Every team has one of us. We are Becky, Pam, Krystle, and myself. AIM calls us the finance people. We take care of our team’s finances.
Even though we are called the finance people by AIM, our teams call us other things. I have been referred to as “sugar mama” a few too many times. I get to hear, ‘ Mom, can I have some money?’ every once in a while. My teammates feel like they get an allowance from their mom each time I distribute money to them and they tell me “thanks, mom, for the money”. They have told me that I need to live near them after the race so that I can do their finances the rest of their lives.
I have a purse that my team calls the team cash purse. I keep a calculator for the times that I am told it is this much a person. I even have a notebook to keep track of places that I cannot get a receipt. The team cash purse had been a great addition to my purchases and it keeps the money safe.
AIM, our covering organization, has told our team that we cannot have any relationships this year. Each finance person does have a boyfriend called the ATM. We have the privilege of visiting the ATM once a week and when we arrive in a new country, every day for a week. When I was in the Philippines, I got to go everyday for two weeks and my teammates told me that I truly was dating the ATM. I have also been rejected by my boyfriend the ATM. For some reason, I just could not get money out in Botswana. I think I was asking to much of the machine. In a given country, I know where every ATM is within a one mile radius. Sometimes we let other people take our cards because going to the ATM gets to be a job to dread. I know it gives me money, but still sometimes you need a break.
I have gone through more money this year than my team has probably made in their life. We are always buying things. The hidden fees are the best. When someone asks, “Can I get money for __________ and I need it ASAP”, you know that means either finding money or going to the ATM. I try to keep more money on me than I need because of a hidden, “I need money” time.
I have learned a lot from them this year. You start to just give out the money and trust it is being spent on what it is supposed to be. You just say give me a receipt. I love when I get to give money to Colleen and Sarah for food and not have to worry about spending.
I have enjoyed the finance job, but I am looking forward to the day I hand in my ‘bagies’. The ‘baggies’ are where the receipts go in order to send them to AIM. I love the day, which is anywhere from once a month to every three months that I hand in the receipts to someone going back to the states. I do a dance and my teammates cheer for me. I know the final set of baggies will truly be moment celebrated.
Only two more months of finances. I will only have a little more money to give out. I am not sure about what it will be like to not have to do finances for 5 other people. I know that after a few days, I will wish I could give someone their allowance of money.
