Save it for Africa. This was a phrase I must admit was said numerous times before we arrived here in regards to bug spray, sunscreen, malaria meds, dietary supplements, long skirts, baby wipes, vitamins, dry shampoo and a number of things you would need in the blazing hot bush of Africa. Although we were in the bush for some of the time, the post winter weather turned out to be a crisp wind that kept you cool, sometimes even cold. The fact that we were here when it snowed in Johannesburg, which completely shut down the city, should give you a rough idea that even our bush experience was NOT what you expect African weather to be like.
These were the monumental three months of the race. The ones some people were looking forward to, and others (like myself) were dreading. And yet here we stand, the day before we embark for Europe with all our sunscreen, bug spray, baby wipes and dry shampoo realizing that all this would have been way more useful in India and Nepal… I can’t explain how strange it feels to be leaving. I remember packing for Australia in Cambodia, setting aside A LOT to save for Africa. I remember flying back to Asia, saving things for Africa. I wanted to get rid of some skirts, but my teammates assured me I would want to use them in Africa.
And now as I pack, I have to ask myself, what am I saving it for?
It reminds me of all the things I want to say, but haven’t said. Of all the things I want to do, but haven’t done. I’ll save it till tomorrow, till next week, till next month, till next year. But who knows who I will be then? Who knows if I will remember or it will be useful? Honestly who knows if I’ll even be?
It’s a joke now, among our entire team. When someone starts to pack something that seems so unnecessary or starts to put off a task that can be done now, we ask, “So are you saving it for Africa?�
