1. Do not wear sandals in Antigua.  Cobblestones are gorgeous, but they hurt like heck. I twisted my ankle about a thousand times.  Sneakers are highly recommended.

  2. Apple seeds contain cyanide, so please don’t eat them.  (Learned that from someone from the states.)

  3. It’s offensive to refer to people from the states as ‘American’.  People from South and Central America are Americans too! (Valeria approves of this message)

  4. The sun here is really strong.  ALWAYS wear sunblock. (Valeria approves of this message as well.)

  5. Anabelle has crazy eyes.  (Anabelle does not approve of this message, but I don’t care, it’s true.)

  6. Bring anti-gas.  The amount of beans we eat here will make you embarrassingly gassy.

  7. Welcome to Central America!  There are earthquakes here.  (Val, are you sleep talking? Are you asleep?)

  8. You can milk a dog, but should you?

  9. I don’t sleep.  (I think the team is catching on that I’m a vampire.)

  10. I’m not as averse to physical touch as I thought I was.  The World Race changes a person y’all. It’s only been two weeks!

  11. Riding a skateboard is just as scary as the first time I rode it.  But I haven’t broken any bones so win.

  12. Coffee is crazy strong here.  Usually I’m a three cup kinda girl, but I can only handle one.  Also, I’m pretty sure that Chelsea Adamson and I drink it black. Squad mates, comment if you drink it black too.  I wanna know, but I know I’ll forget to ask when I get back to the base.

  13. Volcanoes erupting are a common occurrence.  Kinda excited to see a volcano erupt for the first time.

  14. Make sure you know when the restaurants and coffee shops close.  The people here are way too nice to kick you out.

  15. Be aware on the bus and vans.  It isn’t the safest mode of transportation, but if you keep an eye on your stuff and make sure you take a non-crowded van or bus, you’ll be fine.