I can't stay in one place and I'm spending next semester on a mountain. Help me!

College Life
1

<p>My first year of college was a little all over the place. </p>

<p>My first semester I went to a large state university. I rushed and pledged a sorority. I met a ton of people, had fun, and held a super busy fast-paced office job that took up a lot of my time but was exciting. Then by my second semester I was over it. Greek life was fun, but I was ready to move on because it wasn't really me. So I transferred to a small, quaint Christian university. It was a really big change, but an interesting experience as well. The vibe was completely different than my first school in the big city. I held a web design internship, joined the surf club, went to weekly bible studies - it was all fine and dandy.</p>

<p>But during the summer, I decided I didn't want to live on campus again this Fall. I applied to do a semester in the wilderness in Yosemite national park. It would be a small group of students (about 40) living in a small commune-like area in the woods with our professors and doing non-traditional style courses in art, philosophy, literature, ceramics, and wilderness experience. We'll be doing 5-6 day treks where we go out into the woods and hike and camp with nothing but what we can carry on our backs. I mean it sounds a little out there, but I've never done anything remotely like this so I thought it'd be a fun experience.</p>

<p>My problem is that I haven't really settled down at all since coming into college. I've been jumping from major to major, don't have a stable core group of friends yet, and basically have no idea what I'm doing once I graduate. I thought that going to Yosemite for an entire semester would be a good way to "find myself" and figure out what I want without a lot of distractions. Do you think its a good idea, or am I ruining my college experience by not staying in one place? </p>

<p>I should note that I also applied and was accepted to study in South Africa for Spring 2011. I think it sounds like the coolest thing ever - but that would be an entire year of not living on a college campus. Am I doomed to never make the close friendships I want? Do you think I'm doing the college thing all wrong? Please tell me if I'm going to regret this!</p>

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<p>I’m assuming there’ll be other students in South Africa. I’d wager your best friends from college could be the ones you meet on these trips to Yosemite and South Africa.</p>

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<p>I’m just worried that I’m going to get done with sophomore year and still not have a stable group of friends. Should I just go back to campus in the Spring? :/</p>

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<p>In ten years if you passed up a trip to go to South Africa you are going to feel really, really stupid. Go to South Africa.</p>

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<p>It sounds like you are trying to run up a total of “interesting experiences”. My question is how either South Africa or Yosemite are going to fit into your life after college. It almost seems like you have some sort of inability to focus long term on anything, you are just going with whatever sounds interesting at the time, without thought of any long term plan. College is a time to try things, but it has to be tempered with some sort of reality check, otherwise you will end up as a professional student.</p>

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<p>Screw what Packers says. College is your time to do things. A semester like that could give you the perspective you need.
I’m also guessing you will end up close friends with people on the Yosemite trip.</p>

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<p>That Yosemite thing sounds really cool. </p>

<p>It will teach you more about life and practical knowledge than any classroom. If you are interested in the South Africa trip, go for it. Again, that will teach you much more than any stupid course.</p>

<p>Don’t pay attention to that “you’ll be a professional student” garbage. So what if you graduate a year later? When you are 55, do you think it will matter if you graduated at 22 instead of 21?</p>

<p>All I would say is starting figuring out what major you want and stick with it. Eventually, look into internships that are related to that job. Other than that, you sound like you are a very outgoing person who takes on challenges and new experiences.</p>

<p>I had the opportunity to travel alot, and it was the most educational experience of my life. I learned more traveling than I did in any of my courses.</p>

<p>I’m really jealous about that semester in Yosemite - SOUNDS INCREDIBLE!</p>

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<p>"I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not." - Lucille Ball</p>

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<p>Thanks for the advice (: Anymore?</p>

