PACKING LIST
4 Tshirts
2-3 nice shirts
1 long sleeve shirt
1 hoodie/ jacket
2 pairs of shorts (knee-length)
1-2 pairs of running shorts/ bball shorts
1 pair of jeans (if you are the type to wear them everyday at home)
1-2 skirts (knee length)
1 dress
Flip-flops (if you wear them everyday bring them)
Chacos (I still prefer my flip flops… if you don’t wear chacos at home, don’t buy them)
Tennis Shoes, Sneakers, Kicks, Running Shoes (whatever region you’re from and whatever you call them, I’d bring a pair)
Toms (great for the winter, smelly for the summer)
*White isn’t the best color for the race
*Don’t bring shirts you’re attached to. Instead bring shirts you’d be willing to trade in free piles or drop when you get tired of wearing them.
*Depending on the weather during the time of year you will be there depends on the winter clothes
*2 things that I wear EVERY DAY at home and wish I would have brought on the race: bball shorts and a hoodie
*Sharing clothing became the new form of shopping
*When hanging clothes to dry outside, turn them inside out so the colors don’t fade as quickly
*Some have recommended dropping and picking up as you leave each country. Some places you can do that, if you’re in any kind of city most likely. Others you’ll care less and wear the same outfit every day after the first time you experience hand washing.
OTHER STUFF
*Packing Cubes (by far the best thing ever! I brought a small and large double sided as well as a small and large single sided)
*Repel bug spray
*Ear plugs LOTS/ Eye mask (I never wore them ear plugs and was against them but finally caved month 8)
*Toiletry bag (you can restock in most countries except for stick deodorant)
*Razors (I brought one for each month… by the end you might not care as much… but if you are picky about the kind you use and don’t like single blade BIC, I’d bring them)
*Quick Dry Towel or Sarong
*Watch with an alarm
*Sunglasses (Frat glasses are the best and usually last the longest!)
*Contact Solution (big bottle. Not easy to find.)
*Extra contacts (they can be sent to you at debriefs though if you get too low)
*Eno Hammock (best purchase for the race)
*Mess Kit (I didn’t need mine at all but most other teams have used theirs… would recommend the silverware though)
*Nalgene (If you’re like me and don’t like water, bring flavoring packs. Do remember eventually they will run out and you will have to drink the water. Stay hydrated!)
*Meds: Tylenol, Cipro (for “travelers diarrhea”), Altitude Meds (I’m from the coast and the altitude hit me hard… but if you just stay hydrated you’ll be fine. I didn’t like water yet at this point so I was super dehydrated), Malaria Meds (ask your doctor).
So out of all these meds the only one I took was Tylenol. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take your malaria meds when they tell you to. I’m not responsible for that decision but I choose not to take mine. There was a girl on our squad that got malaria and two girls on my team got dengue fever… so it’s your call. Be smart.
*Journal. (If you are the kind of person that is a moleskin only.. stock up because it’s most likely you won’t find them elsewhere. If you could care less that your journal may have Britney Spears or some weird animation on the front you can find them anywhere. If you’re somewhere in the middle bring 2 just in case.)
*Tea Tree Oil (good for just about everything… breakouts, lice, rids of bacteria… literally does everything)
*Manicure Kit (can be used for many different things, including getting worms out of your feet)
*Scissors
*Ziplocs Bags (can be used for so many things)
*Extra travel size Bible (might be able to bless someone with it the way I was when mine got stolen)
Electronics
As you may or may not know my backpack got stolen Day 3 of the race so bye bye electronics. I was fortunate enough to have my camera still but other than that I lost the rest. If I could make a list for you though this is what it would be…
*Computer (I’ve learned that MacPros are the best. I’ve had to share with my teammates… which has it’s ups and downs.)
*IPod (Stock up on the podcasts, music, etc while you still have good internet. Make sure you hold onto it wherever you are, especially in public transportation. Don’t be a target!)
*Extra set of headphones
*External hard drive/ large flash drive (back your stuff up! You never know what could happen.)
*Camera/ case
FUN LISTS TO LOOK BACK ON
Number of Beds you’ve slept in
Random Places you’ve slept
Dates of Travel days with cities
Number of Buses/ Flights
Modes of Transportation
Number of Showers (I promise it will be less than you think)
Hours in Transit
Languages (don’t forget to include sign.. it tends to be the most used!)
I hope that this list of things helps in the packing process. If you have any questions of something you should bring or questions about the Race… nerves, worries, anxiousness, prayer requests, just want to talk, you name it, feel free to EMAIL ME!
Here are also a list of websites that you can find stuff for cheap at:
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Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice <SUP class=crossreference value='(C)’>of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? <SUP class=crossreference value='(D)’>And who will go for us? ‘
And I said, “Here am I. <SUP class=crossreference value='(F)’>Send me!”
