SCAVENGER HUNT

As participants in the HumanRace, we enjoyed reading your writer’s version of the so-called “Scavenger Hunt From Hell.” Although Linda’s experience seems atypical of the majority of those who raced around the world last November, (her article) was nonetheless enjoyable. As she aptly states, there were real problems and mistakes made by the event’s organizers; yet we should remember that this was the first event of its kind ever attempted and included both logistical and behavioral uncertainties no one could have ever anticipated.

Linda, we feel, lost sight of the reality that this was indeed a race. Feeling rushed, skipping meals and running about screaming at locals were the very least of our problems. More to the point, transportation snafus, language barriers, along with challenging tasks and resourceful competitors, proved more difficult obstacles for us to overcome.

Indeed, it was a hectic race and we did miss out interacting with intriguing natives and enjoying beautiful sights along the way. But we entered this competition knowing full well that this time around we would only be global grazers. A photo op here, a tourist trophy there, and away we went participating in a wild and fulfilling cultural experience of a lifetime. Whether in first-class hotels or camel caravans through the desert, from ancient burial grounds in Indonesia or the Louvre in Paris, we experienced this global village of ours like never before imagined. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and we’ll do it again next year.

WILLIAM D. CHALMERS

Brentwood

ANDY VALVUR

New York, N.Y.

Editor’s note: Chalmers and Valvur were the winners of the race.