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<p>Parent advice…I have discovered many things in my years of experience that I thought I would share with you.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I traveled all the way to Kenya yet I did’nt take that trip to the seaside resort like I wanted to. The reason…it cost an additional few hundred dollars to get there and at the time it seemed like it was out of my budget. I never went back to North Africa again, and to this day I have not been to Mombasa.</p></li>
<li><p>I was 24 years old when I traveled to Egypt. While I was having tea in my hotel in Cairo I met a wonderful couple who had over heard me talking with my friends about our college days. The couple overheard our conversation, and they immediately recognized that they had attended a college a short distance from mine.They invited me to dinner that night and we had a delightful time. The following day they extended an invitation for me to attend their wedding. I did not really know these people but something told me to attend the wedding. I did attend, and it was the most spectacular wedding I have ever been to, to this day. They were the children of very wealthy Egyptians and the wedding was a wonderful experience that allowed me to see the side of Egyptian culture that I never would have seen if it had not been, for that one night. </p></li>
<li><p>I was 25 years old and unemployed for that summer. I could have, and many thought I should have, cancelled my vacation to Hawaii but once again something told me not to. In fact, I extended it. I spent two wonderful months studying yoga at the University and had a great time taking small flights to the neighboring islands. I have been back to Hawaii a couple of times but nothing could compare to the experience of being there for the summer. I made wonderful friends while I was there, and the experience was life changing.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>There is a long list of experiences that I could share with you, but, I picked the few that stand out in my heart and mind. You are young and have few or no responsibilties to anyone right now. It is a wonderful time to explore and see as much as you can. You will make friendships where ever you go, if you go with the idea that you want to. I have found that the only times I have ever regretted was when I did not do what I really wanted to do. If your study abroad trip is something that you feel you must do…need to do…excited about doing, than go for it. Enjoy your experiences…they are yours and you will grow from each and every one of them. They will be your memories and believe me you don’t want a life without wonderful memories.</p>

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<h2>Thanks for the advice (: Anymore? ~ Surfergirl</h2>

<p>Invest in a small hand held GPS, such as a garmin.</p>

<p>Yosemite is a huge area, and it’s easy to get lost, even with a group. </p>

<p>Wonder off to take a picture, pee or check out some scenery and you could be completely lost, very simple to get turned around.</p>

<p>I’d also ask whoever is in charge if you are allowed to bring a firearm. I understand that this is a school function, but it’s also in a wilderness. Taking a group of students into that environment and not letting them defend themselves properly seems like a gross error in judgement.</p>

<p>As an avid hunter, hiker, camper and wildlife photographer, I can assure you that having a gun in the wilderness is a necessity. Yosemite alone report about 300 - 500 bear/human incidents each year. Now, these are mostly just black bears eating campers food or coming into a campsite, but still - something to chew on. Black bears are usually non-threatening, but hey, ya never know right?</p>

<p>What would really concern me are the cougars. Cougar sightings are way up in Yosemite, and need to be taken seriously, especially if you plan on being there for a whole semester. If you were just doing a weekend trip, your chances of seeing a cougar are slim. But, being there a whole semester definitly raises those odds.</p>

<p>I operate under the logic, it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.</p>

<p>At least purchase some good pepperspray. In this situation get the mist, not gel. As most animals have very sensitive noses, a simple spray into the air from a reasonble distance can be enough to rattle the animal.</p>

<p>I’d also recommend purchasing a good lighter to have with you at all times. Not some cheap Bic one. Go buy an authentic Zippo lighter. Zippos are as durable as they come. In fact, they became popular during WWII because the soldiers all used them because they were capable of working the all environments and weather conditions. I collect them as a hobby, but I have my grandfathers Zippo he used in WWII and IT STILL WORKS! </p>

<p>I spend alot of time outdoors and I have encountered Moose, bears, coyotes and wolves. And take my word for it, you will take a dump in your pants when it happens. Oddly enough, the only time I was actually charged was by a 8 point buck, who I think was mad from disease.</p>

<p>Please don’t take this as me trying to scare you, I am in no way doing that. Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places on our planet and the fact you get to spend a whole semester there makes me incredibly jealous. Just don’t let the beautiful scenery blind you from the reality - it’s the wilderness.</p>

<p>Go out and purchase a good quality camera. I recommend a Pentax, as they make some models that are designed for outdoor use and wildlife photography.</p>

<p>If you have any other questions about what gear to purchase, let me know. I’m pretty knowledgeable on this stuff.</p>

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<p>Get an elephant gun to take care of cougars. And if you get a Zippo make sure you bring plenty of flints, lighter string, lighter filling and lighter fluid. First Zippo I bought went bust in like a week, **** sucked. My Bics are much more reliable in terms of actually lighting when I need them to.</p>

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<p>^ I can’t believe that. I own over a hundred and never had a problem with any of them. Like I said, my grandfather’s zippo from WWII (had it at Normandy, pretty cool souvenir) still works like a charm. I use it occasionally to light campfires at family gatherings. </p>

<p>Was it a real Zippo or a knock-off? </p>

<p>Ditto the elephant gun, but they are so impractical when on a hike, ya know? </p>

<p>Usually just yelling at it will scare it off if you come face 2 face with it. The last thing to do is start running. </p>

