Bungee Jumping!

So this weekend was a long weekend for Women’s Day so 8 friends and I decided to do the Garden Route. Of course, one cannot travel along the Garden Route without stopping in Plettenberg Bay and jumping off the highest bungee jump in the world! In case you didn’t know, I am deathly afraid of heights so this was not the most exciting thing for me. However, I still felt the need to conquer this fear. After all, you probably only get one chance to jump off the highest bungee bridge in the world, so I had to take it.

Sunday morning was the fateful day. We lucked out with the weather—not a cloud in the sky. Once we arrived and I saw the bridge we were jumping off of I deeply considered sprinting off in the opposite direction and hiding out until everyone else had jumped. Alas, I stuck my ground, bought my ticket, and got into my harness. To get to the platform where you jump, everyone has to hike across this long, extremely thin, metal-grated bridge so next thing I know I’m walking across the scariest bridge I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

The bridge is the same height as the jump (so 216 meters, which translates to about 710 feet) and because the bottom is grated, I could see everything I was about to jump into. Everything that I was about to jump into = a huge canyon forest. Needless to say I started crying immediately.

Once our group got to the jumping platform, the DJs started playing techno, which finally distracted me and made me stop crying. Then, before I know it, the first girl is getting ready to jump. They bring her to the edge, count down from 5, tell her to go, and she’s gone!! I’ve never seen such a strange sight, but it did make me feel a lot better because she was raving about the experience once they pulled her up to the platform.

Soon enough it’s my turn (I’m second to last in the lineup), and again, I’m crying. My friend Emily was sitting next to me and she asked me a question: “Do you believe in God?” I said yes and she told me that God had created all the beauty around us and that we were going to jump into it. And while we did, He would be holding us all the way. The way she put it made me feel so lucky that I could experience His work so that gave me some courage to carry on. Next, they strap up my ankles in ropes and lead me to the edge of the platform. I honestly have never been so scared in my entire life. In my mind, jumping off a bridge equals suicide so I had no idea how I was going to bring myself to jump.

“5-4-3-2-1 Bungeeeeeeee!” My mind is blank and with a slight nudge from the workers, I just fall. I find myself soaring above the most gorgeous canyon I’ve ever seen. Okay, soaring is the nice way to put it—in reality, I was plummeting to my death. There were definitely some choice words coming out of the mouth of Erin Corr at that moment. But luckily the freefall only lasts about 5 seconds so there was really no time to truly freak out. Once I felt the tension of the rope, I knew I was safe and could “relax.”

The view of the green trees in the canyon and the river below me was all I could see and the sound of the waves and the ocean was all I could hear. It was the most serene and peaceful experience. An almost spiritual one. After about a minute of hanging head first, 300 ft. above the ground, I am rescued by one of the workers who holds me as we are pulled up to the top.

I’m sorry that post was so long, but that was definitely the most exciting, terrifying, and beautiful thing I’ve ever done so I felt the need to share all the gory details.

Love you guys.

The view of the canyon.

The view of the ocean (behind the platform).

The platform.

The bridge from hell.

My first dive!

Getting ready to jump!

Getting tied in! I look a lot happier than I felt...

In front of the canyon.

The view from the top of the bridge!!

Back on the ground, safe and sound!

So happy to be rescued.

The fall, part 3.

The fall, part 2.

The fall, part 1.

Feeling like a freshman

My first week of classes went by so fast! I really like them all actually. I'm taking History of Southern Africa in the 20th Century, Psychology of Religion, Social Psychology, and African Dance. They're all pretty interesting and each teacher is awesome in their own way. I thought my African Dance class would be my easy class, but boy was I wrong. The past two classes we've learned a ridiculous amount of steps and in my last class he told us we haven't even danced yet--uh oh. We also have theory for an hour on Thursdays so needless to say, its harder than I expected, but still really cool.

My first day of school was so intimidating, but now I feel like I know the campus and people a lot better. While standing in line waiting for the jammie (the bus that takes us up to upper campus) on my first day I couldn't have felt like more of a loser. I stuck out like a sore thumb among all the cool local South Africans, or at least I thought I did. Come to think of it maybe it was just the guy commenting on "all the Americans" that made me feel so awkward...Either way I felt like I did freshman year and it wasn't a great feeling. After that day though I became so much more comfortable and started seeing familiar faces on campus. I also realized how nice everyone is once you get to know them! Its so cool walking around between classes and realizing how unique everyone is who goes to this school. Everyone comes from such different backgrounds and it is a mix of so many different cultures. I feel like I can learn a lot from the people here.

Since my last post I have hiked (more like scaled...) Lion's Head, gone to the aquarium, shopped at Green Market Square, took a weekend trip to Stellenbosch, went to a rugby game, and visited Robben Island. Lion's Head was the most beautiful view I have ever seen. We had a 360 degree view of downtown Cape Town, Camps Bay, and many more gorgeous locations by the ocean. My friends and I are definitely going to return at sunset to enjoy some wine and cheese at the top :) The aquarium was a lot of fun, but similar to most other aquariums. They had a pretty cool shark tank and a penguin feeding! Green Market Square is an outside flea market in downtown that has amazing knick-knacks, jewelry, tapestries, paintings, bowls and spoons, etc. at pretty good prices! Of course I had to leave with a couple souvenir necklaces. Stellenbosch was a lot of fun as well! Unfortunately we were only there for a night, but staying in a hostel was still a great experience and in two weeks CIEE is taking us back there for some wine tasting. The rugby game was a lot of fun, but to be honest I had no idea what was going on. We won though! Robben Island was obviously so moving and so cool to see. The tour from the former political prisoner was my favorite part. He was so candid and open about his experiences in the prison, which was hard to hear but at the same time very eye-opening.

Rachel and Mary outside of our hostel in Stellenbosch.

View of downtown Cape Town from the top of Lion's Head.

Me sitting on the top of Lion's Head.

A huge eel at the aquarium!

Some goodies at Green Market Square.

Mary, Me, and Alli on the boat ride back from Robben Island. Thats Brooks on the top he accidentally jumped into the picture.

Our tour guide at Robben Island.

Nelson Mandela's cell where he was imprisoned for 27 years.

Sorry that was so much writing! Miss and love you all.