When I left for the Race in September 2014, I knew I came from one of the most privileged societies in the world. I knew I was abundantly blessed; I’ve never worried about where a meal would come from or if I would have school supplies. While there are people in the United States that do worry about these things, these worries became very real to me as I traveled around the world and saw large groups of people who have genuine fears about finding their next meal, paying for grade school for their children, or the safety of their home. Things that most Americans readily have access to were completely non-existent for the people that I met. Along the way, I started compiling a list of things that I didn’t realize were luxuries. These are things that I have taken for granted for years, because in my privilege, I never had to worry about them.
- Personal/Storage Space
Closets are almost impossible to find around the world. People don’t hoard things like we do in the States, so why would you need to have space to store your things? Also, because living is communal in many places, there is no such thing as privacy.
My room for Month Five (The picture is missing my two roomies!)
- Mirrors
Maybe Americans are as vain as they say, but mirrors are really a rare find. I would always giggle when I would see a teammate using a window or other random reflective surface to look at their hair or outfit. Sometimes in an airport, we would stop and look in a mirrored wall and just see ourselves, usually for the first time in a long time. Most bathrooms do not have mirrors around the world. - Dryers
You know that fantastic feeling of pulling out a clean, fresh-smelling, warm towel from the dryer? That glorious feeling doesn’t exist around the world, because most people don’t have dryers. We were fortunate to have a washing machine for 3 months of the Race, but not once did I see a dryer. Clothes are hung on a line, which can be quite difficult when you are somewhere during rainy season. - Choices
Now this one is sad and super cliché, but we get to choose everything in the States. You can choose from 20 different brands of each toiletry you like, or visit the cheese aisle, the options are endless. That isn’t always the case around the world. Sometimes you get one good option, and it’s costly. - Ovens
If you know me at all, you know I love baking cupcakes. Or cakes. Or treats. I could go on all day about things I love to bake. But you have to have an oven to bake things. And you have to have electricity to use the oven. Both of these things can be hard to come by around the world. If you see me over the next few weeks, you can bet I’ll be baking some cupcakes to make up for the lost time these past 11 months!
Cooking in Rwanda
- Driving
I love driving; after all, I am my mother’s daughter. I love driving with the windows down and great music playing. I love being able to go where I want, get what I need, etc. But the vast majority of the people I have encountered around the world do not drive. They walk, bike, or use public transportation. - Safety (or rather the ignorance of assumed safety)
When I go to eat somewhere in the States, I will often set my jacket and purse on the table, go order, go to the restroom, etc. I worry very little about my belongings being on the table unattended. Maybe it’s because I am from the South or because I know my community well, but I rarely worry about things being stolen. Because theft is very common in places that are under-resourced, you have to be alert 24/7 about your things. You can’t go off with a door unlocked or leave anything unattended. - Google/Data Plans/Smart Phones
“What other show did she play in?” “How far is that from here?” “What time does the movie start?” These are questions that take about 15 seconds to answer in the States, because if you don’t know, you Google it on your smart phone that has a data plan. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you are doing, you can check so quickly. In many places around the world, we would go days without Internet, so questions like these simply go unanswered.We read books in hammocks. Google things? Not so much.
- Being Picky
I am a picky eater. There, I said it. I have grown a ton in trying new things, but I grew up in the age of “Have it your way,” Thanks BK. But this concept doesn’t exist globally. You are served or you order something as it is. Even if you can communicate to the person that you don’t want onions on your burger, they’re often surprised that you asked for an alteration. - Radio
As I mentioned earlier, I love driving around with the windows down listening to music. But when you don’t get to drive or have wifi, you don’t get the radio. This makes access to music quite difficult. Pandora? Nope, not allowed overseas. iTunes Radio? Yes, if you have Internet. Ask my teammates about how frequently I play songs. Trust me, the access to new music and the radio are luxuries! - English Church Services
This one should be obvious, but it still caught me off guard how much I take for granted going to church every Sunday. In most places around the world, we were able to attend church, but rarely was it in English. And that’s hard, because for me, church is a place to worship and experience community. Those things are happening around the globe, and it’s beautiful. But to go into a place where you can communicate and experience all that is there, it’s great thing.
The World Race has been an amazing adventure around the world. While things are different in every place and blanket statements about people or places are usually unfair, these are simply my observations. I’ve learned to live with less and be happy without a lot of these things, but I’ll be glad to be back in the States soon and have them again. Come visit if you need a cupcake!
