After four seasons of being a roaming naturalist, I finally feel like I'm getting good at it. So of course its time to move on to the next thing. My lack of attention to this blog as a side effect of being accepted on very short notice to a graduate program in Australia. Having only a few weeks to line up financing, deal with the visa hoops, and put all the logistics in order while also working and traveling (for work/life) everyday is tiring. Tiring and somewhat exhilarating. I know once this is all done I'll sit down at my desk somewhere in the city and think "A few hours of studying and paper writing sounds downright fun comparatively!"
So where have I been and what have I been up to the past few weeks? I've been from Yosemite to Pinnacles to Santa Cruz to Mendocino County (NorCal) and presently am driving back to DC, stopped off for a few hours in Colorado. Life moves fast but sometimes I think I can move fast enough to see it clearly. I've laughed a lot, cried a little, had to have an emergency root canal in the middle of a program, come very close to punching many raccoons in the face at all hours of the night (cooking in campgrounds, it comes with the territory), and eaten at least a dozen burritos.
The road is calling and if I have the energy to add onto this entry after 10 hours of driving, I will. But for now I will leave you with a list I've been working on:
"What I Learned at 'Science Camp' (as the kids frequently call it)"
-The quiet kids normally have the best idea of what's going on.
-Kids will always pick the worst timing to get sick and/or injured...sometimes in clusters.
-Schedules are a nice idea...nothing more.
-Expect to be surprised but wether it will be in a good way or a bad way, you can never know.
-Always downplay bleeding, it really freaks out a lot of people.
-As much as you might want to let that dumb kid refuse to drink "tap" water, after three hours of hiking around a dry, 80 degree park it will not be pretty and it will be your problem.
-The more clean and organized you keep your kitchen, the more the raccoons will keep you awake at night to spite you for it.
-Never attempt to give instructions over two minutes at a time. It will not go through.
-Always try to state directions/rules in the positive form.
ex. "You must keep your feet on the ground at all times." NOT "Don't climb trees." Many kids/people will just hear "Climb trees"
-Keep it positive but allow for a little venting...not good to let people bottle up their steam. It will always come out eventually.
-Never underestimate the power of a well packed and well maintained cube truck!
