You know you’re halfway through your race when :
- The thought of going home in 5.5 months causes you to curl in the fetal position and cry out of sheer terror.
- The thought of going home in 5.5 months causes you to jump up and down in pure joy and excitement.
- You begin to start praying about what the L-rd has for you after the race.
- You begin to get answers from the L-rd about His plans for you.
- Lice ain’t no thing…as long as you have easy access to a box of hair dye. Bright pink is always a good option.
- You’ve only got 3 months of spending money left and are all of a sudden living off of significantly less in order to space it out evenly for the rest of the race.
- You’ve realized that you can really get American food very easily…
- That the packing blogs you read at the beginning of the race really did nothing for you…and that everyone’s packing lists are different according to what they like to do, wear, and participate in.
- Your opinion of Starbucks changed…it really is overrated and over priced. Local coffee is the way to go.
- You can self diagnose a parasite and get treated without spending the money to go to the hospital.
- You feel old. Like…really old. And look back at pre-launch “you” and think “Oh, but I was so young back then…” Or you see a picture of yourself at training camp with some of your squad mates and say : “LOOK! We were babies back then!”
- You don’t need to talk to family or friends once a day…or twice a week…or at all during the week in order to function.
- You’re no longer overwhelmed by culture shock…most of the time.
- You have dreams of going home for just 24 hours.
- You become madly passionate about your team…and become crazy jealous when they spend any time with other people besides you.
- The words “Team Changes” literally bring a paralyzing fear down your spine.
- If you’ve passed through Asia, you own more than two pairs of Aladdin pants. Like…six?
- Your stomach is now capable of digesting everything…and street food ain’t no thang anymore.
- You've probably conquered one of your biggest fears by now…or are contemplating doing so.
- You most likely barter everywhere…yes, even in the local burger king. Kidding…kind of.
- The thrill and hilarity of a chicken crossing your path in a super market or clothing store is no longer a “thing”…what? It’s just a chicken.
- You own a pair of Ray Bans, and one article of clothing from either Louis V, Gucci, Prada, or Armani.
- You'll go to great lengths in order to be or have "normal" for even just a few hours…
- You sometimes wake up and are weary of this race.
- You sometimes wake up and can’t get enough of this race.
- Unless you are someone who doesn’t like bracelets, you probably are covered in them. But hey…when a little Cambodian girl hands you a pink bracelet, guy or girl, you wear it proudly.
- You’ve done something drastic to your body : i.e. Tattoo, piercing, haircut, etc.
- You see your mom beginning to function a little more than “okay” with you being gone.
- You are aware of the happenings around the world, and realize that these people were doing life long before you got there. And needed prayer all along.
- You see how the L-rd is blessing organizations you were working with in the first few months…and the fruits of your prayer.
- You’ve seen just how “American” you really are…and how much you take advantage of things like Air Conditioning, wifi, a bed, and fresh water out of the tap.
- You’ve probably found at least on child that you would take home in a heart beat…and are still considering it.
- Walking 45 minutes to get internet, food, or a good cup of coffee, really isn’t a big deal.
- Have I mentioned how much coffee you’re probably drinking?
- You begin to ache with homesickness for your favorite countries in the beginning of the race.
- You’re boggled as to how G-d could possibly change you more with the 5 months you have left.
- The L-rd begins to give you passions you didn’t have before.
- A 6 hour travel day is literally a dream come true.
- Things like StumbleUpon and Pinterest start to re-enter your life.
- When a cockroach is no big deal…spiders though…spiders are things you never get used to. Scream loudly, and kill them…just like you would at home. Stomp on them multiple times…then burn them. Especially in the Philippines.
- You don’t even apologize for the bathroom smell anymore…
- You’ve learned that by now, Ch–st is the ultimate defender…and you have to be okay with not being perceived correctly/accurately.
- Feedback isn’t as scary…and you actually have integrated it into your every day life…you don’t have to wait for those team meetings anymore to spill your guts.
- What dirty feet?
- You remind yourself everyday that yes, you have less days on the race than you’ve been on it…and are able to stay present when it would be so easy to live in the promises the L-rd has given you for after the race. Yes, you eagerly look forward to stepping off the plane in your hometown and seeing all the people you love…but you are taking advantage of every moment…sick, or not sick, Happy, or miserable, Hungry, or stuffed, of all of the time left you have on the race.
