Adventure Essay Adventure Essay OutlineOutline

The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

SettingSetting

Where:Where: New Zealand, a vacation I New Zealand, a vacation I took after completion of studying took after completion of studying abroad during collegeabroad during college

When:When: November through December, November through December, 2001, during my junior year in college 2001, during my junior year in college and right after the events of 9/11.and right after the events of 9/11.

Major CharactersMajor Characters

Myself (having just lived in Australia Myself (having just lived in Australia for 11 months)for 11 months)

My boyfriend Will (having just lived in My boyfriend Will (having just lived in Australia with me for the past 5 Australia with me for the past 5 months)months)

Importance: Will is my significant Importance: Will is my significant other, whom I had been with for a other, whom I had been with for a year and a half at that point.year and a half at that point.

Minor CharactersMinor Characters

Skydiving instructorSkydiving instructor Skydiving photographerSkydiving photographer Bungee-jumping operatorBungee-jumping operator Bungee-jumping assistantsBungee-jumping assistants Kiwi Experience tour bus driverKiwi Experience tour bus driver Kaikoura boat captain and crewKaikoura boat captain and crew DolphinsDolphins

Before the Journey…Before the Journey… I embarked on this adventure with Will because we I embarked on this adventure with Will because we

wanted to see more of the world and travel to yet wanted to see more of the world and travel to yet another country before heading home. another country before heading home.

Our choice of destinations was limited due to strict Our choice of destinations was limited due to strict instructions by the U.S. Embassy not to go to Bali, Fiji, instructions by the U.S. Embassy not to go to Bali, Fiji, or any other neighboring islands.or any other neighboring islands.

I felt:I felt: ExcitedExcited- because I knew I would have a wonderful and - because I knew I would have a wonderful and

eventful vacation eventful vacation CautiousCautious- because of recent warnings about the safety of - because of recent warnings about the safety of

traveling as Americanstraveling as Americans SadSad- because I knew this would mark the end of my year-long - because I knew this would mark the end of my year-long

odyssey overseas.odyssey overseas.

Event 1Event 1 Sky-diving:Sky-diving: we decided to embrace the adventurous we decided to embrace the adventurous

culture of New Zealand and sky-dive over beautiful and culture of New Zealand and sky-dive over beautiful and scenic Lake Wanaka. scenic Lake Wanaka.

We did so impulsively, knowing that any hesitation We did so impulsively, knowing that any hesitation would likely assist in talking us out of it, as we are both would likely assist in talking us out of it, as we are both extremely afraid of heights. extremely afraid of heights.

I figured if I was ever going to jump out of a plane, it I figured if I was ever going to jump out of a plane, it should be in a place that will take my breath away with should be in a place that will take my breath away with its views, while taking my breath away in my descent. its views, while taking my breath away in my descent.

I also knew that I wanted to face my fears, do something I also knew that I wanted to face my fears, do something bold, and share the exhilarating experience with Will.bold, and share the exhilarating experience with Will.

Event 2Event 2 Bungee-jumping:Bungee-jumping: After taking a plunge from 12,000 After taking a plunge from 12,000

feet, I wanted to face my fears further, and experience feet, I wanted to face my fears further, and experience another thrilling adventure. I decided to bungee-jump in another thrilling adventure. I decided to bungee-jump in Taupo, NZ, overlooking a clear-blue river and lush Taupo, NZ, overlooking a clear-blue river and lush countryside.countryside.

Bungee-jumping was invented in NZ, and I knew my Bungee-jumping was invented in NZ, and I knew my vacation would not be complete until I had conquered vacation would not be complete until I had conquered my fear of jumping off a cliff or ledge.my fear of jumping off a cliff or ledge.

Unlike skydiving, I had to will myself to jump on my Unlike skydiving, I had to will myself to jump on my own, rather than rely on the surreal surroundings and own, rather than rely on the surreal surroundings and urgings from a man strapped to my back. This was the urgings from a man strapped to my back. This was the ultimate test and the result would be empowering.ultimate test and the result would be empowering.

Event 3Event 3 Swimming with dolphins:Swimming with dolphins: After some of the adrenaline After some of the adrenaline

rushes I had gone through, I wanted to experience the rushes I had gone through, I wanted to experience the sublime. I knew swimming with dolphins in the open sublime. I knew swimming with dolphins in the open ocean would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.ocean would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I learned that we would have to swim above one of the I learned that we would have to swim above one of the largest ocean drop-offs in the world in order to do it, but largest ocean drop-offs in the world in order to do it, but I realized that I had to face yet another of my fears- my I realized that I had to face yet another of my fears- my biggest fear of all- large bodies of water. biggest fear of all- large bodies of water.

I did not expect it would be just as much of a challenge I did not expect it would be just as much of a challenge to my fears and insecurities as the other two, yet, at the to my fears and insecurities as the other two, yet, at the same time, be such a humbling and spiritual experience.same time, be such a humbling and spiritual experience.

OutcomeOutcome By the end of my journey in New Zealand, I felt By the end of my journey in New Zealand, I felt

like an adult as well as a child. My excitement and like an adult as well as a child. My excitement and sense of wonder about the world felt as powerful as sense of wonder about the world felt as powerful as it did in my youth, yet I had matured and become it did in my youth, yet I had matured and become less fearful of challenging situations or new less fearful of challenging situations or new experiences. It gave me the confidence, clarity and experiences. It gave me the confidence, clarity and strength that I now could carry with me throughout strength that I now could carry with me throughout my lifetime. I felt independent, self-sufficient and my lifetime. I felt independent, self-sufficient and resilient- qualities I hadn’t fully embodied, or resilient- qualities I hadn’t fully embodied, or appreciated, before starting this adventure.appreciated, before starting this adventure.