I touched on this a bit during my first blog post, but recently, I was asked to write a post about why I was going on the World Race. I feel like for me, there were a lot of different misconceptions about why I am doing this. People think I am simply going on a long vacation, taking a year off school, etc. Some people have somehow gotten it into their heads that I am going to climb a mountain. I have no idea where that came from, but whatever. The real reason I am going on World Race is because, more than anything, I love people. I love community and culture and understanding and loving people from all over the world. I want desperately to help and aid people wherever I can. I have a heart for global affairs, to see the world outside of middle class suburban Chicago, and to get a better glimpse into the lives of others. I seek to understand, to immerse myself in cultures that vary from my own in the most beautiful ways. I want to know the intricacies, nuances, characteristics of peoples all across the world. We live in such an interconnected community that we are kidding ourselves if we don’t think that this is a trait that humans are going to have to have in the upcoming future. We need to develop a sense of respect and constantly seek to better understand one another.
But lastly, this trip, and everything that it stands for, all the things I will be doing, all the things I will be seeing is so inline with who I am. I want to go and see the world, and it’s people, and love them well. There were many things in my life that I used as an excuse to leave the life I am living now, but this isn’t one of them, this is one of those things that simply enhances everything I am, in the best way.
P.S. A little life update. Sorry I haven’t blogged in so long! I have been getting so busy with school and work and life. But big things have happened! I am getting all my vaccinations, and man do those suck. Someone pointed out to me that I looked like crap after getting my typhoid and yellow fever vaccination all in one weekend. Thank you. I appreciate your candor. Also! I have a few fundraisers coming up so stay tuned. Finally, I booked my ticket to Training Camp in July. It’s the first time I will ever be flying by myself, which is CRAZY!
