The first leg of the trip was taking a 30 minute boat ride over. A buffet lunch and drinks were included in the trip fee, and the drinks started on the way over. I went crazy and got a Sprite! When we got there, we saw the boards extending off the cliffs...a 5 meter board, 6 meter, 8 meter, and 15 meter. There were also a couple of shorter platforms to jump off of. The Kropp boys and Johnston kids, as well as the dads, Anderson, and Russ started jumping right away. I watched for a while trying to get up the nerve. After a little while, I finally jumped off the 5 meter board and thankfully made a clean landing. Shortly after that, I went for the 6 meter board, and that went smoothly as well. Woohoo! Of course, by now I didn't even feel very proud of myself because the dads, Russ, Anderson, and Kiara (Johnston) had all done the 15 meter board. Oh, well.
For lunch, the buffet included rice, some sort of Filipino noodles that I can never remember the name of, chicken curry, a type of sausage, fruit (including a yellow watermelon), and I can't remember what else. Yummy! Soon after eating, everyone was jumping again. I decided to be photographer and take pictures, but then decided that I needed a picture of myself! That meant jumping again. I briefly thought about trying the 8 meter board, but ended up all the way back down on the 5 meter one.
Inclusive in the price of the trip is the chance to snorkel and kayak. Since I got about as much jumping in as I could stand (three jumps), I decided to take the snorkels for my first ever snorkeling experience. It was pretty cool seeing different fish and starfish as well as some cliff drop offs in the water, but I ended up getting some sort of little stings all over me at one point and headed back. It was really cool but short-lived. I hope I get to go snorkeling for a longer period of time before I leave!
A little later I went kayaking. That was also fun, but nothing spectacular because there wasn't really any special place to go explore. I paddled around for a while and when I was done, went back up and thought I'd explore a little bit while everyone else was still jumping (the qualms of being the only one that was not a part of a family and not a big jumper was that I kind of was on my own...the worried moms wanted to watch their kids, of course! Thankfully, I don't mind doing things alone). The area where we were wasn't particularly large, but had lots of paths going different directions. I found some places with hammocks and different viewpoints. I sat in a hammock for a couple of minutes just because I felt like it couldn't be passed up. When I headed back, I continued to watch the others jump and just hung out. For me, it probably would have been a more fun trip if Carla, Olivia, or Lauren had went, but I still had a lot of fun anyway. I was even exhausted enough that I took a short nap sitting up on the boat ride back. Apparently Anderson did too, and the parents were all joking about how strange it was that us young ones were so tired.
Thursday, I went down the beach to play volleyball. I found a spot to sit in some shade while I was waiting for a game to finish, and a Korean guy I was sitting near started a conversation with me. I don't remember everything, but it was one of the weirdest conversations I've ever had! He asked me how many husbands I have. I told him none and he seemed so shocked. I think what he meant was how many husbands have I had, as in the number of divorces or something. He was kind of odd to be honest. A part of me wanted to leave but I also wanted to stay in shade. Plus, I really had nothing to lose by talking to him. I figured it would at least be an interesting experience.
I told him why I'm here, what I studied in college, and I don't remember what else. He told me I'm very good at English (thanks...) and that I should write a book. Most interesting part of the conversation: he said he's been to rehab four times for some sort of drug that's like cocaine. I don't remember what he called it, but he told me how to make it and everything. So, that explains his strange personality! Ha. He said that he doesn't do it now, though, and that he bikes every day. He told me he's thankful for his wife because she's stayed with him this whole time. He also said he's very lucky because he doesn't work and he made it sound like his wife has some great job and makes lots of money. His kids are all very smart, too, and went to or are at great universities. Throughout this conversation, his family was coming and going back and forth to the beach and lawn chairs.
At one point when I told him I teach English and Bible at a school, he asked how much I get paid. I told him I do it voluntarily and that I got donations at home to come. He asked me if I was a missionary like the Burnhams who were taken captive here by the Abu Sayyaf a few years ago (he didn't really use that terminology in his broken English, but I understood "missionary" and "Abu Sayyaf"). I actually just recently read Gracia Burnham's book and knew what he was talking about, and said that yes, they were missionaries and I am a missionary. He asked what religion I am and I told him I'm a Christian. "So you're Catholic?" "No, I'm a Christian but I'm not Catholic." "But you're a Catholic Christian?" "No, I'm a Christian but I'm not Catholic or Baptist or anything." I don't really remember what I said but I think I tried to explain what non-denominational means. He said, "Oh, me too. I pray every night." To that I think I said something like, "Good! I pray too, in the day or night, anytime I want!" Eventually, we somehow got back on the topic of me not having any husbands. "Not even a suitor? But you're very, what do you call it...friendly!" I was laughing on the inside. Maybe I don't have a "suitor" because I have conversations with four-time drug rehab patients. But, I did get my interesting experience out of the deal!
My fall break is over now. Iloilo, Ariel's point, games, volleyball, and this conversation made for a break to remember!
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