Aquarius, Dive Master, and Great White

Around 11pm on July 18th, 2012, I was watching a show on my computer when I saw a message received by my phone. I looked at it quizzically as it read

"Aquarius Reef Base would like to thank you for all of your campaign efforts. We know it's very last minute, but we'd like to extend an invitation for you to come and visit aquarius reef base. Please contact xxxx@email.com if you think you might be able to do something like that. We wil be diving down to Aquarius thru Saturday."

I blinked trying to process what I just read as I was half asleep.

"MOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!" I ran out of my bedroom half asleep, half in disbelief of what I just read. I plopped down next to my mom. She read it. We looked at each other thinking the same thing- Is this for real?

For those of you who don't know- Aquarius is the world's last undersea research habitat in the Florida Keys. Just a day or two before I participated in a Google+ Hangout Chat with the Aquanauts (Dale Stokes, Mark Patterson, DJ Roller and Sylvia Earle). Aquarius' funding has been cut by the President as he has not put Aquarius into his next year's budget (only need a measly 3M$ to keep it running a year). So my mom and I created posters saying "Save Aquarius for the next generation". 

24hours after I got that message, I found myself on a red eye to the Florida Keys. 

The next 72 hours would be the wildest of my life. 

Going to Florida I was told I would probably be able to dive around Aquarius, but no promises. When I was on the boat I was guaranteed to dive.  Right before I went into the water I was told I was going to be able to go IN Aquarius. I was in shock. It was all I could do to preform the bail out bottle skill with my heart pounding with excitement. But I did. And two minutes after descending, I was in Aquarius. 

After getting a safety breifing I found myself face to face with the people I was just chatting online with days before. I can't remember who said it but the first thing I remember hearing one of them say was "Would you like something to eat? We have plenty of food!"

Next thing I know a cup of water is in my hand and a bowl of peanut M&Ms is set in front of me.

I was so in awe of everything that was happening, I could hardly speak. Which is fine because a reporter came down with me and he was interviewing the Aquanauts. Looking out the window next to the table in the galley area I could see all kinds of fish swimming about. It was like looking into a giant tank, except it was really reversed. We were the ones in their world, the ones in the tank. It felt like we were down there for a great while, until we got our 10, then 3min warnings. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay in that funny can on the bottom of the ocean, watching the fish swim by while being surrounded by some of the top influential people in the marine community. We got a few minutes to swim around Aquarius then had to head to the surface before we hit deco. Upon surfacing I just chuckled to myself. Mostly in disbelief on what just happened. I sat in the water waiting to get out trying to process the last hour of my life.

I am one of less than a thousand people who have been inside Aquarius. I have been where legends and pioneers in the marine community have been. Who has sat where I just did? Whose footsteps have I just followed in?

The next day I passed on going out on the work boat for another dive around Aquarius. 7ft swells were rolling and I knew that means I would be "chumming" instantly. So I stuck around base and got lunch for the returning Aquanauts.

That night was the benefit at the Museum of Scuba Diving. It was really neat there. They had literally everything from the ancient days of diving (no really like Greek empire ancient). There I met Jon Landau- the producer of Titanic and the Avatar movies. Yep. It was pretty awesome.
Oh not to mention people from One World One Ocean aka MacGillivray Freeman Films was there, so met some guys from there... Kinda star struck in those short days to say the least!

So after a whirl wind couple of days I was on my way back home to Cali.

A day later I was on my way to Long Beach to stay on the R/V Sea Watch. Home of my dear friend and mentor- Capt Chris Wade. He was going to help me finish my Dive Master. After working 3 full day shifts at the California Science Center, waking up at 6am and not going to be til midnight or later, I was beyond tired but finally a Dive Master.

This weekend I am actually going out on his boat with several others for some diving and shark snorkeling! Though I have a funny suspicion I'll be put to work as cook or something like that... no complaints here, living the dream!

And finally to round out a week of craziness, I went up to Tahoe with my dad to become a sub pilot! Ok don't go crazy, I'm not talking Navy super stealth submarines or anything, I'm talking about small 1.5 or 2 person submersible (I say 1.5 cause if its 2 you will have to be real comfortable with each other and not eat beans for breakfast)

So after this last weekend I am now a submersible pilot. The sub I flew is named Great White. She belongs to another dear friend and mentor- Scott Cassell (check out the stuff he has done with humboldt squids and sharks!) She handles really well and very basic in controls. Finally, after two years I was in my first REAL submersible and piloted her myself!

So those 12 or so days have easily altered my life. Or at least has set some ripples into effect and I cannot wait to see what kind of tidal wave they will produce.

Here are some pictures from Aquarius and Great White (Sub photos taken by my dad)-

Reminiscing and Advice

Finals week is here. Aka the week of tests that you think you studied enough for but in reality you just gotta wing these things and hope you pass (sorry mom, that's the reality of it!). And as I sit here in the library, partial procrastinating and partially studying, I start to think back on this semester. So much has happened. I won't go into detail on some stuff but what I can go into detail I will....

 Our friend group has grown drastically. Not only in the sense of adding of people but friendship wise we have all grown. The beginning of the semester brought many trials that placed us in some uncomfortable positions at times. Thankfully though we have all grown and moved on from these. It was hard, it wasn't easy. But we got through it.

