Like woah - day 2

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So today was a rush to say the least!! Asta picked us up at 10am with her boyfriend, and 2 friends to take us to the airport.  We ere going skydiving!!! Her father is a pilot so he had connections for us to all get to jump from a plane.  It was hard not to be completely terrified of the idea but we all wanted to go.  I was really anxious about going up.  I had never really considered the idea beofre but since the opportunity presented itself then why not.

1st - we get to this "airport" that is a large field with a house on one side.  A large tarp was laid out on the ground.  Guys had their parachutes laid out and were in the process of packing them up.  We enjoyed a nice picnic of sandwiches, although it was hard to eat becuase of my nervous stomach.  Only 2 people could go up at a time because there was only 2 instructors.  Drew and Emily went up first.  The plane we were jumping out of was an old Russian combat plane (AN-2).

jump from a Russian combat plane attached to a guy with out English speaking skills

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2nd - Lana & Collin went up in the next group.  It took a while between each jump to set up the parachutes.  There were many locals there that appeared to jump every weekend.  The excitement in our group was out the roof!

By the time it came down to Kate and I going there was only one instructor left.  So we didn't get to jump together.  Kate went first, I could tell she was just ready to get it over with.

Before I jumped I saw a huge nest behind the house.  It was the home to a family of Giant Storks.  At least 6 of them flew overhead.  I ran over towards the 4' in diameter nest to get a better look.

ahhh!
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You suit up in a heavy canvas jumpsuit and climb into a harness.  He tightens up all the straps several times and we are strapped together to practice.  Through a translator I learned what I was supposed to do during the jump.  Lana got to go on the plane with me since I didnt get to jump with another friend.  The daredevil jumper wanted to try to touch my hand in the air.  haha attemping a stunt for my first jump ever!! We loaded up in the old, loud plane.  A million things were going through my head but mostly I was just excited to be going after waiting all day.  The plane took off from the grass runway.  At 1km (1000 meters) some of the solo jumpers went out.  It is a crazy thing to see the door open and watch people just fly out.

so close!
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We already looked plenty high enough for me but we were still going to go up 2 more kilometers fo jump at 3km (3000m = 10,000 ft).  I was freaking out to look out the open door to the farmland below.

It was time.  We were tightly secured together.  My hat and glasses were on.. all systems go.  The instructor waddled to the door as I dangled out the plane.  ahh!  He jumps out and it takes a second to figure out which way is up and down.  He deploys the small chute to stabalize us during free fall.  We fall for 2km through the air at 160mph!  We stretched out our hands to try and touch the other guy in red but we didn't get close enough.  The parachutes opens and catches the wind to jerk us up.  It was amazing how quick the pace changed from falling out of the sky to gently gliding through it.  The instuctor didn't speak English but he did know 'ok', 'legs', 'beautiful', and I taught him 'Oh my God'!  The glide down was really nice and peaceful, it made you feel like you were all alone with the world.  It is a hard feeling to explain and it is an experience I will never forget.  Any time I am ever scared to do something in my live I will just replay the video of my jump to prove to my self that I can to do anything!