Which culture was the hardest for you to live in/grow accustomed to?
African culture. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved central and southern Africa. Two of the months in Africa are in my top 3 of the entire Race – Malawi and Zimbabwe. But it’s extremely different from what I was used to and we traveled to Africa after 2 months in Europe. So it was a bit of a shock especially because my specific team went from a town and city in Romania to an extremely rural location in Malawi, Africa. I wore a long skirt that entire month because its expected, took bucket showers, and got used to herds of children peering through our windows to see where we were. We ate goat intestines, goat liver, killed chickens, had tea every morning, and got called “Auntie” the entire month.
Which culture did you feel the most comfortable in?
Central American culture. The Dominican Republic and Costa Rica are two countries I’ve been to prior to the World Race. I visited Costa Rica 7 years ago and one of the weeks I stayed with a host family. The whole purpose of the trip with my high school was to learn Spanish so of course none of the family spoke English. Going back to that region, I felt like I already understood some of their culture based off that past experience. I still cannot keep up with the majority’s cleanliness. And personal hygiene! Many take 2 showers a day!
Which culture did you fall in love with the most?
Ah, it’s close between African and Asian but I think Asian. Before the Race, I had minimal experience with Asia. I knew few people that traveled there and I am not a huge fan of Chinese takeout. I always have to be in the mood haha! I was definitely curious but I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not. I didn’t expect to be so intrigued while in Cambodia or fall in love with Thailand. The people are still incredibly different whether you’re in Malaysia, Cambodia, or Thailand and I’m sure anywhere else in Asia. They each are unique.
So I would say I fell hard for Thai culture. The people we met there in specific were warm and inviting. I mean, we were mostly at a Thai girl orphanage the whole month so I am a little biased! I found excitement being able to peek on the newness of these people and their culture though. I loved hearing about their history, mainstream beliefs, and experiencing their hospitality.
Which country would you want to return to? And why?
Thailand or Zimbabwe. Thailand because of what I mentioned above. I fell in love with the Sending Hope organization, the girls there, the landscape, and the culture itself. Zimbabwe because of a variety of opportunities and because of the organization we were a part of. Lasting Impressions was a camp where different schools in the country would bring their students for leadership development, community building, etc ranging from just for the weekend to a whole week.
We had ownership of certain parts of camp and leadership positions that month that I started to thrive in. We worked with elementary kids to high school students and each of my teammates grew that month. I felt a lot of purpose in Zimbabwe and enjoyed teaching the kids about Jesus but also building them up in confidence about themselves.
The hosts we had also spoke English, Shelley was from California and Al from South Africa. They weren’t simply our hosts that month but welcomed us into their own home for meals around the table with their family. They also were family friends with a couple that have a wildlife management company in Zimbabwe. The wife Jackie treats animals in the wild as a veterinarian and the husband Josh moves populations of animals. We adored their family and won’t forget their hospitality or kindness. I experienced my first, behind-the-scenes safari because of them!
Where do you think God leading you from here?
This is the golden question I’ve been asked. “What’s next?”. When I was in Panama in month 9 I started experiencing major anxiety about what I would do when I got home. I didn’t want to become stuck in a job I wasn’t passionate about but at that point, I didn’t know what I’d do. My dad was wise and told me the best advice and the advice I needed. “Come home, you have a decent savings account, your mom & I are thrilled to have you in the house, and take a BREATH. Take at least a month to reflect over this last year and what God has done before jumping into anything.”
That’s what I’m doing currently. There’s many directions and possibilities ricocheting in my mind that I could choose. The fact I even have choices is amazing because I’ve met people who wish “they could be like us and have one good opportunity in life”. I expected a post-Race direction to be revealed before now honestly and truthfully there’s been some frustration Jesus and I needed to work through. I thought a passion would be confirmed or discovered while gone and it may have! I just need to continue going through my months to see.
The simple answer: “I don’t know! But I’m hopeful.”
