Fear of the unknown

Duh nuh… Duh nuh… Duh nuh Duh nuh Duh nuh Duh nu. SHARKS!!! I am a huge beach bum and have been surfing ever since I can remember. Growing up on a beach along the Atlantic, I fortunately never really had to worry about sharks. Last year I went surfing while in Sanya, China which was a bit unnerving because a typhoon had just hit and the waves were possibly the biggest I had ever seen, but I did not have to worry about sharks. Every show I watch on the discovery channel or animal planet that deals with sharks, there is always a surfer getting attacked. Recently, I have been doing a lot of detailed research on the surfing spots around places that we visit and South Africa is without a doubt a Mecca of surfing, but essentially every beach has the potential to be a reenactment of the movie Jaws. Anyway, I know that I may not even get the chance to surf in South Africa, but I truly hope that I will and that I will come out alive, maybe with just a little scar to show off when I get back or something (just kidding). On the same note, I am nervous about the safaris. Although I have been through the safari at Six Flags Great Adventure many times, I have never been in a jeep with no roof or doors and in the animals’ natural environment. The experience will be very scary yet humbling.
I think that every day that I wake up and prepare to spend my day in South Africa will be a humbling experience. Going to uncharted lands that are so rich in culture and history is intimidating, but more so exciting. This may sound a bit cliché, but I am truly looking forward to every aspect of this study abroad journey. From Mandela’s cell on Robben Island to the land of the great outdoors in Krueger to the modern city of Cape Town, the trip doesn’t seem to have a dull moment listed in the itinerary. The local barbeques also sound like a blast; I absolutely love trying new foods. Lastly, I am excited to make personal connections with people on the trip and people that I meet along our expedition. The confusing yet interesting reality is that sometimes you have to go all the way to a foreign country just to become friends with someone that might live right next door to you at Elon. This brings me back to something that I fear, because I just found out that my roommate for South Africa, who by chance is my next door neighbor at school, may not be able to come on the trip with us due to a leg injury. I hope that he will get well soon and the doctors allow him to come on this fantastic voyage ahead of us.