Oct 25. 2014. FLY

“5-4-3-2-1-BUNGEE!”

I could not jump. Instead, I just fell from the sky. If I had jumped 3 meters from the spot, I might have felt committed suicide by jumping from the 111m heights. The count was so fast, and my legs and arms weakened and stumbled; in the moment of “BUNGEE!” I almost collapsed and bungee crews gently pushed me.

From the Victoria Falls Bridge:
the ground was cracked under 111m.

Victoria Falls scenery made me feel faint. How can I jump from this height? The bridge was even wobbly when the car was passing by. Oh… should I do it? Special force troops receive proficiency pay for dropping from a high altitude, but I paid exorbitant price with a lot of risk for plummeting to the sallow water. Victoria Falls was so dry in October; I expected my clothes would get soaked with water, but only sizzling heat worn me out. Nevertheless, I wanted to do it. No, more exactly, I had to do it because I needed to triumph over all fears in my mind. I weighed myself on a scale. Oh, I lost 4kgs! I have been suffering from serious constipation for a whole week, so I have only been drinking juice and eating some fruits since last Wednesday. (Thanks to losing weight, my abdominal muscle became visible.) Please, go away, constipation! Bungee jumping will beat you!

When I arrived at the bungee jumping area, I saw a fearsome message.

“Please dive out as far as you can: more than 3 meters. A good dive reduces the chance of injury and will make your jump more enjoyable.”

How can I do a standing broad jump more than 3 meters? At that time, bungee crew was not there because of the lunch time, so I had to wait almost 1 hour; waiting for diving out made me more nervous and scared. I practiced jumping on the ground and thought a lot of unnecessary anxiety. But I had to manage to set down. How many times have I been hesitating to do something in my life? What am I afraid of? I will blow off all stresses. There is no next time to do that. It must be the highlights of my life, at this very moment. Overcoming so many frightened emotions – 'What if the rope snapped? What if the rope tangled? What if I were shocked and got a heart attack? What if I peed my pants?' – I finally hopped to the bungee point. My original plan was not to look down because it would be just crazy to see, and stare at the front instead. But the front itself was also horrifying, so I closed my eyes. I wished I could FLY elegantly from the sky, just like Lala Croft from Tomb Raider, but it was not be like my heart.

Anyway, I succeeded! I was feeling the power of gravity and air resistance about a few seconds. I lightly opened my eyes and stretched the limbs at last. Wow, I am falling! Right after jumping (well, bungee falling), my mind was much more at ease. I bounced a few times; I just fell a half way between the bridge and water. I wanted falling more…

Next time, I will go skydiving. I had thought myself that I would not be a person who enjoys extreme sports, but I realized today that it was worth doing it. Life is short at best and I feel sorry if I spare my bones. The only difference between leaping off a cliff to kill oneself and jumping off the bridge to enjoy bungee jumping was safety equipment on the ankle and waist. The only thing I could do was to rely on bungee crews’ instruction. Bungee jumping was a special case, but I have already been surviving all perils; whenever getting on airplane, vehicle, train, bus, and walking on the road, I totally rely on my life to pilots, drivers and myself. An accident always happens somewhere, and all I can do is just to pray that this would not happened to me. Human being is weak-kneed under the natural disaster and furthermore, the laws of nature. There would be nothing that I can change the operations of Nature. All I can do is to enjoy every seconds of the moment, just like at the very moment while I was falling. 

Living life like a bungee jumping: I hope the life of the people will be always exciting.

Oct 21. 2014. 2G Life

I have been living in the 4G (4^th generation mobile networks/wireless system) world. Yesterday, South Korea companies, Samsung and SK Telecom demonstrated 5G technology at the World IT Show in Busan, South Korea. In the upcoming 2020, people will enjoy 5G, 50 times faster than 4G that only 1 second needed for downloading a movie.

<Here Comes 5G- The technology that will make your Smartphone nearly 50 times faster>

http://www.businessinsider.com/5g-technology-smartphone-50-times-faster-2014-10

1G technology refers to wireless telephone technology through radio analog signals.

2G networks use digital and SMS text messaging has begun.

3G is the beginning of Smartphone and mobile modem for laptop computers.

