Seeking Discomfort.

Hi! 

I am so sorry for the lack of posts recently, I’m still recovering from the business of the past few weeks! I had the most incredible weekend (or should I say 36 hours). As I said earlier, we have no class Friday and last weekend we had no organized programs, so all 18 of us students decided to travel to Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls. We left campus at 2:30 am on Friday morning and didn’t arrive in Chobe until 4:15 pm. 

I have a talent for sleeping in the car, so it wasn’t a miserable drive. We were all quiet, watching tv, or doing whatever possible to entertain ourselves when someone yelled out “Elephant!” We all looked out the window and saw a huge elephant munching on the grass on the side of the road. It was so exciting, and after that for the rest of the drive, we all had our eyes peeled on the road. The rest of the drive consisted of seeing dozens of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelope. 

Morals and delusions were high, and energy was low, but when we made it to the hostel, we had about 5 minutes before we went on a sunset river safari! Since it’s currently winter in Africa, the sun sets around 6 pm. We were bummed that our river safari was cut by 2 hours because of the amount of pee breaks we took on the drive but the hour we spent on the water was amazing! About 2 minutes into the boat ride, we saw a dozen elephants and hippos walking through the water and chomping on the grass. Being able to see them so close and in their natural habitat was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. 

After watching the most insane sunset, we went back to the hostel. We spent the night in tents and woke up bright and early to make the most of our time there! We left the hostel at 7 am and headed for Vic Falls, which was only an hour's drive away. Unfortunately, it took about 2.5 hours to actually arrive there because crossing the border into Zimbabwe was much more difficult than anticipated. Once we crossed over, we were greeted by dozens of baboons, elephants, and zebras on the side of the road. 

Visiting Vic Falls has always been a dream of mine, so I was beyond excited! As soon as I decided to study abroad in Africa, I knew I had to visit and check off the number one item on my bucket list there, bungee jumping off the bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia. I don’t remember when or how I saw a video of someone bungee jumping at Vic Falls but I knew I had to do it there. 

Pulling up to the park I was already so nervous to jump. I knew that I had to jump before going into the falls, so I could fully enjoy the sites and not be consumed with nerves and anxiety. I don’t necessarily remember the walk to the bridge beside the fact I was soaking wet due to the pure force of the falls (even though it was very far away from the bridge). The woman who helped us book the jumps warned us to not look down as soon as we step foot on the bridge. So naturally, the first thing I did was look down. It definitely wasn’t the smartest move, but when someone says not to do something it always makes you more enticed to do it. 

My legs were so wobbly walking across the bridge, and when I made it to the office to sign my life away I was on the verge of vomiting. I don’t think I had ever been so nervous in my life, even when I went skydiving I didn’t feel the way I did then. There was a man sitting in the office, so I asked him if he jumped, and he said his wife did. I asked him how she did, and all he did was pause. At that exact moment, one of my friends walked out of the bathroom and said “There’s someone violently throwing up in the bathroom right now!” I turned around and looked at the man, and he said “that someone is my wife”. He gave a quick smile and said “good luck” and left. I was scared shitless at the moment. 

We walked back onto the bridge, and yup you guessed it, I looked down the entire time thinking “How and why the F am I  jumping headfirst off of here into crocodile-infested water?” At that moment, one of the men working approached me with a harness. I knew I had to do it, but truly thought I was going to shit my pants at that moment. For some unclear reason, I was chosen to jump first. When they waved me over to climb onto the platform, the only words that came out of my mouth shall not be repeated. They told me to sit down, and they started to put the equipment on. By equipment, I mean the towels used to wrap my ankles together. Yup, you heard that right, bath towels were wrapped around my ankles and were supposed to protect me while plummeting 37 stories off a bridge at 100/MPH. Once the towels and strap were on, I was told to jump over to the ledge. 

Once I made it to the ledge, I said more choice words that you can hear in the video. I was so incredibly nervous, but once they started to count down from five, everything changed. I hadn’t jumped yet, but I felt so free, calm, and excited. That feeling of complete serenity lasted until they hit three on the countdown. Once I heard “three”, I thought I was going to faint. Then at “two”, I took a deep breath and pretended I was at a swim meet on the diving block about to race. Before I knew it, I was freefalling head first towards croc-infested rapids. 

I wish I could fully explain how I felt at that moment; happy, terrified, free, brave, and proud of myself. I’m not sure if this will make sense, but it felt good choosing to do something scary. I have been faced with many scary things in life that I did not choose, so it felt good to be in control of feeling that emotion. Although the fear before surgery or treatment is different than that when jumping off a bridge, I felt powerful for choosing to feel scared and fearful. Bungee jumping, an exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping adventure, serves as a powerful metaphor for the importance of seeking discomfort and fear in our lives

Life is often filled with routines and comfort zones that keep us feeling safe and secure. However, it is in moments of discomfort and fears that we truly discover our hidden potential and learn invaluable lessons about ourselves. By willingly facing our fears, we develop resilience and the ability to overcome challenges in various aspects of life. Jumping taught me that fear is often an illusion that holds me back, and by confronting it head-on, I unlocked a new level of courage and confidence.

Our comfort zones are self-imposed limits that prevent us from fully experiencing life. Bungee jumping pushes these boundaries and forces us to confront our limitations. When we step off that platform, we break free from the constraints we have placed on ourselves, opening up a world of possibilities. By seeking discomfort, we gain a greater appreciation for the vastness of life and realize that our potential extends far beyond what we thought possible.

It demands vulnerability as we relinquish control and surrender to the experience. Similarly, seeking discomfort and fear in our daily lives involves embracing vulnerability. It means being open to new opportunities, relationships, and challenges, even when we don't have all the answers. Through vulnerability, we cultivate empathy, connection, and personal growth.

It reminds us that life is meant to be lived to the fullest and that extraordinary moments await those who are willing to seek them out. By embracing discomfort and fear, we unlock the ability to appreciate the beauty of life's highs and lows, finding joy in the journey rather than solely focusing on the destination.

Bungee jumping serves as a powerful reminder that seeking discomfort and fear can be transformative experiences that lead to personal growth, resilience, and a broader perspective on life. By stepping outside our comfort zones, we learn to conquer fear, expand our boundaries, embrace vulnerability, learn from failure, and fully embrace the thrill of life. So, let's challenge ourselves, take that leap into the unknown, and discover the extraordinary growth that awaits us on the other side of fear.

That’s enough with all the cheesy shit for now:) I promise I’ll be better at updating (or I promise to TRY to be better at posting!)

Xoxo,

Abbie