The World Race is always full of interesting and abnormal experiences. Each day you run into things that you simply shrug of, but when you truly think about it, you question your sanity and mentally pat yourself on the back for your ability to handle it like a champ. Now that may sound a bit dramatic, but believe me when I say that it is so very true more often than not.
One of the simple pleasures that come with the World Race is a little thing we like to call travel days. This day, or in some cases, days, vary from month to month. Sometimes its as simple as getting on a bus and crossing boarders into the next country. Other months, it involves 48+ hours of travel. You begin by once again packing all of your belongings into your big pack and your day pack. This in itself can be quite the task. Normally a “free table” appears where those over-packers finally begin to shed those unnecessary pounds of extra clothes, toiletries, and other random things that they’ve acquired. Finally, all forty-five of us are more or less ready to roll out. We pack up into the buses and open the windows to get some air flow. Some people may or may not have showered recently, and with a slim chance of air conditioning, you need all the air flow you can get! On a long travel day, you head to the airport. In some cases, its in a different country and you have to cross a border to get there. In these cases, the bus rides last for quite a few hours. You make the most of it though. During those long drives your fellow squad mates can be found swapping stories, sharing photos, or catching up on some much needed sleep. You finally arrive at the airport and make your way indoors. You’re always caught off guard by how clean it feels inside. One may try to dress in your most normal clothes for airport travel days, but as soon as you walk through those doors, all of your efforts are dashed and you are reminded of the simple fact that you are on the World Race and none of your clothes are normal anymore. Thankfully, your whole squad is in the same boat as you and you choose to laugh it off. Usually you must wait at least four hours before you can check into your flight due to the fact that you left early in case of any complications. You all make your way to a semi-out-of-the-way space and take over with with all your bags. Everyone plops onto the floor. Wifi is quickly logged into and Facebook and Instagram instantly explode with all the posts and photos that everyone has been dying to post. Very often, the wifi is limited, so a few quick FaceTime calls are made to family and friends to let them know you have indeed survived the last month. You may choose to talk a stroll about the airport to stretch your legs before you sit on your backside for longer than you would like. Others play card games or blow up their sleeping pads for a chance to get some more shut-eye time. (They basically look like homeless people.) Ice cream is also a hot commodity that you may or may not have seen in weeks so you obviously buy some. Finally, the appointed time has come for you to head over to the check-in desk. Team leaders make sure all the stragglers have found there way back from the farthest corners of the airport. Your fearless logistics leaders herd you all in the proper direction. It can be quite the task and can best be compared to herding cats. You all check in your bags, are shocked by how much more they weigh, (on the rare occasion you’re proud of your stellar packing skills), and say a prayer that they will indeed meet you at your next destination.
Once the squad is finally checked in, you head to the security check point. By this time, you’ve become an old pro. Shoes off (sometimes not, depending on the airport), laptops out, and step in line for the metal detector. You walk through without any issues (most of the time) and quickly throw on your chacos and slide your laptop back into your backpack. You did it! Now you have free reign of the airport. At this point, the hour may be growing late, which is unfortunate for you since all restaurants and shops are probably going to be closing. But its no matter, you’re a World Racer and you know how to handle this. You find your gate and claim your spot by the electrical outlet. Usually there are ridiculous amounts of electronics plugged in that probably break code but you plug in your iPhone anyways. Once again, there are sleeping pads out, eye masks on, and earplugs or head phones in. After a few hours, its finally time to board your flight. Standard procedure takes place as everyone tries to get comfy on the plane. Depending on the length of your flight, you hope and pray that your ankles and feet don’t blow up to resemble stuffed sausages. It’s an international flight so of course you get one of those interesting little meals we all look forward to. Or not if you fall asleep before they can come around. Eventually, after a few movies and three naps later, you begin your descent into your next country. This may be a stopover flight — actually it definitely is because it was the cheapest option. So now you have another layover that could be from anywhere between four to ten hours. After you have disembarked your plane, all forty-five of you find another spot in the airport to claim as homebase before you can board your next flight. Fellow airport dwellers walk by and stare at the ridiculous picture you make as you all lay on the floor from lack of sleep and decent coffee. If you so desire, you may choose to make your way to the nearest café or food stand for a quick bite. You’re not sure how you manage, but eventually time does ware away and you’re told to head over to the gate.
Once again, you board another plane. After another airplane meal, nap, and movie, the captain turns on the seatbelt sign and announces that it is time to make your final decent. Excitement courses through your veins as you realize that you will soon be entering into your next country for the month. Once you land, you all make your way to immigration. This process may be smooth, or it may not be. Visas are acquired, passports are stamped, and everyone does eventually make it through. Now comes the sweat-worthy part: waiting for your bags. As each Sea-to-Summit airporter bag comes around on the carousel, you desperately hope it is yours. Finally, after many grueling minutes, you see your bag with the blue bandana you tied on it to differentiate it from all the rest. You give a sigh of relief as you hoist it up and onto the waiting luggage cart. Once all the luggage is gathered, you once again make your way to an out-of-the-way spot to wait for your ride. It normally takes longer than expected and you and your comrades once again sit or lay on the floor. By this time, everyone is tired, maybe a bit grumpy, and ready to be out of airports. Finally, your ride arrives and ushers you all to the vehicles. The bags are strapped to the roof or put in a trailer and covered or tied down. You all cram into the cars and make your way to your final destination. It’s hard not to press your nose against the glass as you drive by new countryside or pass through foreign streets and cities. It’s all so new and you can’t wait to get out and experience it for yourself. You finally arrive at your ministry site and want to cry with relief. Like a bunch of zombies, you all make your way inside and claim a place to sleep for the night, whether that be a bunk or a spot to pitch your tent. A much deserved dinner, normally involving rice and beans awaits for your consumption. You eat it with gusto and then bid your goodnights to your traveling companions. Another successful travel day has been achieved, you think to yourself as you drift off to sleep, and you know that it couldn’t be more deserved.