4G enabled us to have a video call.

And at last, 5G! This new frequency will vibrate like a thunder.

So far, I might have been only moving forward, adding number with the “generation.” Actually, I have never imagined going back to the previous G or keep staying an old G because my friends who have fancy Smartphones must have made fun of me. I was bothered by this quick quick fast fast world in the past, and now I am learning the beauty of patience in African countries. I came back to 2G life! Tracing back to my childhood, I got my first cellphone, only for calling and texting, more than 10 years ago.

#1. Since there was no micro SIM card in Zambia for my Samsung Galaxy III, I had to have another phone, which was NOKIA 2G phone. I was surprised that this little phone also had some racing game in the program. I was suspicious if this phone can ring a bell and receive some messages, but it all worked.

#2. Since there was no Airtel SIM card for my modem in Zambia (I do not still understand why… because modem SIM card should be the same as phone’s), I had to buy another modem, which was Zamtel. It must be Zam(bia)+tell, so Zamtel. The advertisement was clever; “Be Zamtelligent!” I paid 200 Kwacha (about $32) for Zamtel modem and 1GB SIM card, but unfortunately, it did not work. They said there should be network problem, but I had to use it right away to attend final project group meeting at 6:30 pm (EST), which was 12:30am CAT. Oh no… my peer evaluation will be terrible because I could not join.

#3. Western Union bank made me so sad, and I literally go there and come back about 15 times to receive the money from Tanzania. Whenever I went there, the system was down, cash was not ready, I did not know what MTCN number was…

Be patient. 2G life is not that bad. Nobody is chasing me, and it must be myself who pushes me to the desperate cliff. Nothing will happen, and everything should be fine. It is just slow. Slow slow. I am learning the rhythm, quick quick slow slow. I may not download a movie within a second in Africa, but I can feel the sufficientness of 2G technologies.

Oct 19. 2014. GDEC Cool Dudes

I know the word ‘dudes’ might be only for calling boys, but I just want to say dudes for my colleagues. They are all cool. My classmates in International Health: Global Disease Epidemiology and Control (GDEC) have been doing their practicum all over the world. Someone already finished and went back to Baltimore, and others are doing their second practicum to build more working experience. Americans normally like to shorten the long words and say the abbreviation literally, not G-D-E-C, but G-DEC, 쥐댁.

There are 2^nd year 17 쥐댁 people, including me, 9 girls and 8 boys. I am physically away from them, so I have been contacting with some of them since we completed 1st year course; but I was so glad that they are uploading their practicum experience in the voicethread. Actually, I did not quite like it when I made 3-4 slides and left a voice comments for the 1^st term requirement, but it was so motivating moment when I heard their voice and picture today. Only a few 쥐댁 people have uploaded their work so far, but I am looking forward hearing all other people’s news in the upcoming week.

Talking with my classmates who are in Brazil, U.S., Ghana, China, Kenya, Switzerland, Peru, and other countries through the online does inspire me with their enthusiasm. To be honest, I have come across so many frustrating moments, so it was so hard to control my temper. I also experience embarrassing, funny, ridiculous, and no way situations that goes against my narrow common sense. It was probably the first time in my life that I have felt terrible headache just because I got so irritated. I am still trying to finish my 1^st term online class in Africa – one of the hardest things that I have ever had – with fighting mosquitoes, mice, cockroaches, moth, and flies in the office. I do not really want to complain, but I have never realized that I was receiving blessing in the place where Internet was always available, “unlimitedly.” I had to talk with group members from the online class today, but both Skype and Google hangout were impossible to receive the call because of the slow Internet connection. I have given thanks to the situation that I anyway was able to connect to Internet since I came to Africa, but I am so sad that I have a hard time of taking online class that would be graded soon. Working and studying at the same time is hard!

However, I was motivated to be in Zambia by hearing my GDEC friends’ news. I cannot believe that I am already 2^nd year master student, and 1^st year students will listen my voicethread presentation soon. I am asking myself that I am good enough to be called as senior. Only two months are left that the year 2014 is finished, and I am getting old! I miss my GDEC friends. I may have to attend the graduation ceremony to meet them. My friends! I am looking forward to seeing you soon in next May, and you take care!