When I tell people I will being going on the World Race, I would expect people to ask things like, “What countries are you going to?” or “What will you be doing?” While they do ask those questions, they are not the number one question I seem to inevitably get in every conversation. The number one question I get asked is, “Have you gotten your shots?” I told some of my friends about this phenomenon and by the time I left, they had started asking me that question every time I would see them (Andrew… Elizabeth…). I would like to clear up the answer to that question as well as tell you what else I have done to prepare for the Race.
Have you gotten your vaccinations?
In answer to the question, yes, yes I have gotten my shots. The ones I needed to get were yellow fever, a polio booster, and typhoid. I went to the health department’s travel clinic to find out what I needed as well as to actually get the shots back in June so that I wouldn’t have to worry about them as my launch date grew closer. I also did them early because, like I expected, they made me feel pretty rough for about two weeks. For those who wonder, the typhoid vaccine is not for the faint of heart! The typhoid vaccine comes in two forms, the actual shot vaccination which is good for three years and the oral/pill which is good for 5 years. I have heard that the shot is a lot easier to handle but that the oral can mess you up for a while. I chose to do the oral one because I don’t know what the next 5 years hold for me. I may need to be vaccinated in five years. At any rate, I did get vaccinated and am taking some meds for malaria on the Race with me.
What have you done in case something happens to you?
I made a Living Will and a Power of Attorney that my parents will hold onto just in case something happens. I have gotten them both notarized in case they need to be filed downtown. I kinda figure it’s better safe than sorry. If something happens, I want it to be as smooth as possible for my parents to help me if they need to. The POA will also allow them to file my taxes when it is time. For the record, it is VERY if not EXTREMELY rare that parents ever have to use these. I think it has only happened a handful of times in the 10 years the World Race has been taking place. Better safe than sorry, though.
How are you going to get money?
I have gotten a lot of questions on what I am doing about money while I am on the Race. The answer is Charles Schwab. Charles Schwab is actually an investing company, but they have a debit card that allows me to withdraw from any ATM in the world and they then waive the ATM fees on both ends. From what I understand, they do not charge any fees for changing the currency either, which is a HUGE blessing. Both of these will come in handy. My mom is also on the account so that she can mess with it from a secure internet access if I cannot while I am in another country.
What am I doing after the Race?
Good question. I really don’t know. I haven’t actually planned this out ahead of time. Some people do but a lot don’t. It could be anything from working with a nonprofit, working with Adventure in Missions, working as a youth pastor, starting my own nonprofit, or something else. It will probably take me a few months when I get back to figure this out, but I’ll let you know when I do!
How do you pack for the Race?
Very selectively… and nothing that I would be devastated if I lost it… I have not brought very much, honestly. I am mostly packing like I am camping but with nice clothes and electronics included. I am bringing a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad just like I would if I would if I was backpacking. I am also bringing my laptop which is something I would not normally bring camping. I keep having to remind myself that I am just going to Cambodia or some other country, not the moon. People live in these other countries every day. It may not be the type of living that I am used to, but they still will have what I need. All I have to do is learn to adapt to what they have.
What are you packing in?
The answer to this is a 75-liter backpacking backpack and my school backpack as a carry-on. I am finding that I have plenty of space with both of these for everything. It is a little tight in the big pack, but certain things will get used up as I travel. I may also ship some of it home throughout the Race, as I see fit. I will probably not do this more than once or twice because it will probably be expensive. Plus, my mom will probably be meeting me in Romania in June for the Parent Vision Trip and can take a load home for me
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Are you ready?
Yes, and no. I have everything I need, but even now that I am on the Race, there is a big portion of me that is still not ready. Mostly, it is emotional. I really don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for the separation from my friends and family. I also don’t know that I’ll ever be ready to face and digest what I see in the poor countries. Cambodia has not been overly shocking, but I imagine that once I get into some other countries, it might be worse. I really don’t know. So, yes, I physically have everything but, no, I am not really ready.
While I have done a lot to prep for this trip, I do believe God has done more! As I spent the last few days in the USA and now that I am here in Cambodia I have become aware of the fact that God has gone before to prep the places I will be going, the people I will be going with and will meet, and also me. He is moving in ways that I see and ways that I don’t see. He has done far more prep than I ever could, so I am trusting Him to be as ready as He always is!
