How do you give credit to an experience that changed your life? How do you put it into words? I’ve never been more stumped ... sitting here trying to quantify an adventure more insurmountable than I can probably even realize right now. But here I am, all 91 days and leaving this Thursday, still not believing that I am in this incredible place, surrounded by the marine life I dreamed about since I was a little girl. And even better yet, learning about it.
I have never had a life experience that has taught me more than this trip. I've learned so much about myself, about where other people come from, about the dire poverty that exists in the world, and better yet-how just a little time and caring can make a profound difference in someone’s life. Not to mention how I’ve learned about hundreds of marine organisms, how to distinguish between hexacoralia and octocoralia, how to clear a partially flooded mask at 100 feet underwater, and how to not freak out when a 7 foot reef shark approaches you oh so curiously.
But quantifying how much I've learned is next to impossible, and maybe just saying that I've gained a new outlook on life is more explanatory of my experience here.
Thinking back to my first day, and the petrified look that must have been on my face as I saw the South Caicos airport-a half crumbled building. That first drive through town when I was repeating in my head to have an open mind while the islanders whistled at us and little kids ran behind the truck without shoes on. Little did I know that I would leave a piece of my heart on the little island of South Caicos.
Now I'm on the flip-side. The home stretch. The final chapter. The beginning of the end ... and I'm wondering how I can ever live without this world that I was thrown into, a world that has shown me that there is more to life than text messaging and instagram. A world that has shown me that there are bigger problems than gossip and not having starbucks. Quite honestly, I would go a lifetime without a good cup of coffee if it meant I could make an impact on any of the environmental and social problems we learned about.
Every dive, every snorkel, every long day of research, every night out, every conversation with the locals, every night watching the stars I will hold in my heart.
It constantly crosses my mind about how perfectly this trip was timed in my life. With all of the moves my family has made and getting bogged down with science classes at Purdue, there is nothing that I needed more than this experience. Getting away from life as I knew it, meeting and becoming incredibly close friends with some of the most inspiring people I have ever met, completely reestablishing my love of science, and experiencing one of the greatest things that life has to offer ... adventure.
I could sit here on these last few days and reminisce on the days of yore or I could look up and trust that there is more adventure to be had in my life, just waiting for me to seek it out. And I have never been more excited in my life to find my adventures, and uncover the wonder that exists in life.
E.E. Cummings once said “it is always ourselves we find in the sea.” I found a side of myself and a whole lot more!
Thanks for reading my blog, it was such an amazing way for me to keep track of things that happened and for me to share my adventures and stories with everyone.
Now go have an adventure of your own!
I have never had a life experience that has taught me more than this trip. I've learned so much about myself, about where other people come from, about the dire poverty that exists in the world, and better yet-how just a little time and caring can make a profound difference in someone’s life. Not to mention how I’ve learned about hundreds of marine organisms, how to distinguish between hexacoralia and octocoralia, how to clear a partially flooded mask at 100 feet underwater, and how to not freak out when a 7 foot reef shark approaches you oh so curiously.
But quantifying how much I've learned is next to impossible, and maybe just saying that I've gained a new outlook on life is more explanatory of my experience here.
Thinking back to my first day, and the petrified look that must have been on my face as I saw the South Caicos airport-a half crumbled building. That first drive through town when I was repeating in my head to have an open mind while the islanders whistled at us and little kids ran behind the truck without shoes on. Little did I know that I would leave a piece of my heart on the little island of South Caicos.
Now I'm on the flip-side. The home stretch. The final chapter. The beginning of the end ... and I'm wondering how I can ever live without this world that I was thrown into, a world that has shown me that there is more to life than text messaging and instagram. A world that has shown me that there are bigger problems than gossip and not having starbucks. Quite honestly, I would go a lifetime without a good cup of coffee if it meant I could make an impact on any of the environmental and social problems we learned about.
Every dive, every snorkel, every long day of research, every night out, every conversation with the locals, every night watching the stars I will hold in my heart.
It constantly crosses my mind about how perfectly this trip was timed in my life. With all of the moves my family has made and getting bogged down with science classes at Purdue, there is nothing that I needed more than this experience. Getting away from life as I knew it, meeting and becoming incredibly close friends with some of the most inspiring people I have ever met, completely reestablishing my love of science, and experiencing one of the greatest things that life has to offer ... adventure.
I could sit here on these last few days and reminisce on the days of yore or I could look up and trust that there is more adventure to be had in my life, just waiting for me to seek it out. And I have never been more excited in my life to find my adventures, and uncover the wonder that exists in life.
E.E. Cummings once said “it is always ourselves we find in the sea.” I found a side of myself and a whole lot more!
Thanks for reading my blog, it was such an amazing way for me to keep track of things that happened and for me to share my adventures and stories with everyone.
Now go have an adventure of your own!