Cedar Rapids woman prepares for 11-month journey

In 10 days, Amanda Nylin will leave for a nearly yearlong trip with just a backpack, tent, and a few essential items.

Nylin, 26, of Cedar Rapids, who majored in biology at the University of Northern Iowa, is taking part in The World Race, a Christian mission trip in which participants visit 11 countries over 11 months.

'I got a job as a CNA and just fell in love with the direct patient care and working that close with people,” Nylin said. 'From there, I was thinking nursing school.

'I've been feeling this voice in the back of my head for the last couple years telling me to do something more and I couldn't really figure out what it was,” she added. 'Then I heard about The World Race and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that's it.' I get to go 11 different places, fall in love with 11 different cultures and do 11 different things and find out exactly what it is that I'm passionate about.”

On Sunday, Nylin and her parents will drive from Cedar Rapids to Atlanta. She will report Jan. 6 for the event's launch, and will serve as safety leader for her team of seven women.

On Jan. 10, her team leaves for India.

She and the other participants have had extensive training, including a simulation of a 12-hour overnight stay at an airport. This will come in handy, she said, as it will take the group two days to get to the Manipur region of India.

While traveling, Nylin said she will blog about her journey at amandanylin.theworldrace.org when she has access to the Internet.

Although she is excited, Nylins said she will miss her parents, two brothers and boyfriend, Danny Zawada, who also is from Cedar Rapids.

But she said she's most sad to leave behind her two Yorkshire terriers, Sophie and Sawyer.

'I'm going to miss them a lot because I can't call them up on the phone and be like, ‘OK, only six months till I get home,'” she said.

Nylin can pack up to 50 pounds in her backpack, but whatever she brings she must carry at all times. She said she is going to aim for 40 pounds, to ensure the backpack always meets airline regulations and is more manageable.

Nylin said she is bringing a week's worth of clothing, her small laptop, and necessary medication. Program mentors also have advised participants who wear makeup at home to bring it with them.

After weeks of feeling dirty and missing home, putting on some makeup can help make you feel better, Nylin said.

'The one big advice they gave us at training camp is: ditch all of your expectations, don't have any,” she said.