My awesome sis, Kel Rampmeyer, did an excellent job capturing the “typical” world race travel experience. Enjoy a day in the life of I-squad… 😉
If you’re reading this, you are probably familiar with the layout of The World Race. We travel to a country each month, sometimes more, for eleven months. It has come to my attention that many people assume we are traveling in Air Force One type accommodations. I am writing this to shine light on our beloved travel days and to give you a glimpse into what a travel day looks like on the race. I decided to document the squad’s journey from Lilongwe, Malawi to Beira, Mozambique. These are the events that occurred:
Friday, January 8: 9:02 pm – Learn that transportation will be picking us up in the morning between the hours of 5am and noon.
Saturday, January 9: 8:01 am – Bus driver calls to inform us that he is one block away.
9:15 am – Bus arrives. Make mental note that blocks in Africa must be LARGE.
9:21 am – Begin to load packs into bus. Question how 23 people and their human size packs are going to fit into this “bus” which more resembles a bicycle built for two.
9:39 am – Successfully cram into said “bus,” and depart. Leave behind two malaria-sufferers and a caretaker. Admire the fact that our squad has become talented at loading a van like tetris pieces.
9:42 am – Seize opportunity to stick heads out window and have a photo shoot.
11:14 am – Arrive at boarder between Malawi and Mozambique. Get stamped. Saddle up. Admire ever hardening muscles and personal strength.
11:15 am – Walk across boarder.
11:36 am – Attempt to enter Mozambique, only to find that the boarder patrol is having a collectively bad day. Fill out visa’s for squad and wait. And wait. And wait.
1:16 pm – Contemplate other modes of transportation. Consult locals.
2:13 pm – Receive visas and board a new van. New van seems less spacious than the previous bicycle-built-for-two.
3:06 pm – Arrive at a pit stop on the side of the road. Relieve self in a corn field.
3:15 pm – Board a yet another new van. This van appears to be a bicycle-built-for-one.
3:16 pm – Pray that limbs will still operate properly after exit from this vehicle. I can lick my knees in my sitting position.
7:15 pm – Get stopped by Mozambique police. Van driver follows police escort to police station.
7:21 pm – Show passports and prove that we are indeed, not terrorists. (Or Pakistani.)
7:22 pm – Document this event. As a journalist, it is my civic duty.
7:22 and 15 seconds – Officer requests my camera. Apparently photos are illegal at police station. Say “no” and plead America ignorance. Crisis averted.
7:23 pm – Re-board van and take more photos with the flash turned off. Smile at my successful law breaking. Consider calling CIA and inquiring if they need any inside jobs done. Will tell them of my tactics.
10:08 pm – Arrive at bus station. Learn that our next bus will be leaving at 4 am. Hunt for dinner. Devour pizza and chug half gallon of water.
Sunday, January 10: 12:15 am – Board the next bus and fall asleep until the bus’s departure.
12:15 and 2 seconds – apologize to Hannah for my rude flash disturbing her slumber.
4:00 am – Bus departs sketchy bus station. Attempt to sleep amongst the bumps.
6:18 am – Wake up to the sound of chickens squawking. Remember that in Africa, chickens frequent bus travel.
2:57 pm – Bus arrives in Beira. Load our packs into cart and follow cart on the “half kilometer walk.”
3:22 pm – After walking at least a mile and a half – arrive at destination. Develop a newfound appreciation for accurate distance estimations.
3:23 pm – Pass out.
Let’s Race!