<p>The cougar you see usually won’t get you. It’s the one you don’t see that kills you - ambush predators. A handgun would be best, because they will go for the neck than jump on top of you, so you need to have something compact and accessible that won’t be knocked out of your hands upon first strike. I’d carry it at the small of my back (perhaps at ankle), so it would be easy to draw and fire if you are being mauled. Drop holster would be best, but not when hiking.</p>

<p>Pretty sweet video.</p>

<p>[YouTube</a> - Mountain Lion Attacking a Deer in Divide, Colorado 8/8/08](<a href=“Mountain Lion Attacking a Deer in Divide, Colorado 8/8/08 - YouTube”>Mountain Lion Attacking a Deer in Divide, Colorado 8/8/08 - YouTube)</p>

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<p>^^^^ scary little video. OP take some good pepper spray that would work on mountain lions or other nasty animals.</p>

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<p>^^^ In a situation like the one seen in the video (which could easily be a person, not a deer), you need a gun, possibly a knife.</p>

<p>If you confronted a mountain lion in the wild who wasn’t stalking you, simply yelling and waving your arms could be enough to scare them off. Whatever you do, don’t run. They have a chase/hunt reflex that goes off as soon as prey (you) begins to retreat. </p>

<p>Stand tall, open your arms and start clapping and yelling. If the animal doesn’t back off, then you could deploy some OC in the area, which will hopefully burn it’s nostrils enough to back away.</p>

<p>The problem is that mountain lions are very much ambush predators. You could be running on a trail and, BAM! It’s on you before you knew it was there, and you will be much like the deer in the above video.</p>

<p>While a person is getting mauled (mostly likely at or close to your jugular), deploying pepperspray will be unlikely. Retrieving it from your pocket will be difficult, then being able to correctly aim it at the animal will be extremely difficult. Your best chance is to just spray as much as you can and hope they get a big whiff of it. Even then, it’s unlikely that they will be so stunned that they would let go of a potential meal, and if they did you will still have to run away…leaving a blood trail they could easily sniff out, plus you will be pretty wounded. Lets not forget that you will most likely also be affected by your wild OC spraying, so your vision will be impaired.</p>

<p>If it’s all you got, give it all you can.</p>

<p>What you need to do is incapacitate the animal.</p>

<p>This is really when you need a gun. If the animal is on top of you, pull your weapon from the small of your back or ankle. Once in your grip, you could simply press it against the animals side and fire. Three shots to wound/create distance - then unload your weapon into vital organs (two in the head).</p>

<p>Never, ever go on a hike without a good knife. I carry a Ka-Bar strapped to my ankle which would be used for most “industrial” activites like cutting branches or meat. I carry a separate pocket knife clipped to my pocket that is a personal protection knife.</p>

<p>This knife is carried by bodyguards/Executive Protection specialists.</p>

<p>It can open kinetically, meaning you could open it with one hand, by pressing it against a person/animal. Which is pretty handy when you are getting mauled by a mountain lion.</p>

<p>[Bram</a> Frank Knives](<a href=“http://bramfrankknife.com/product.sc;jsessionid=AA33A51ED6AF81893852CA35332EBF0F.qscstrfrnt06?productId=19&categoryId=1]Bram”>http://bramfrankknife.com/product.sc;jsessionid=AA33A51ED6AF81893852CA35332EBF0F.qscstrfrnt06?productId=19&categoryId=1)</p>

<p>Here is a good gun to carry while concealed and is small enough to bring while on a hike.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.snubnose.info/docs/bodyguard.htm[/url]”>http://www.snubnose.info/docs/bodyguard.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good pepperspray.</p>

<p>[Bear</a> Spray Guard Alaska Bear Pepper Spray](<a href=“http://www.defensedevices.com/bearpepspray.html]Bear”>Defense Devices – Tactical365)</p>

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<p>It should be real. It’s got the Zippo ‘stamp’ on the bottom of the case and it came with the guarantee and what not. I don’t think I bought it off of the official Zippo site though. I might get another, this time from the official site.</p>

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<p>First, pick a major that will make money. Second, pick a program on a campus and stay there. Problem solved.</p>

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<p>Come to South Africa. I am South African but american too. It is a wonderful country with so much to offer. The diversity alone is enough to make you never want to leave. (What other country has 11 official languages?!) and you don’t have to worry about wild animals and stuff. They’re kept on special reserves where they can’t hurt anyone :slight_smile: Take a chance and come on down. You’ll regret it if you don’t :)</p>