White Water Rafting

Yesterday, I went white water rafting with all of the rest of the native English teachers from the Nambu district. It was AMAZING.

Of course, certain parts of the journey were frustrating considering there were about 60 whiny westerners along for the trip and 2 Korean women who just don't quiiiiiite know how to communicate effectively. But, overall, it was a blast. We traveled 3 hours by bus to the East where there were incredible mountains and scenery. I want to live out there, it's amazing.

Then, we ate some lunch, bundled up in life jackets and helmets, piled into some rickety, well used-vans and raced to the river. I must say that the van ride to the river was one very memorable experience. I was certain at many different points along the way that we'd go careening over the mountain side or that the bottom would simply just fall out of the van. That van was build to hold 10 people and there were definitely 15 people in it! 15 people with life jackets and helmets on!

We felt safe!

Then we got to the river. The boat that held me and my 9 team mates was, once again, called team awesome!!

We were the worst rafters in the history of rafting. Unless you consider getting stuck on every possible rock good rafting... cause that's what we did! We rocked.... HAHAHA!!!!!

Our guide, bless his heart, spoke almost no English and unfortunately no one in our raft spoke more Korean than I do. AND, none of us are well versed in rafting terminology!!

Needless to say it was a liiiiiittle confusing at times... but we had a blast. The first thing that happened was that I smashed my paddle into a guys nose.

That was fun for him.

But, then we got going and we really did have a good time. He pulled me in the water to retaliate! Then, everyone got pulled into the water. It was so fun to swim around and just act like a child again. Because we had to wear those helmets and life jackets the whole time, we all looked like children anyways.... might as well act like them.

Jess was especially cute in her little Capri's, life jacket and yellow helmet. Pulling her into the raft one time, I was struck by how much like a little boy she looked! Only rafting can do that!!

Getting back into the raft was a little tricky. Most of the guys had enough upper body strength to be able to pull themselves in, but us women... well, we had a little more trouble. Our guide showed us that if we have our back to the boat, two people can grab onto your life-jacket and pull you into the boat.

Well... this "worked" but it didn't work that well. It only really worked if you were about the size and weight of say.... a Korean.

We westerners are just a little bigger.

We developed a new way of getting in the raft after realizing that the backwards way isn't very effective.... I like to call it... "Slither in like a fish, way." It's much better; you just land on your head when you get in... no big deal!

So, 4 hours after playing and splashing, getting stuck on rocks, swimming, and playing so more, we made our way to the pick up point.

My arms were dead.... still are dead. And, my butt has never felt so..... interesting either.

Sadly, I don't have any pictures. My camera is not waterproof. But, one of the guys in my boat had a waterproof camera and he got some good shots. Hopefully I'll be able to share those pictures with everyone soon!

Until next time!



Hil