Unproductive, wet, scared AND excited

This whole weekend has kind of been a whirlwind of ... just everything. I got NOTHING done, with the exception of some field work, but do feel rested enough to start the week now.

Like I mentioned in my last blog, I am going to visit the Galapagos Islands for 5 full days and 2 half days in February. I was so EXCITED alllll of Friday night. There are so many amazing things to see there including: lots of birds including flamingoes, blue footed boobies, darwins finches etc, fish, sharks, giant tortoises, sea lions, rays, penguins, iguanas, lizards and more, and all in their natural habitat. What makes the wildlife in these islands so amazing is that is has evolved in isolation for so long. The islands are part of Ecuador, but are over 1000km off the west coast. We are planning to visit Santa Cruz (the main tourist island) and then one (or both) of Isabella and San Cristobal. You need a guide when in National Park areas of the islands (which is 90%) of the islands, so that's one thing we need to look into, along with accommodations. I had a great day on Saturday morning, I got Starbucks and sat in Chapters for nearly 2 hours looking through travel guides and picture books about the Galapagos, and familiarizing myself with what it will be like there- after all this is my first big trip... my first time outside of the country! We also have to look into getting Hep A and Typhoid fever vaccines, etc. Anyways, after Chapters I went to the mall to check out the 2 days to close Zellers sale (big disappointment) and look at luggage at the bay, and cameras at various stores. I planned on coming home with SOMETHING from the mall... but didn't, except I did come home with a Greek salad, and a wildlife book from Chapters.

I got home that afternoon, and was browsing things online and thought to myself about how safe the Galapagos were. I was happy to learn that it was very safe there, but the mainland of Ecuador was not. In fact, we were flying into a very dangerous city, with more than 12 hour lay overs there, and we will need to get a hotel there the first night. My excitement turned to terror quickly. I decided after probably 4 straight hours of freaking out that, lots of people travel there, and nothing happens if you are cautious and aware of the problems they have there. I feel a bit better now, but I can tell you already that for the 14 hours we are there before the Galapagos, and anytime we are in transit between the airport and hotel in Ecuador, I think I will be holding my breath.

Waiting for the bus to campus...great day
for field work!

After spending a quiet, rainy Saturday night watching teen movies on Netflix, I got up and went to the field with my volunteer this morning. It was very rainy, and miserable, but we needed to go. It was my first time taking the volunteer out and she was amazing, she mostly did recording on the data sheets for me, but in a few plots I would give her a few species to find and count herself. We ended up harvesting almost 4 plots, but even with our plastic covers, the data sheets got soaked and we could no longer write on them so we had to go. The rain soaked through my rain coat, my pants, and my t shirt so I was chilled for a long time after I got home. I have done nothing except some trip research tonight and watched an INCREDIBLE documentary on Beavers, called "Dam Beavers"...clever I thought. 

My old rubber boots, they look sketchy
but they do the job

No more photos please!