Gino Ndiko, Grade 12
UWCEA Arusha Campus
After a few months of trying to get used to the new school and all that came with it, my friends and I decided to try one of the outdoor pursuit trips. We were a group of about five people who had intended to go for the rides trip, one where we would ride our bicycles over a long distance. Naturally, we were all ecstatic and very confident in our ability to ride our bikes. Little did I know I would have the most memorable trip of my UWC life. On the morning we were to set off, three of my friends had decided against going for the trip, leaving me slightly less enthusiastic as I was days before. I contemplated dropping out as well, but later decided against it. Having left school on the bus, I enjoyed the view as we made the journey to the starting point. Tanzania is a beautiful country filled with stunning nature like the hills, grasslands and the mountain slopes in the distance.
As soon as we reached the starting point, we were informed of how far we had to ride, which I was not prepared for. Initially, riding on the dirt road was easy and quite fun. I soon discovered that my bike’s suspension was not up to standard. This made it difficult to ride downhill smoothly. Due to the fact that I am not very fit, I was often at the back of the group. Despite this, I met lovely people who made the journey more enjoyable by staying back with me, and some of them became close friends.
After several hours of riding, we finally reached the camping site. It was a calming place with a serene environment. I was especially happy to take a moment away from cycling and relax with everyone else. Riding a bike for all those hours left me in quite a bit of pain. As luck would have it, my luggage was not placed on the bus before we left school. I was too exhausted to panic about the loss of my luggage and simply decided to enjoy my supper. Fortunately, a kind teacher and friend both lent me clothes to wear for the rest of this two-day trip. We took some time to enjoy the beautiful sky filled with stars that night. It was comforting sharing such a beautiful moment with my friends over meaningful discussions. Sadly, I was in too much pain to continue cycling the following day and had to spend the rest of it on the bus.
Overall, despite all the discomforts of the trip, I was glad I went for it. I got to meet wonderful people and amazing experiences with them that I am extremely grateful for.
As soon as we reached the starting point, we were informed of how far we had to ride, which I was not prepared for. Initially, riding on the dirt road was easy and quite fun. I soon discovered that my bike’s suspension was not up to standard. This made it difficult to ride downhill smoothly. Due to the fact that I am not very fit, I was often at the back of the group. Despite this, I met lovely people who made the journey more enjoyable by staying back with me, and some of them became close friends.
After several hours of riding, we finally reached the camping site. It was a calming place with a serene environment. I was especially happy to take a moment away from cycling and relax with everyone else. Riding a bike for all those hours left me in quite a bit of pain. As luck would have it, my luggage was not placed on the bus before we left school. I was too exhausted to panic about the loss of my luggage and simply decided to enjoy my supper. Fortunately, a kind teacher and friend both lent me clothes to wear for the rest of this two-day trip. We took some time to enjoy the beautiful sky filled with stars that night. It was comforting sharing such a beautiful moment with my friends over meaningful discussions. Sadly, I was in too much pain to continue cycling the following day and had to spend the rest of it on the bus.
Overall, despite all the discomforts of the trip, I was glad I went for it. I got to meet wonderful people and amazing experiences with them that I am extremely grateful for.
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