
- ​help them take down their belongings from the overhead rack.
- ​buy food or drink from a traveling vendor and give it to a random person.
- ​Snuggle with a fellow traveler (this can be iffy so be careful!)
3. Make memories:
- Ask to take a photo with them.
- Try to get a really sweet photo bomb and then show them.
- Show them photos of your family.
- Ask to see photos of their family.
- Ask to take their photo.
4. Offer to share:
- some chips or cookies you brought.
- your pillow so they can rest.
- your music, you have one headphone and they have one (so it's kinda romantic)
5. Be OK with overcrowding. Smile, and laugh, alot!
The whole idea is to use your travel day to your advantage. Try not to sleep the whole time- there are more people to meet, places to see, and experiences to be had. Live life abundantly!
