Africa – Page 16 – DU Abroad

Have you ever spoken to someone that has climbed Mount Everest? That is a seriously amazing feat that people should brag about every single day of their lives. I am here to also brag about a seriously amazing thing that I did. I CLIMBED LADY SLIPPER. And holy crap was it quite an adventure.

The morning started with a lovely taxi ride to the mountain where we were all getting pumped up for this super awesome hike that we were about to complete. I don’t think anyone actually knew what we were getting ourselves into…

She doesn’t look too bad from the bottom but she was quite a trek! I wouldn’t say that I am a very unfit person but after this hike, I have never felt more unfit in my entire life!!

Entry at own risk… what an understatement that was!

The hike started just fine and I was actually keeping up with everyone that was moving extremely fast! And then out of nowhere, I was by myself trying to climb up a freaking mountain. And this was no simple hike! This was a completely uphill hike. It felt like I was just climbing straight up at some moments.

I found myself all alone on this massive mountain that was covered in brush and bushes so I couldn’t find anyone else in that area! I looked around frantically before remembering to breath and I started the journey up the mountain. I was climbing and climbing when I finally ran into civilization. I found two beautiful souls that let me join them on the hike. They were also international students who had gotten lost from the group, their names being Elise and Kaja. They let me climb with them and gave me the support I so desperately needed. They made sure to check on me every couple minutes and reminded me to keep drinking water. We climbed all the way to the top together and it was totally worth all of the pain.

ME, ELISE AND KAJA MADE IT!!!!!!!

I managed to find my other friends who had somehow ran up the mountain and gotten there like 4 hours before me. (maybe a little dramatic here…)

That is Meagan and I’s sad attempt at making DU with our hands…

I am not quite sure how I could have made this more dramatic but it taught me a couple things:

Always say yes to adventures no matter how little you know about them. (but of course be smart about it. please don’t go get yourself hurt!)
There is beauty within the pain. (wow… so deep!)
I gotta work out more!!!

If you are planning to study abroad in Port Elizabeth, I highly suggest you climb Lady Slipper while you are here 🙂

Corrina Teague

SOUTH AFRICA– NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY, 2018 FALL

Corrina Teague is a Hospitality Management major. She is attending the ISA: Nelson Mandela University program in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, during the Fall 2018 term. She is hoping to have local experiences and see the natural beauties of South Africa while abroad.

Link to Posts

Or maybe the monkey trying to take my pencil bag!!!

The first weekend of September was full of laughter, screaming, and biltong. Lots of biltong.

Meagan, Nomsa and I traveled to Addo Elephant Park, just an hour outside of Port Elizabeth. And you won’t believe what we saw! Elephants! Lots and lots of elephants!

The weekend began with us finally our tents and having an elephant hanging out right in our front yard! After we got over the excitement that came with an elephant in the front yard, we settled in for some snacks and hanging out before our game drive was to begin.

We were enjoying our porch when we noticed a pack of monkeys slowing making their way towards us. Eating my candy bar, I didn’t think much of it because I was so used to seeing the same type of monkeys on campus. As the money gang neared us, we had no idea what was going to happen within the next 2 minutes. There was an electric fence separating our tents and the yard where the elephants and monkeys were. Within the blink of an eye, the monkeys were on top of the fence, then on our neighbors tent, THEN ON OUR ROOF AND THEN ON OUR TABLE! We panicked and grabbed the bag of Fritos trying to keep them and ourselves save from the monkeys! From inside our tent we videoed the monkeys stealing spree! They tried to steal my pencil bag (which those of you who know me well know that I LOVE my pencils so you bet I started yelling at that monkey to get its hands off my pencils!) and a map of the park that Meagan and I fought very hard to get! The rampage ensued for a couple minutes with their menacing little heads poking down from the roof, stalking us – their prey. We barely escaped and you best believe I made a video telling my mother how much I love her.

After surviving our first monkey attack, Meagan and I went on a beautiful game drive and saw so many different types of animals. Throughout the entire weekend we saw: black-headed heron, elephant, buffalo, kudu, Burchell’s zebra, common duiker, warthog, scrub-hare, vervet monkeys (ugh) and flightless dung beetles!

The night ended with a beautiful braai done by Nomsa. We sat outside with caution, making sure there were no monkeys near. We taught Nomsa was a s’more was. We had to make do with the materials that we were given, such as the candy strawberry marshmallows they have here, the chocolate covered digestives we had to use for graham crackers, and the thick Cadbury chocolate bar. It was quite a s’more to remember 🙂

We ventured around a little bit the next morning and then made our way back to Port Elizabeth. Such a fun weekend overall.