- One room 10 girls, 2 toilets & showers for 28 people.
- One room 9 girls, one bathroom, one shower.
- Spending every waking moment with someone near you or in the same room.
- Eating every meal together.
- When leaving the hostel/hotel/house having to go in pairs.
- Daily team times where check ins are said, feelings are shared, and feedback is given.
- Sharing every struggle, thought, emotion, because it’s impossible to hide them.
To an introvert, this sounds like a nightmare. For me it is reality.
Welcome to the World Race.
I’ll be 100% honest with you. Community sucks. (Only sometimes)
These past few months I have been struggling with community. As an introvert, I want to isolate myself. I’d rather be alone then hang out with people 24/7. I am independent, I want to go where and when I want to. I don’t share emotions, I don’t talk about my struggles. I’d rather hash it out with God then with anyone else. I avoid conflict. It makes me uncomfortable.
And that’s not all. Don’t forget about all the times when I want to use the bathroom or shower, and I have to wait in line. Or when everybody’s stuff is everywhere and it’s hard to find room for your own. Or when you want to eat when your hungry but you have to either wait for your food to arrive, or prepare it when your team is all ready to eat.
I really could go on an on with this list, but I’m gonna stop there.
Wow, the World Race sounds horrible doesn’t it?
That is where you would think wrong.
The World Race isn’t ideal for an introvert, but it at the same time is perfect for an introvert like me.
Before I continue, let me describe an introvert vs extrovert. Introverts fill up with energy by being alone, extroverts fill up on energy when being around people.
So as an introvert, being around people is draining and exhausting. On the race, you are around people 24/7…let me tell ya, I’ve been emotionally drained many of times.
Community living during the race is tough but also so so rewarding. Things I have learned while living with community
1. Fighting for for alone time is challenging, but it makes you appreciate it even more.
2. Community speaks life into you
3. They will give you constructive feedback to make you a better person. (Check out my feedback blog!)
4. There is always someone to have an adventure with.
5. God calls us to be relational humans, therefore being in community makes us better humans.
Need proof? Read these!
Colossians 3:1-17
Hebrews 10:24-25
Galatians 6:9-10
Romans 12:9-10
1 John 4:7-21
John 13:34-35
Acts 2:42-47
So if your a future world racer reading this, and your an introvert, don’t fret, you will survive! Community is great. You just have to fight for your alone time. I have. I have become an expert at putting in my headphones and zoning out the world. (My teammates have become and expert at knowing what volume level they need to say my name to get my attention)
Most importantly set boundaries for yourself.
And death of an introvert? Ha gotcha, clickbait! I’m still an introvert and most likely always will be. But I have learned to love people. I have loved hanging out with people, but I will always love my alone time.
