Hey Everyone…I thought you might enjoy this blog that my teammate, Michelle Cook, created to give you an idea of our experiences. Enjoy!
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The World Race is a totally different culture from anything I’ve
ever been a part of. World Racers are a breed of their own…I have
compiled a list of super random nonesense that can only happen on The
World Race! Thanks to my teammates who have helped…either by going
through one of these experiences or helping me to remember that I
experienced quite a few of these myself!! Some of these you may not
understand…some of them will sounds completely ridiculous…just know
that each and every one of these is true without exaggeration. Much
love to you all! See ya soon 🙂
ever been a part of. World Racers are a breed of their own…I have
compiled a list of super random nonesense that can only happen on The
World Race! Thanks to my teammates who have helped…either by going
through one of these experiences or helping me to remember that I
experienced quite a few of these myself!! Some of these you may not
understand…some of them will sounds completely ridiculous…just know
that each and every one of these is true without exaggeration. Much
love to you all! See ya soon 🙂
You know you’re a world racer when:
1. You use your webcam as a mirror because there are none at any of the places you stay or even the reflection from your iPod.
2. You try to piece together your broken pieces of deodorant because
it’s the last one you brought from home and you still have 3 months
left. Most places only have bad roll-ons.
3. A ceramic squatty looks good after a month of squatting over a hole in the ground.
4. You’ll use pretty much any facility available to relieve yourself…regardless of how clean (or dirty) it is.
5. iPod-alone-time is not a foreign concept…you stick your headphones
in, crank them up, and shut your eyes and you are suddenly “alone” even
though there are at least 5 other people in the room.
in, crank them up, and shut your eyes and you are suddenly “alone” even
though there are at least 5 other people in the room.
6. A 9 am start time happens no earlier than 11 am.
7. You hoard napkins from places that actually have them because you
know you’ll need to use it as tp at some point. (It’s hard to find tp in
a few countries!)
know you’ll need to use it as tp at some point. (It’s hard to find tp in
a few countries!)
8. You routinely need to send a text to your contact for the month
simply telling him you will be late for dinner because your casting out
demons.
simply telling him you will be late for dinner because your casting out
demons.
9. You use Deet to take off your fingernail polish.
10. You try to create new clothing combos out of the same three outfits you left home with.
11. The free table at debrief is like shopping at the mall
12. You cram 6 people into an ATM booth because it actually has air-conditioning.
13. A 66 hour travel day is normal.
14. You get vomited on on the bus and you can’t do anything about it for another twelve hours.
15. The bus stops for a restroom break and the men stand beside the bus
and the women simply cross the street. There’s no hiding behind bushes!
and the women simply cross the street. There’s no hiding behind bushes!
16. You use grass to clean the dirt from your teeth. Yes, that has happened.
17. You have testimonies of most of your squad-mates memorized and can
even fill in the details left out because you’ve heard it over and over
in every country.
even fill in the details left out because you’ve heard it over and over
in every country.
18. “Fellowship meeting” really means three people will be preaching 45 minutes each.
19. Breast feeding in public is more normal than seeing a baby being bottle fed.
20. You no longer care if the water you are brushing your teeth is bottled or even boiled for safety.
21. Your only escape for privacy is your bucket shower.
22. You’re considered high maintenance because you shower daily as well change your underwear daily.
23. The “special mat” to sit on consists of leaves pulled off a bush.
24. You’ll use any sort of paper or object to clean under your
nails…receipt, notebook paper, plastic, tooth pick, fork, or the knife
from your leatherman, stick.
nails…receipt, notebook paper, plastic, tooth pick, fork, or the knife
from your leatherman, stick.
25. Your friends from home can’t remember the last time they had diarrhea and you can’t remember the last you didn’t.
26. You’d prefer to sleep on the floor of the airport because it’s more comfortable than the airport couches.
27. You walk around barefoot anytime you see carpet because you know it’ll be months before you feel it again.
28. Staying two days in the airport is actually preferred because it
means you’ll have air conditioning, western toilets, and food other than
rice.
means you’ll have air conditioning, western toilets, and food other than
rice.
29. You’re not sure if the tan line on your feet is from the sun or the African dirt you’ve been walking in for 3 months.
30. You’ve finally thrown away your malaria meds to save space. Either
you were taking them and still got malaria or never took them and never
got malaria.
you were taking them and still got malaria or never took them and never
got malaria.
31. You think the space cleared up by removing your malaria meds will actually make your pack lighter and less crowded.
32. You finally decide to shave your legs after a week and a half and
you shave off dirt that didn’t come off from using your loofah.
you shave off dirt that didn’t come off from using your loofah.
33. Filling ANY size of vehicle over capacity by at least 5 people is not out of the ordinary.
34. You’d rather stay in the same clothes for a few days because it’s easier than digging into your pack during travel times.
35. Your nicest or cleanest outfit is one that has only been worn 4 or 5 times in the same week.
36. You call 34 ragamuffin nomads your family. I love the Q!
Much love from Romania!!
