Combining DP Science trips and orientation, we went to Kithulgala for 3 days and two nights, sleeping with nature and apparently pit demons (whip scorpions). The trip was really fun, and contained new experiences for me such as visiting a hydroelectric power station and canyoning.

Day 1: IB orientation day, we went white water rafting and canyoning. This was my first time canyoning and was also a period where we as a grade were forced to bond with each other. Before each rock slide or jump, there would be someone in our grade standing, waiting to guide people onto the right line in the slide or the right angle to jump at, really making it so you would have to trust that person. Coming out of the trip-directly a result of this, we were closer as a grade.

Day 2: Science day 1, we went to the power station and as an ESS student, observed the biodiversity and differentiation of species, taking pictures for identification on iNaturalist. Later in the day, we went to the tropical rainforest.

Day 3: Our final day was spent hiking to a nearby cave featuring a couple of ruins as well as something of a bat cave. In order to get there we had to go through what felt like a fellowship of windy roads, high falls and beautiful mountains, something that a lot of people in our class struggled with. After about 25 minutes we arrived-to the start of the hiking trail. The hike was about 20 minutes, first through the tea plantation and accompanying school and then through the rain forest and the two streams (where we hoped to see some rare frogs). Upon getting there, the first thing that we noticed was the stark change in temperature between cool and drafty cave vs the humid rainforest. There was also a bunch old ruins scattered around the base of the overhang. After returning to the camp for a final lunch, we packed up and headed home.

 

The biggest point of growth during this trip for me was getting over not so much a fear as the irrational feeling when a leech sucks your blood. This is mainly because I just accepted that the leeches were going to be there and learned how to take them off. My classmates who had the unfortunate experience of being next to me the first day can attest to the complete and utter chaos that followed me discovering a leech as well as the violations of the geneva convention that followed it. While I cannot say that I’m proud of what I did during the first day, I can say that I’m proud of me getting over my fear and hope in the future using this knowledge I can help other people who also have that same fear.