My squad mate Melissa Lowell and I wrote this lovely blog the other day when we were preparing to leave for Mozambique. We leave in 3 days.
This is the beginning of the end.
It’s all down hill from this moment.
I have made it to the end of month 6 which also means that I have made it past the half way point.
I started this crazy, radical thing 6 months ago
As I am writing this I am sitting outside watching my teammates and other squad mates:
relax in the small hammock community in the trees
cook on the fire
& mop with the water from the spicket outside
I am looking at:
laundry hanging from any board or hanging place outside,
the tent village that we have created
& the forrest that is behind the place we have called home for the past 3 weeks.
THIS is the World Race.
THIS is my normal.
THIS is my life.
I have forgotten how to live without at least 1 person beside me all the time
I don’t remember the month it is, only the country I am in
I rarely ever remember the date or the day of the week
I find the cheapest thing on the menu just so I can use the internet at the cafe
It is expected of me to share my feeling anytime anyplace, and I will gladly do it
Hammocks have become my couch
Driving myself anywhere is not an option anymore
I don’t have an apartment, just a tent
It is now understood that getting from point A to point B will take at least 3 days
Only spending 10 hours on a bus is exciting
Not showering for 3 days is normal
I am now able to sleep:
On a train
On a bus
On the floor
On top of bags
At the bus station
At the airport
Sitting upright
I am amazed at the food we can make without an oven or a stove
I can now pack all of my belongings in less than 30 minutes, including my housing
Cornflakes for breakfast and peanut butter and bread for lunch are the routine
Mirrors are now a luxury, because I only see myself in the reflection of the window glass
No matter the season my wardrobe does NOT change. I have worn the same things for the past 6 months
I’ve become a math whiz constantly figuring out exchange rates to see if the coke is worth the price
Bug spray and sunscreen are valuable commodities
“Going out” now means going to the nearest gas station, convenient store or tienda
I haven’t had an address in 6 months (in fact I currently have no idea where I am)
When I say “thank you” to someone it comes out in multiple languages
I have forgotten what my life was like before the race
I am Amazed at how much love my heart can hold for the beautiful children and the new relationships I have made around the world thus far
THIS is the World Race.
THIS is my normal.
THIS is my life.
