There’s no place like home, but sometimes it’s okay to get away from home. Just for a little bit! My home is the Big Apple. Those who live in New York City or have been there know the term “slow pace” doesn’t cut it. The big apple is all about “work work work work work" (Rihanna voice). But working every day and every week can be exhausting for the body and especially the brain. Those who are from the North Country generalize city folks as being rude and for the most part, we are. Sometimes work overwhelms us and sometimes we need a break outside of the city.
Last weekend I went camping with a group of friends and scholars and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. As a girl from the city, if you have asked me to go camping seven years ago my answer would be 'no.' I’m not acquainted with the life of walking through the woods, hiking to see waterfalls, low and high ropes courses, kayaking, and being a meal to mosquitos. (Wasn’t about that lifestyle, know what I mean?) But if you asked me to go again, my answer would be most definitely!
Escaping from the city for a while is a great feeling. While I was camping, I didn’t care about the outside world. Well, at least I was forced not to care because I didn’t have any cell reception. I was elated to not have connection! Have you ever stopped to realize how prepossessing Mother Nature is? At camp, we did a night hike. With the guidance of our camp counselor Veronica, my friends and I hiked into the woods at night without any light. Fun fact: the human eyes can adapt to darkness for several hours! Because of our pupil the iris contains muscles, which controls the size of our pupils, which will dilate our eyes with a maximum amount of light that helps contribute “night vision.”
As we were hiking, we stopped by the lake and it was one of the most alluring views I’ve ever seen in my life. I felt like I was on top of the world because the trees would reflect from the water. It was like I was in the sky looking down on the trees and the water. So if you think you can’t fly or have a perspective on how it feels to be superman, you’re not night hiking by lakes enough (and probably not hitting the gym very often).
It was a very adventurous weekend filled with adrenaline. I swung from a tree across a lake, climbed a tree, zip lined, stood next to a waterfall, and much more! I’m not afraid of heights, but I saw a lot of my friends stepping out of their comfort zone and take a chance! It’s something many people wouldn’t dare do because they’re so comfortable being city folks. Now, there’s really nothing wrong with being comfortable with the city lifestyle, but it’s always nice to try something new! Nature gives a new perspective of things and it shows how lucky we are to live on such a beautiful planet! So if you have a chance to leave the city for a weekend, take it! Challenge yourself and see what nature can give!
