i heard that the july squads just had training camp this week! this is so crazy to think about…i can’t even believe that just 7 months ago i was at training camp, completely clueless about what i was getting myself into. and now, i’m going into month 6 of the world race…still a little clueless about what i’ve gotten myself into.
i know the two months of preparation between traning camp and launch can be a little overwhelming. some days it seems like there's not enough time and some days it seems like launch will never come. so, i thought maybe i’d share 9 things i wish i’d known or done in those two months. why 9? i don’t know, why not? that’s how many i could think of. so here it is…
- practice packing. I’M SERIOUS PEOPLE. don’t wait till the day before you’re leaving to pack your pack for the first time. i may have made this mistake. and it may have been a completely miserable 8+ hours of packing and unpacking and repacking and crying.
- work on fundraising. and work hard. the less you have to do this on the field, the better. trust me.
- you don’t need all the things you think you need. bring clothes you actually wear at home. but not many. bring a toothbrush. that about covers it. you think i’m joking; i’m not joking.
- relax. take a lot of time to just be present with the ones you love. don’t talk about world race in every conversation you have. take a whole day each week where you don’t do anything world race related. it will be glorious.
- help your parents set up skype on their computers. don’t make them ask you 97 times. they’re gonna miss you, and wanna see your face a couple times. show them that you’re excited to keep in contact with them by helping with this one small thing.
- write thank you notes. to every single person who has helped you in any possible way. let the people who support you know how grateful you are for their presence in your journey. you wouldn’t be here without them.
- start meeting with God daily. He doesn’t just want to speak to you on the race, He wants to speak to you now. maybe give Him a head start in the things He wants to do in your heart this year.
- stop trying to be mentally/emotionally/spiritually/culturally/physically/ministerialy prepared. the world race is a sociologist’s nightmare. the only norm of the world race is that there are no norms. there’s really no way to plan for what you’re about to experience. i thought if i read every blog and willed myself to have no expectations, i’d be set. wrong. trust that God is about to take you on the craziest adventure of your life, and that it’s ok if you aren’t “prepared”. He doesn’t expect you to be.
- BREATHE! everything is going to be ok. actually, it’s gonna be freaking awesome. even if you don’t get all your supplies, or check off everything on the to-do list…you’ll still get on that airplane in july. take a deep breath. this is really happening. this is real life. it’s ok if you want to do a lil happy dance now.
if you just got home from training camp, i hope you had a blast. i hope you like your squad mates and your team mates. but don’t worry, even if you think you don’t like them, that will probably change. i hope you enjoyed the fish head soup. i hope that you aren’t too freaked out about what you’ve gotten yourself into. but i also hope you’re a little freaked out. i mean, where’s the fun in it if you aren’t? mostly i hope training camp got you totally excited about what’s to come! it’s real. it’s happening. you’re going on the world race.
launch will be here before you know it! i’m so excited for you! i hope you’re excited too!
