Finding Dory

Tuesday June 28th, 2016

Well, school started again and by that I mean from 11 AM to 1 PM we had to sit in a classroom. Wah? Nah, this school is great. Today we discussed the festival and what influenced and impressed us the most, as well as the dissapointing things. Then we presented our awards show category, Kaitlyn, Leila and I had Radio. And we discovered that South Africa took this category by storm. After slight confusion as to why this was, as well as some internet research we found out that this has always been South Africa's biggest broadcast medium. After "class," we got to do the single handed coolest thing I've ever done on any travels I've done thus far: scuba diving. Honestly, I'm not sure why I've never done this yet, I had the opportunity to do so in Australia two years ago. I think I have finally gotten the courage to do so, and thank God because it was spectacular. The entire experience beginning to finish was just incredible. After slight difficulty, and many giggles, we got our wet suits on and walked to the Meditteranean Sea to board a little dingy to head to Sea. Once we got a good-ways out from shore, the first jumped in to scuba. Kaitlyn got to go first because she is BA and is certified (thank you UGA personal fitness course.) While the first couple of people went the rest of us (6) got to snorkel around the boat and coral reefs. It was cool to even snorkel there because there are so many little fisheys, and you’re in the freakin’ Meditteranean Sea. Once Kaitlyn and Stevie, and their 2 guides resurfaced, I decided to go for it and be next. Honestly, this is one way to avoid heightened anxiety. I jumped back in the water, fins on and mask in hand, ready to take on the deep sea. It only took a few breathes for me to adjust to the oxygen tank. And once I was my instructor, Noemie, took me down. It is the strangest feeling because you have no sense of how deep you are, except for your ears continuously popping, and maybe when it slowly gets dark around you. But yet it is so cool at the same time. Noemie took me around different coral reefs and through an alley way of coral. We even swam through schools of fish that scatter like crazy when we swam through. As 20 minutes passed by, it felt like 5, and all I could think was “I need to be certified,” “no, I WANT to be certified.” The feeling that you’re in a completely different world, among completely different species, where all of your worries are free is just freeing… I want to experience this again, and in different places.

Stevie, Danielle, Myself, Beca and Kaitlyn 

Upon arriving back in Juan Les Pins, we were absolutely starving. Luckily, everyone on the trip now LOVES Thai food, so we headed to Mai Thai for a great dinner to top off a great day.

Xo,

Shan