Excerpts from the journal of one racer, Elise Friderich. 2024.
Jan 11 : Sat in a bus for 10 hours, on the way to the Cambodian border. We weren’t allowed to cross. We have to go to a different border. 15 hours away.
Jan 12 : At 3 am, the bus driver stopped the bus on the side of the road for me to go to the bathroom. He woke up the whole bus by turning on the lights. I was very embarrassed while I peed in the woods. Also we are now stuck in Vietnam.
Jan 13 : While stuck in Ho Chi Mehn, I randomly decided to dye my hair blonde again. Me and Jo went to a hair place together and a guy named Chris kept the toner on my hair for way too long.
Jan 14 : After sleeping in the Vietnamese airport, we took a 48 minute plane ride to Cambodia. I instantly started dripping sweat on our hour long bus ride to base. Travel day(s) in all was over 53 hours.
Jan 15 : I rode in a tuktuk for the first time today. For anyone who has never rode in a tuktuk, they are missing out on a stellar experience.
Jan 18 : In the middle of my last class, the students came in with a Birthday cake for Teacher Phaneth. It wasn’t her birthday but I didn’t question free cake. It stained my teeth.
Jan 20 : Abby and I found Legos at the base. Abby made a duck and a dino and I made a castle, pirate ship and mini houses. It was a great Sabbath.
Jan 21 : At Sunday school, we did worship with the kids and none of us knew what we were singing. The dance moves were fun though.
Jan 24 : After a long day of school, my teacher bought me Boba tea. I almost cried, it was the sweetest thing.
Jan 25 : I finally learned one of my students names. She gave me a note saying “I love you.” I love my students.
Jan 27 : Best. Day. Ever. I got to pet dozens of kitty babies at a Cat Cafe. I got to eat American buffalo wings. AND I got to be with my adorable friends.
Jan 30 : Today I saw one of my students sharpening his crayon with a make shift knife he made out of a ruler. I don’t know how teachers normally do this.
Tuktuks rock! Free cake rocks! Legos rock! Worship with kids rocks! Boba tea rocks! I love yous rock! Teachers rock! You rock!
You’re having the most incredible adventures and I’m so happy for you!
I didn’t know about the peeing in the woods. 😂
Wow girl! Quite the list of days you’ve had there. Half of those days, we were stuck inside with snow and ice and single digit temperatures…which I only mention because it’s incredible to think about your being on the other side of the world experiencing these moments you describe and thinking how incredible that God is weaving His story in the midst of these vastly different experiences! And we’re just two of the billions of people living life in this mix of ordinary + extraordinary moments all part of His world and His purposes ❤️
Great update. These kids will never forget you!