It seemed like the
halfway point was so far away when we launched back in January. Now, it’s June and we have officially crossed
the halfway mark. As I did at the one
third mark I thought I would give you some insights into the things I have
learned on the race thus far. If you
read the last list, don’t worry these are all totally new realizations I’ve
come to so go ahead, read on.
On the race you
either have the rumbly tumbly all the
time or you have nothing this is just life.
There is a definite
art to using the squatty potty.
If you don’t have
the art down try to know the locations of all the western toilets in the area.
When encountering
nasty bathrooms at rest stops and bus stations, squattys are better, because
then the only part of you that touches anything is the bottom of your shoes.
When your contact
tells you to jump off a bridge. . .do it!
Jumping off a
bridge is not as scary as I thought it would be.
Jumping off a
bridge into a river makes your clothes become coated in green and brown river
nastiness.
If you have open
wounds when you jump in a river you will probably get a bactiral infection that
will not be fun.
From said infection
a teammate will then perform minor surgary with a pocket knife, tweezers, q-tips,
and hydrogen peroxide, and it will hurt.
You will be
insanely tired of wearing the same clothes you brought with you all the time.
There are two
solutions to the above problem. One, as
you go buy new clothes and slowly give the old ones to those in need around
you. Two, start trading out clothes with
teammates so even if they are clothes you have seen on them for the last six
months at least you haven’t seen them on you the last six months.
Some games are
universal and it doesn’t matter if you speak a kid’s language or not you can
have a great time with them.
All Cambodian buses
play loud Asian karaoke on every bus ride, free of charge.
The overnight bus
in Thailand was better than all our flights thus far, except the one to New
Zealand.
Jeans are only for
travel days most of the year (at least until fall in Europe) but the few days
where it is cool enough to wear them you will enjoy it to no end.
Rain in Darwin
means it feels good while it rains but then is ten times more humid
afterwards. Rain in Thailand means you
may actually be cool enough to sleep through the night without waking up
sweating.
Thailand LOVES 7
Eleven and you can find one almost anywhere in the country.
World Racers also
love 7 Eleven and can be found there anywhere throughout the country.
Tile floors are
more comfortable than my sleeping pad, go figure.
Investing in a good
pillow for the race was a really good idea.
Swimming in
waterfalls is one of the coolest things I’ve done.
Aussies are funny
people and I love their humor.
If you spend a
whole month with adorable Filipino kids you won’t just be sad when you leave
them, but you will have days months later where your heart hurts a little
because you still miss them and would love to go back and see them.
World Racers
probably have at least two different currencies in their wallet at one time.
Late night on the
race means 11pm.
Sleeping in on the
race means 8am.
Someone says you
look cute today if you a) have on matching clothes b) are wearing a skirt or
nice shirt or c) showered and haven’t sweated yet.
You open your
cereal to see ants crawling out and you think “oh well they are small ants just
some protein.”
In Africa your new
name is Mzungu which means white person.
Children in Africa
will come out of the woodwork when they see a white person and all run after
you asking “How are you?” and want to
shake your hand.
Your team is having
feedback in the morning over breakfast and a baby chick may just run through
the living room and take up temporary residence in one of your bedrooms.
Bucket showers
really aren’t so bad.
Africa in the
summer is much cooler than expected.
Cooler is in
comparison to Asia which is not cool at all.
The rest of the
world loves rice, I hope you do to if you want to come on this thing.
I’ve heard other
racers say it, but it is true. . .roosters don’t crow only at sunrise, they
crow throughout the morning, mid-day, and night.
The rooster seems
to like hanging out under our bedroom window.
