WARNING!
This blog contains realities of the race that are not the most glorious and fun.
The most often posted pictures and blogs include the fun and exciting things that we get to do and see on the race. We get to explore coffee shops and go on day excursions on our off days. We get to see beautiful sunrises and sunsets all over the world. But what most people don’t see are the days spent home sick in bed or the hours we spend combing through each others looking for those darn lice.
Yep, I said it. I am infected with lice.
And so are 10/14 of the girls on my squad.
The reality of the race is that it is hard. In the first three months, three of the seven of my teammates have been to the hospital due to sickness (a couple of them multiple times). Several people on my squad have gotten injured and some of them hospitalized for a few nights at a time. Traveler’s diarrhea is a real issue on the field.
Not only is the race physically difficult, but it also takes a toll emotionally. There are a lot of nights spent just crying. There are a lot of times that we feel like giving up or that we question why we are here. Conflict is a real struggle and, contrary to common belief, I don’t always like my team/squad. They drive me crazy sometimes and I know I drive them crazy too. To put the race simply, its like taking all of your hopes, dreams, insecurities, flaws, strengths, weaknesses – literally everything that you are – and putting it on display in front of your team and squad. Talk about trust. The cool thing is that this community has became a place of refuge and a safe place to be free in everything you are. And as much as we doubt who we are and why we are here, we have 41 people eager to remind us. And as difficult as it gets here, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Our time in Malaysia is already quickly ending so please pray for safe travels as we head to Costa Rica in a few weeks 🙂
With love,
-A
