I would like to let you in on the culture that I have lived within all year. You see the World Race is like a culture within foreign cultures. We have things that we call World Race appropriate. Typically this refers to things we do not do, like wear a tank top, skirt above the knees, two piece swimsuit, have private boy/girl conversation, dating, etc… So, mainly it relates to clothing and dating. The opposite of this is the variety of things that are World Race appropriate, but do not corrdinate with the social norms in America. I’ll say it…we break standard social norms every few hours. Here is a glimpse at a few…
World Race Norms include…
- Standing in the middle of the field or on a ladder to find WIFI
- Discussing bowel movements after each person exits the bathroom
- Showering while one person is on the toilet, another at the sink, and two more in the room brushing their teeth
- Writing your name on food items in the refrigerator
- Wearing the same clothes day after day
- Doing the smell test with your clothes
- Hitching a ride with any friendly face
- Throwing the toilet paper in the trashcan
- Bargaining at any and every store
- Eating off one another’s plates without asking
- Sarong usage as towels, skirts, dresses, scarves, curtains, etc…
- Wearing the same two pairs of shoes each day and replacing them every two months
- Seeing who wins the dirtiest feet contest…I always win!
- Sleeping on the hospital floor
- Piling 7 people in addition to the driver in a small sedan
- Walking into the bathroom without knocking
- Commenting on the quality of each public bathroom after leaving
- Carrying toilet paper in your back pocket
- The 5 second rule is now the 5 hour rule….if it looks good, edible, and not rice or beans…eat it?
- Calling dibs on someone’s clothing before it hits the free table
- You wear holey clothes
- You know when someone has a new shirt or is wearing something from deep within the backpack.
What happens when I break the American norms without a World Racer around? What kind of looks will I get when I talk about my bowel movements over the dinner table? I don’t recall ever taking worm medicine together around the table in America. What will I say when I am approached about putting TP in the trashcan rather than the toilet? They say it takes a month to form a habit, but I have been doing this for a year. How often should I shower? Seriously…how often? Do you think the cops will have grace when I tell them I couldn’t remember which side of the road to drive on? The right is the right side…right!!?!
My life in the last year has been spent living with 25 people. There are a lot of daily activities that just won’t happen anymore. When will I do speed dating again just for fun? You sure do learn a lot about people when you ask intentional questions over 3 minutes. Who can I play “Name That Racer” with? You know…act out something a certain person does and we guess who is being imitated. Speaking of which…
- Dawson, who will make that ridiculous noise, tell me to do hand on the floor?
- Courtney, who will sing Jesus take the wheel in a voice that makes you want to cringe?
- Katey, who will sing a random pop song for me at the dinner table?
- Lauren, who will I find to fast for 3 months with me?
- Allison, who will say “Now you know how I feel,” after everything I say?
- Beth, who is going to remind me to think GREEN? Don’t forget you are naming your chickens after me. Can’t wait to meet Jessie, Jezzie, Pacer, Paco, Jezebel, etc…
- Gabe, who will I ever get to have the greatest, impromptu dance parties with?
- Brooke, who will I get to replace you as the best roommate known to man?
- Scaife, who will ever understand my emotional expression through turtles?
- Brown, who is multitalented like you to listen to all my crises while listening to their IPOD?
- Jane, who will dance the Cha Cha turtle with me?
- Julie, who will go to the Peninsula for tea and crumpets when I ever decide to go?
- Cristie, who will I Spprrfff on a regular basis?
- Sean, who is going to marry me?
- Mark, who will answer all my Mac malfunctioning questions?
- Sarah, drime box…who? No one but you…
- Esther, who will yell “not in my pajamas” when a guy enters the room?
- Silas, who will ask thought provoking questions on a daily basis?
- Casey, who will I find my hugs from?
- Heather, who is going to listen to my drama and not get all worked up themselves?
- Brady, who will I ever find to love me enough to do all my nighttime errands after I have comfortably found my place in bed, and then fake yell at?
- Christy, who will go with me to Disney Land and ride every ride?
- Tamara, who else pulls off the fan hat like you do in my neck of the woods?
- E-beth, who will I find to have the craziest hairdo when they wake up in the morning?
