Pfunds, Austria- August 16, 2004
Today was an interesting day. We are now at the Native Spirit Camp, and there aren't any computers here. In fact I have to write down notes and typing it into this journal a week later after the event.
So what happened today? Well, we started Module 2. We woke up in the morning, packed our stuff, and took military vehicles to this particular location. Apparently, our program director knows someone or another who was able to take all of the students to this part of the country in military vehicles. It was kind of cool sitting in the back of one of those things on a major highway in Austria. So thats how we got to the camp to start with.
Once on the outskirts of it, we left our backpacks with the new "bosses" for the week. They proceeded to give us helmets, harnesses, and ropes and such. We did a walk, then they showed us how to use the equipment. So next was climbing some very steep cliffs and edges of cliffs by hooking the harness along the ropes and such. It was interesting. Near the end of that trip, there was the camp across this very large river. Lastly we had to hook our harness onto a rope that would bring us across the river canyon whatever-you-call-it and over to the other side. I saw this kind of stuff before on the reality tv shows, but having to actually do it myself made me quite anxious. So to counter the anxiety, I volunteered to go first before everyone else. Standing on a ledge looking down off a cliff 100 feet was scarey as hell.. jumping from it a moment later was even worse. I could hardly stand on the podium, but I did, the hooked me up, and the guide just pushed me off the ledge. Strangely it was only scarey for a moment, then the grapple hook or whatever it was just hooked into place, and I sailed easily and safely to the other side! Pretty fricking cool though! Never thought I'd do anything like that before, and definetely not on my own of my own free will. But now I have and felt great. But it did make me anxious wondering what kind of stuff might be next!
Once on the other side, we slowly waited for each one to also come over, and had a great time watching peoples faces as they were one-by-one being pushed or just jumping over the cliff to join the other side. But ultimately we'd all came across. Then we went to our camp. For the next 7 days, we'd be living in teepees. Our particular teepee had 9 people of the total 24 in the group. We put out our sleeping bags and claimed our places. That would be home along the river doing whatever it would be that guides wanted us to do.
The nighttime was equally great as we went to another teepee and the guides and others whoever wanted to played drums and such around a campfire. Had a great time. This particular teepee was really decorated with everything that would constitute the image of Native American.. and all made by hand with basic wood and such. Great evening and great introduction into whatever it is we'd be doing for the next 7 days.
Next Journal Entry in Austria:
August 20, 2004
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Wintermoon2@yahoo.com