This is a Guest Entry posted by Amanda
Hey!
OK, I know I said I wouldn't ever bungee because the Tarzan swing zipline thing made me feel like I was going to puke...But Mom taught me never say never.
http://www.bungee.co.cr/pag_english/eng_01_info.html
Somehow it started with the fact that five or six guys from the hostel had gone as a group. Yesterday I casually wrote to Mr. Aerospace, "I'm thinking of going bungee jumping. I want to, it's 80 m but I'm a bit scared." Using his amazing powers of persuasion ("Don't think, just do it") he got me to tell him I'd do it, and when I tell Mr. Aerospace things like that, I can't much back out, can I? Besides, he did the 43 m original jump site in NZ...
So today I felt sick all day and could only eat six guaba newtons. I got picked up at 1 pm, and nearly an hour later found myself on a jump platform, 265 feet up, about to fall 220 feet. There were three people across the bridge with another company but I was the only one in my company. Cool thing, these two companies don't really compete with each other but rather watch out for each other and each other's customers. The woman on the other side who was getting strapped up told me I looked terrified. She was totally calm. I couldn't do it; I couldn't look calm.
I admit, I was scared out of my gourd. They kept telling me not to look down, which is so much easier said than done. I didn't have my glasses on, and that was bad enough. If I had perfect vision, I probably would've puked. The dudes had to count me down something like 3 times, and it took a 14-year-old who had gone, and who looked like Cousin Aaron, telling me I'd be OK before I could go. However, when I finally let them finish the countdown, I did go. With my eyes closed until I felt my feet release. Then I opened them.
Amazing. A few seconds of freefall, a slight snap at 220 feet descent, and then swheeeeeing back up in the air, staring at the underside of this old rusted no-longer-used-by-cars bridge. I wanted to close my eyes but couldn't. Then swinging back and forth and bouncing up and down and I am staring at this tropical gorge and Rio Colorado below me and my arms are out to the side and it's... awe-inspiring and breathtaking and I didn't even feel sick.
They lowered the carabeener and I was still spinning, so it was a while before I caught it. I attached myself at the waist and they brought me back up and it was so cool to look at the river below me. Interestingly, being carried up was almost scarier than bouncing up and down on the bungee even though that meant that I was attached at another location.
I got to the top, feeling quite proud, I admit, and I said to the kid, "You look exactly like my cousin Aaron, he's in the Air Force." The guy, Phillip, said he wanted to be in the Air Force.
I told him I was a teacher and he said, "Wow, I think I'd be a little scared of one of my teachers if she bungee jumped. In a good way."
I didn't choose to go again although now I actually want to go again somewhere else and jump rather than sort of wimpily tip off, which is what I did. I have it on video (PAL format, I'll need to get that transfered) and I'd like to watch it to see if I screamed. I honestly don't remember if I did. I think I was trying to watch my mouth in case I could use the video in teaching the kids physics (although I'm quite sure my clothes shifting in a way that would prohibit that). And then once I hit the 220 ft stretch, it was so awesome looking...I don't know that I yelled, but I would be surprised if loudmouth me was actually silent...
I now have a black t-shirt that says "My first bungee" on the back with the outfitter's name on the front, and you know I'm wearing this as often as I can. I also have a Certificado de Couraje. Oooh yeah, baby, that's me.
I sort of feel like Superwoman.
Love,
Amanda
Flown by Amanda at 11:43 PM on June 30, 2005
