Training camp is done. I amd thinking back to the last few days as I write this blog on my way to Thailand. I thought it would be a good topic to write about my packing and how it did not go as well as planned. Let me point out before I start that in order to fly within Asia your checked luggage can only weigh 44 pounds and your carry on can only weigh 15 pounds. This is very difficult to do when you are packing for a year.
Thursday was the day to repack, get rid of things you really do not need, and send things home. I got the memo, but I really wanted to talk to my parents. It is difficult to find a time to call when they are home since they are in England. I did get rid of a few things and I did repack my back. I even got a few things in a box to send home. The only things was I was at 44 pounds in checked luggage and around 30(possibly more) in my carry on. I asked if it was okay and was told yes. I felt confident in my packing. I had about an hour to spare to call my parents. So I forgot all about my worries concerning packing.
Fast forward to the next day. I was at the hotel, not really caring I was overweight. My very concerned teamates asked me about my luggage weight. I sheepishly answered that I was overweight. Sara was really concerned and told me she would thankfully help me go through my luggage. All of my luggage ended up on the hotel bed. It took an hour and a half to repack. (This experience remeds me of when my mom would go into my room when I was younger with a trash bag. She would just start pitching things because I never threw anything away.) So we went through it all. I never realized how bad I was at collecting useless objects. I did evenutally get dow to 42 pounds checked and 24 pounds on carry on. I am down 6 pounds. I may still have to get rid of things later on down the road, but not as much. I did do my best at it. Later on there may be a video of the packing. Also a video of my team, it is quite funny.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Packages can be mailed to the September Racers while they are in Thailand. DO NOT send any valuables through the mail and clearly state a $0 value for the package. Note that it is a gift with no commercial value. This helps avoid taxes through customs. Packages must arrive no later than October 3rd – allow extra time than what the postal service tells you. Be sure to include their name on the package.
The address is:
Youth With A Mission
6/479 Soi Numberone 1
Ramkhamhaeng 2 Road
Dokmai, Prawet
Bangkok 10250
Thailand
http://danielgutman.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=how-you-ask
New Route:
Instead of the first leg of China, I will be going to the Philipines(Rhose I am so excited!!!)
The address is:
Youth With A Mission
6/479 Soi Numberone 1
Ramkhamhaeng 2 Road
Dokmai, Prawet
Bangkok 10250
Thailand
http://danielgutman.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=how-you-ask
New Route:
Instead of the first leg of China, I will be going to the Philipines(Rhose I am so excited!!!)
