Here are 11 little things that I miss about the U.S.
- Hot showers – one thing I for sure took for granted at home was having a shower, much less hot water! For about half the race we’ve had to take bucket showers, which don’t seem to make you feel as clean.
- Washer and dryer – for some reason I didn’t think about the possibility of not having access to a washing machine. We have washed clothes by hand for five months now, and honestly I’m not any better at it than I was in the beginning. There was only one month on the race that I was able to use a dryer.
- My closet – wearing the same two outfits over and over again is getting old. I didn’t realize what a privilege it is to have options of clothing to wear. Also, I miss having a place to unpack and store my things, and not living out of a backpack.
- Baking – on the race we don’t usually have access to an oven. I miss baking cookies, bread, cakes. Also, differences in elevation and ingredients can make baking difficult even if you do have an oven, which has only been two months of the race for me.
- Being in the same time zone as friends and family – it seems like it’s always nighttime at home when I want to talk to people. Sorry mom for waking you up when I had a medical crisis.
- Chain restaurants/stores – you never know what you are getting when you try to shop for things in a different country. I miss familiar brands, sizings, etc. No matter how hard it tries, KKFC (Kentaki Krunchy Fried Chicken) will never be KFC. Sometimes you can find the brand of shampoo you use at home, or Nature Vally granola bars, but you’ll always end up spending way more money than you would at home.
- Seasons – we’ve been chasing summer all year. And as much as I love the sunshine and warmth, nothing can compare to the colors and scents of fall. We are finally experiencing some cooler weather at the end of month nine, and I am loving it.
- Going to the movies – one of my favorite things to do is seeing a movie with family and friends. It’s not always easy to do that on the race, depending where you are and what your budget is. I saw two movies in the theater this year, Aladdin and One Upon a Time in Hollywood.
- Books – I planned to bring a small stack of paperbacks on the race with me, until I quickly realized that every ounce counts when packing for a year. I miss reading from a real book, having a bookshelf of options to choose from, and rereading my old favorites. I’m very grateful that I grew up with the opportunity to read and get an education.
- Privacy – on the race, there is little to no alone time. It’s just not easy to find a place to be alone, and often we aren’t allowed to leave our compound or go places alone due to safety. Also, personal space is different in other parts of the world. People share physical space more closely than we are used to, in homes, transportation, church, etc.; you have to get used to feeling crowded and embrace the closeness.
- Blending in – I had no idea how much I would stand out as a white person in parts of South America, Asia, and Africa. And the attention is not always positive (think men grabbing you and children throwing rocks at you). Being conspicuous gets old; I am genuinely looking forward to blending into a crowd and not being stared and yelled at.
I’ll be home on December 14th—89 days from today. There’s a lot more to do and learn between now and then, but you better believe I’m excited to be back…for however long God wants me there. As of yet, I don’t have specific plans for after the race. Open to ideas! 🙂
