I've visited the beach only twice, and each of the visits held memories. My first visit wasn't kinda fun but I was so happy because it was like a fulfilled wish, a dream come true. Although I'm aquaphobia but I still get excited when I hear stories from friends about their beach visits and I always wish for the day I'll visit too, I kept imagining how I would live all through this life and not experiencing what's it's like at the beach, even if it's for once
So I just woke up one morning and made up my mind to go to the beach, without prior plan or even informing my mentor, whom I visited. The funny part was that I didn't even know my way around there but I needed to go see the beach for myself to satisfy my curiosity, and face my fears, if possible, lol.
Finally I made it to the beach and was caught in awe of its beauty but seeing the wave, my fear increased. I was so afraid to get close to the shore. I just stood afar enjoying the view of the sea, and some other people who were having the fun of their lives.
Well I needed to take some pictures so I managed to get close to the water. After that I picked some shells and headed back home, happy and fulfilled. I went, I saw and satisfied my curiosity, and conquered the fear although to some extent, lol. But with that I was sure that my second would be fun, infact adventurous and I tell you, it was indeed.
The second time was a group visit with fellow corps members. Every service year, Catholic corps members serving in the southern states comprising of Rivers State, Cross Rivers and Ákwá Ibom States usually have annual convention and that year it was the turn of Ákwá Ibom state, which was where I was serving, to host. It was a big event which lasted for four days and to add fun to it, we planned on visiting the Ibeno beach in Eket, the same one I visited.
On the said day, which was a Saturday, we woke up very early to put finishing touches to the plans. We hired a coaster vehicle to convey us to the beach. For refreshment, we got a baker who prepared some snacks for us, we bought soft drinks and enough water. We also carried our local musical instruments for entertainment, and some balls too for beach sports. We were well prepared, lol.
So we got set and off we went to have the most amazing experience of our lives. Everyone was excited, but I think I was the most excited. The journey was smooth, we sang, cracked jokes and made merry along the way. Finally we got to the beach and the party started, not actually a party in the real sense, hehehe.
The guys and some females who could swim didn't waste time in jumping in to swim. Some of us who were aquaphobia stayed off the sea, rather we were playing in the sand. We engaged in various gameplay like tempe tempe, jangolova, who is in the garden? and change your style. Another group was playing football. No one was dulling at all, it was just all fun but little did we know that some of the swimmers had something up their sleeves. They planned on bringing everyone of us - the aquaphobia gang, into the water. Their reason was that there's no way we would visit the beach and not have a feel of the water itself, which was actually true in the real sense of it. So what they were doing is to target one person, catch you unawares, and then bundle you to the sea amidst shouts from you and laughter from others, lol.
Ha! when I saw what was happening, I ran to my friend hoping that he would protect me, not knowing that he had his own plans. He has had his own fill of swimming and just sat on the sand resting so I sat beside him. We were chatting and he stood up as if to stretch himself and before I knew it, I was already in his arms heading to the sea. I thought he just wanted to prank me but guy man was serious. I was shouting, beating his chest and struggling to get off but he held me tighter. I even threatened to break up with but him but he didn't stop. He just told me to trust him. Well I had no choice but to relax a bit. He carried me right inside the water and I felt cold shivers the moment the water touched my body. The tide was very close and I let out a cry but holding me close, he told me to relax and enjoy the moment. He then said ihe did it to help me face my fears and to also protect me from being bundled into the sea like others. Awwnnn, what a knight in shining armour, a brave warrior, I called him and he started feeling so fly but I gave him the knock of his life which caught him off balance and I made my way out of the water before the next tide comes. He was just laughing at me. Well, his trick worked because after that I was able to go in again by myself though he was still close.
After we had a fill day, we had refreshment, rested and thereafter packed up and headed home. Our journey back wasn't so pleasant the vehicle developed a fault. It started over heating so we had to wait for it to cool off. That moment of wait was terrible for me because I caught cold. Just like everyone, I was still in the same wet cloth so it was expected. Luckily my friend had a jacket so that helped cover me up.
After waiting for like what seemed like eternity,, the vehicle was fixed and we continued our journey back,. We were all so exhausted that we couldn't even sing much while going back. But it was an exciting and enjoyable experience.
Thank you for reading
This is my entry to the Week 1 of the Dreemport August Challenge in collaboration with Scholar and Scribe Community.
Still the #threadsaddict 😂
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