November 12

No longer do I have to feel the questions/comments, "Oh, you graduated.... What are you doing now? You're not going back to school? Really?"

You know why?

Because my life is awesome.

I venture to say that my fellow, same aged peers are quite jealous of the life I lead. While they were in class, studying, testing (albeit for a fantastic degree and a lovely career) this weekend I jumped the highest bungee in the world (216 m) and walked/petted/had photos taken with a cheetah.

I have said it once and I will, no doubt, say it many more times: I have learned more, experienced more, and grown more traveling, studying and working abroad than I have in the entirety of my school career.

I am 22 years old and have been to six of the seven continents. After this internship, I have worked in three continents. I have friends all over the globe.

How is that not more exciting than staying in the US and going to school?

And the even greater thing is, I can go back to school and start a career when I get back anytime I please.

I do not get excited over much. But honestly my travels are one thing that get me worked up. Especially after this weekend when I did two extreme things.

More about those....

I initially was not going to do the bungee jump. I didn't find it interesting and I didn't think I would enjoy it.

But when we got there and I saw the bridge and I knew other people on my internship were doing it and would probably not stop talking about it, I knew I had to do it. Surprisingly I didn't get that worked up or scared. When you walk out to the bridge you go in a group. Our group had like 12-15 people and they play music (I suspect so you can't hear people screaming). I went in the middle of the group... People had told me that when you get to the edge and you're ready to jump, your body instinctively tries to stop you. Mine didn't. I am not sure if this a good thing or not? I started to scream and realized it wasn't that scary and calmed down. I was traveling at 120 km/ph. Eventually the line is stretched to the max and I shot back up again and again and again. The worst part was hanging there waiting on someone to come get you. All that was running through my irrational mind was "What if they don't come? What if I am stuck hanging upside down forever?" Then all of a sudden, a man was there to bring me up.

After the bungee we headed to an animal rehabilitation center to see lots of cats and then take cheetahs for a walk in the evening. Yes, that is right. I walked a cheetah. It had a harness and leash and everything. It was fantastic. Made me miss my kitty at home. Our cheetah, Duma, liked to stop at every tree and mark his territory.

But today, it was back to the grind. Kinda.

I was at the aquarium this morning and it was a bit exciting. I was able to tag a shark. Which kinda made me want to throw up. Basically someone holds down the shark and I had to take a pick looking thing that held the tag and push it into the shark.

Do you know how tough shark skin is?

I do. I had to use all my might (little as that may be) to push that thing into the shark. Then when it breaks the skins it makes a terrible noise. That's the part that makes me want to puke. I just think, I someone held me underwater and stabbed me with pointy thing, I'd be pretty upset. Apparently it doesn't hurt the shark....

How do they know?

I also learned that men from Ireland wear speedos.

Not a good thing.