In four days, I will be officially three months into the race and heading to Nepal. Three countries down, eight to go. Three months isn’t a terribly short amount of time, but it feels like it’s going so fast. As we prepare for our next month, I’ve been trying to think about all the things I’ve learned in the past three. So here we go.
What I’ve learned on the race (so far):
1. One can, in fact go for a week without washing their hair.
2. Chocolate, Coca-cola and snickers are universal. Milk and bread are not.
3. You can always find peanut butter and toilet paper – you just have to know who to ask.
4. In other parts of the world, it’s totally normal to stare and take pictures of you just because you are white.
5. I’m better at saying “no” than I previously gave myself credit for.
6. Living, working, eating, sleeping, having fun and fighting with the same six people all the time is hard and frustrating, but more than that, fun and rewarding.
7. You can make friends with anyone, anywhere no matter if you speak the same language or not.
8. If God puts you into situations, he (and often only he) can get you through them.
9. Squatty potties aren’t that strange – actually if you think about it, western toilets are kind of gross and weird.
10. Bugs aren’t so bad. Just try not to sleep with your mouth open.
11. I can do a lot more than I think.
12. When I can’t, it’s awesome to have someone I trust standing ready to pick up my slack.
13. Scary and dangerous is sometimes fun.
14. A/C is not awful. I hated it in the states, but now I’m starting to miss it.
15. I can do so much more if I rely on God than I could even begin to try to do myself.
16. I love and rely on my family back home more than I knew.
17. I cry a lot.
18. Slumdog Millionaire wasn’t making it up.
19. God answers prayers. Especially the ones that go “God, push me to be more.”
20. It’s good to be silly and ridiculous sometimes. It’s what keeps you sane.
You can check out some pictures of my month here.
