2.12.17
Being here in South Africa has allowed me to experience things I had
never dreamed of. For living without my parents, being in a house with 17
other people, going to an incredible internship three days a week, and taking
classes at UCT has all been so rewarding, but it’s also amazing being able to
go on excursions during free time on the weekends. For instance, going to
the Garden Route last week was probably one of the greatest times of my life;
there wasn’t a moment when I wasn’t smiling. I adore wildlife, so
starting off the trip with a Safari literally had me jumping in my seat and
squealing (just ask Taylor). The lionesses had to be the most exciting
siting given that they were all sisters lying so close to the road, but
elephants are my favorite animals, so seeing them was also wonderful. That being said, walking with elephants was
the greatest! While there are debates at
how ethical the sanctuary is, given that the elephants only have access to 2
out of 26 acres of land, they were all rescued from terrible conditions and
heart-breaking situations, whom rely on our money to fund their home, so I like
to believe that the elephants are experiencing a more enriching life here. I was also so thankful to walk and take
pictures with Marula, and I hope I can visit her again with my mom!
My next activity had to be one of the most insane decisions of my life,
but I have absolutely no regrets about doing it. Bungee-jumping off the world’s highest
commercial bridge, at 216 meters, may seem a bit extreme, but I knew that this
was something I had to do – that I needed to prove to myself that I could do
anything as long as I believed I could. Taking that literal leap of faith that
the bungee wouldn’t snap, plunging me into an untimely death, I felt for a
blissful moment as if the world stood still, as if nothing else mattered than
that very moment. I admit, watching the
video of my jump with my feet obviously slipping significantly from the harness
was rather startling, but even so, I’d definitely consider jumping again! It
gave me the reassurance I needed to face my fears.
Visiting the Cango
Wildlife Ranch was the final part of our trip, but most definitely the highlight. Petting Rain, the teenage cheetah, was likely
one of the happiest moments of my life.
For anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with cats, so being able to
interact with a big, wild cat who was so sweet and friendly made my heart
almost explode. I wish I could’ve taken
him home with me, but I don’t think my other cats would be too happy about
that…
I
knew from the moment I heard about this trip that I was going to do the cheetah
encounter, but as for the crocodile, I thought no way could someone pay me
enough to do that. Yet, after
bungee-jumping, I thought nothing was impossible (not that I wasn’t terrified
to be in the water with only a cage separating me from a jaw-crushing reptile). Nevertheless, despite my initial
reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed being the water with Jason – he really is a
beautiful creature, whose calm demeanor provided me with a greater awareness
about how there is beauty in all living things, that even when media portrays
them as monstrous, these creatures deserve respect and understanding. Needless to say, my weekend at the Garden
Route was life-changing, and while it may seem that my experiences can’t get
much better than that, I am still greatly anticipating all that is to come.
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