If I were a more responsible writer and friend, I would have been writing religiously for the last five weeks. However, I’m not, and this is what everyone shall receive.
During the last month, I have bungee jumped, zip lined, lounged on the beach, hiked, mountain biked down a volcano, visited beautiful waterfalls, swam in the Pacific and learned Spanish. I’ve also learned what it’s like to truly miss home. How can I possibly sufficiently recap this experience? It seems nearly impossible to capture every moment. It’s hard to do through photography, I can say that. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I can only imagine this will be more difficult. I’ll start with the bungee jumping.
Bungee Jumping
A little know fact about myself, I secretly love semi-risky things. Secondly, I am weird. I am afraid of rollerblading, skating, and anything else where I feel like I have no control over falling or not. However, for some reason, I deem skydiving, rollercoasters, bungee jumping, parasailing and things of that nature relatively safe. Just don’t try to make me ice skate. I might fall! So, of course, I have always wanted to try bungee jumping.
A lot of people in my group had talked about wanting to try it. Before going on our trip to Baños, I decided there was no way I was jumping off a bridge in Ecuador. If I were to do that, it would be in the safety of my homeland, the good old United States. As with most things though, I changed my mind.
When we arrived at the site of future bungee jumps, I saw a girl take the plunge. It looked amazing. Then I found out that it only cost $15. The clincher. Sometimes, you feel like you have an opportunity to do something and maybe you should go for it. And sometimes opportunity stares you in the face. This one was looking right at me.
I decided for sure that I was going to do this thing, and sealed the deal by telling all my friends I was going for it. And then, I felt nauseous. I watched a few others jump, and saw one of my classmates get into the bungee gear. By bungee gear, I mean the small harness they strap around your torso. I realized that I just wanted to suit up and get on that bridge. As soon as the old man/bungee worker guy came back to our group, I threw myself to the front of the line and told him I was ready to go. I mean, I think that’s what I told him. My Spanish wasn’t exactly up to par at the moment, and I really could have said anything. I guess he got the point though, because two minutes later, I was wearing a bungee harness and climbing the stairs to the bridge.
When I got to the top, another girl, Rebecca was ready to jump. Our teacher, Mario, was also standing up there with her. She took the hand of old man/bungee guy #2 and Mario and stood on the edge of the wall. As she held their hands, she was given the instructions. Then, when she was ready to go, she jumped. As I watched her fall, I knew it was my time.
The worker reeled the bungee cord back in after Rebecca had been detached. He looked at me, and asked me if I was ready. I said I was, and I got hooked onto the rope. Then, he indicated that I should mount the railing of the bridge. If you know me well, you know I’m not balanced. At all. The idea of standing on the edge of a bridge is not exactly appealing. Of course, Mario was no where to be found, because he had joined the other students at the bottom of the bridge, the observation deck, if you will. So, when I started to climb up, I grabbed the hand of a random middle aged man, who probably thought I had no sense being up there. Random or not, he helped stablize me. Then, I found myself standing on the top of a bridge over a river.
The scariest part of the whole bungee jumping expierence was, hands down, standing on the railing of the bridge. I felt ill. In that moment, I wanted off that bridge more than I have ever wanted anything. When I was hearing the instructions, I wasn’t listening, I was plotting my escape. There was only one way off of this thing, and I was about to do it. I did hear him tell me that once he said, “1,2,3, go!”, I was free to jump. Anxiously, I awaited my permission, and as soon as he uttered the word, “go”, I was off of that ledge.
I can so clearly recall the view that I had for no more than two seconds. It was absolutely amazing. It was such an unnatural view of nature. I was so close to the trees and the land, but I was above them. For just a second or two, I was flying—or as close as I’ll ever come to flying. It took my breath away. I know that it was only a few seconds, but I remember it as if it were a few minutes. It was as if time momentarily stopped.
Then, I was back to reality. And I was falling fast. It was frightening, but more than anything, it was exhilarating. I felt so free and uninhibited. I felt to powerful, yet I was completely out of control of my own body. I couldn’t stop smiling. After I finished, I was shaking. It was just an unreal experience.
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