My First and Last Camping Experience

By Jenni Blackwell

Jenni Blackwell recently graduated, with honors, from Daemen College with a B.A. in Political Science.  In  August she will be moving to North Carolina to pursue her master’s degree in political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  In January, 2010, she will be moving to England to continue her studies at the University of Bath.  Jenni writes: “In the spring semester of 2007, I had the extraordinary experience of studying abroad in the country of Botswana through the CIEL Student Exchange program.  Both of these submissions to the CIEL online journal were written while abroad and are inspired by a few of the many experiences I had while living in Africa.”

            Silently lying in my tent, in the middle of Moremi Game Reserve, I can feel my heart pounding in my bladder.  The rain had pelted down all day; my clothes and bedding are wet and uncomfortable.  The dirt is grinding between my toes and my clammy body is thrashing in discontentment; trying to forget the pain in my bladder.  Its 2am and my tent mates are sleeping heavily from an exhausting day of fun safari activities.  I pray that my restlessness wakes them up; I have to have a buddy to leave this tent.  Outside I hear a subtle reminder as to the importance of the buddy system; a water splash and a quiet roar.  Camping 10 feet away from a pond of Hippopotamuses; whose idea was this?  My thrashing is only making the pain worse.  Only 3 more hours and the sun will be coming up, but I don’t think I can wait that long. 
            Finally, the pain becomes too unbearable and I reach for my flashlight.  Quietly trying to wind my battery free flashlight, I hear a loud, demanding roar.  I think it may be right outside.  I stand up and fumble for my shoes.  The vertical position of my body has increased the weight pushing against my mid section; I cross my legs and clinch them together.  The mazes of tent zippers that lie ahead of me are mentally exhausting.  Trying to make as little noise as possible, I bend down, slightly loosing my balance, praying that I solve this impossible puzzle soon.  I sigh in exhaustion.  Did I grab any toilet paper?  I slowly peak out of the tent and shine my flash light into the dark abyss of night.  My heart is racing and every sound I hear makes my stomach drop.  I step one foot and then the other outside the tent.  I stand and quickly make a 360 degree turn to survey my surroundings.  I hear another splash from the river and my heart drops into my stomach.  I have to hurry.  Slightly behind my tent lies the key to my happiness and ultimate liberation.  I examine a tree and a small bush.  Ironically I still wish to use the bathroom in privacy, although I don’t think the hippopotamuses mind.  I quickly decide that the small tree is the best; I squat and finally the pain begins to slowly subside.
          After sustaining the squatting position for what feels like and eternity, my legs begin to tremble.  However, my attention is quickly returned to the dark abyss of night when I suddenly hear the loud crack of a tree limb snapping in half.  My hands are occupied and my flashlight is lying on the ground protecting my toilet paper.  Is this how I am going to die?  My heart pounds vigorously and I hold my breath in fear.  I quickly restore my clothing to its  proper position and grab my flashlight.  I make another 360 degree spin trying to discover the source of the mysterious tree break.  My startled spin brings me out of my sandals and I stumble to the ground.  I catch myself with one hand and instantly retry to gain my composure.  I stand up and dust the wet mud off my hand.  I hear another loud splash.  I begin to step closer to the opening to my tent; my sanctuary of safety is so close but yet feels so far away.  I lift my flashlight and focus on a pair of gleaming yellow eyes.  The light makes them iridescent and I begin to physically tremble.  A bead of sweat runs down my cheek; or it may have been a tear.  I wonder what it is.  After an eternity of staring at one another, I take one step backwards and the yellow pair of eyes becomes more focused on the lower half of my body.  I have to know what it is.  I quickly wind my flashlight to a high intensity and point it towards the glaring eyes.  There it was; my source of fear and terror.  A white faced owl  sitting on a stump.  I take a huge sign of relief but am soon reminded of the immanent danger that surrounds me with a roar of an angry hippo.  I dive into my tent and quickly secure the maze of zippers.  I slowly lay down on my cold, wet bed and I close my eyes in exhaustion. 
         After a few seconds of harmonious bliss my tent mate quietly says, “I have to go to the bathroom.”  Ijo! Not again.

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