 On the actual size growth of things I have one word. Norway. Seriously if you thought I was a little Norway crazy before, you should see me now ;) I am literally down at Magnus and Ynghild's apartment close to every day. They are probably sick of me by now x) They have introduced me to How I Met Your Mother and needless to say I am slightly addicted! I love those two to no end and I am so excited that I do get to spend one last week with them in So Cal before they head back home to Norway. All the other Norwegians- Simen, Kristen, Trude, Adrian, Pieter, Jon, Ylva,Anders and Oddbjørn- that I have met and hung out with have all been a blast. Seriously if you had to chose people to befriend from another country, make sure they are from Norway. They will be some of the funniest, most awesome people ever! They are very blunt though, so you have been warned! This brings me to another topic....

 I am planning on studying abroad. Can you guess where? If you guessed Norway you are correct! i don't plan on going until 2014, but I do plan on it. Yes I am partially going there because of the new friends I have made, but also because they do have a marine program and have you seen picture of Norway??? If not go to Google right now and type in Bergen or Tromsø or Oslo. See those gorgeous pictures?? Yeah, not too shabby huh? Besides how many people can say they have been to Norway? Honestly it never struck me to go there, like ever, but now, I really REALLY want to go...
Also check out these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqdwQzmSHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76d6JTLCc9g
 If you didn't laugh... I am sorry... you need more Norwegians in your life then!

 Yesterday I went hiking to find some lava. Now before you think I am crazy going to hike into a field of lava then well... No actually I am crazy. Here is the thing, when you see lava in the movies you see it gushing from a mountain or rolling down a hill. Spoiler alert- It is not like that in real life. I mean ya sure SOMETIMES you get to see it all pretty and flowy but majority of the time you don't. Most of the time it is subsurface flow aka in a lava tube. And guess what we were walking on... Ya ~1000C (~2000F) is still hot under a layer of rock. Anyways I didn't get to use my lava poking stick to poke the lava or pop the jiffypop but we did see a faint glow in a lava tube! Though I did get to eat a marshmellow cooked by the lava thanks to Simen! Was super fun though. Seriously you have not lived until you think you are about to fall through the ground into molten rock! Mind you this wasn't a paved trail out to the lava. Oh no, it was 5 miles as the crow flies of tromping and climbing over lava rock. Round trip was about 10hours of hiking (roughly 20km round trip). It was not for the faint of heart and 4L of water, couple scrapes, a blister and slight sun burn later I can say I have seen lava up close and personal! (Sorry Morgan for using not all the proper terms ;) )

 Ok enough of the reminiscing part...

On to the advice! I wish starting off in college someone would have told me about the friends I could make. Normally all I was told about the horrors of having a crappy roommate... Nothing about making and keeping genuine friends. Here is one thing I would recommend- make friends with people who are definitely from another country and are not from your state. Why? Well if you moved away from home to experience something new, nothing screams new like people from another country. If you are staying close to home, even better. You will get to experience a new way of life without having to leave the comforts of home!

But here is a warning- they are going to leave. If they are on exchange, they are going to leave. It's the hard truth I am facing right now. I really don't want to but I have no other choice. It is the reality. People come into our lives, and they leave. They choice you have is how hard are you going to work on keeping them a part of your life. If they are genuine friends, this will be easier. If not, well... Mind you I say easier, not easy. Nothing is easy when trying to keep up long distance friendships. Even trying to keep up with my friends back home has been a challenge. And honestly I only care to keep in touch with a few. Hey the rest of them, well if they haven't said anything to me in my whole 9 months away who cares? Most of them were from high school. Oh! Here is another tip- people from high school don't matter any more in college. Seriously. Those old fake friendships with people going nowhere. Forget about them. They aren't worth the trouble or ibuprofen spent on trying to relieve the headache you are going to give yourself. Sounds harsh I know. But most people who have been through this and those of you who will go through this will agree. There is one piece of advice I cannot give but need to experience myself. And that is saying goodbye. My family knows I hate saying goodbye to places I fall in love with. I have yet to experience a genuine goodbye with people. (Sorry friends back home, but when I know I am going to see you in a couple months and when we are planning for you to come see me or since we live in the same city, state and country, me leaving after summer and Christmas don't count exactly).
When you fall in love with people and have to say goodbye, especially when they are from another country, that is tough. I don't know how I am going to handle it, but I am sure it is going to be a long plane ride home full of chocolate, tissues and sappy music/movie. I hate saying goodbye to place I love. I can't imagine saying it to people.

 Ok I think I got most my thoughts out for the evening, now on to actual studying for finals week!

Oh here is some more Norway/ Swedish fun :)

This song rocks... especially when all the Norwegians start singing it ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Cn8Gfiz90
And for lessons on how to dance at a rave in Swedish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrctMvIWpG0

A New Year, Looking Forward.

Happy New Year! It's 2012 but it sure doesn't feel like it. Guess I can't believe that a whole 'nother year has gone by. And boy was it an eventful one! I'm pretty sure My New Year's wish last year was to have an exciting year. And that is what I got. Maybe a little more eventful in some ways that I was not planning on- good and bad. I met some new people, made new friends, lost some old friends and grew, A LOT. I graduated high school and started college.

At the end of my first semester of college, I am excited for the next four years, but at the same time I just want it to be over. I know the next four years will be some of the toughest years of my life, but I am excited For those years. I know I will grow in ways I cannot yet comprehend. I will laugh, I will cry, I will learn. The growth of knowledge is what probably excites me most. Mind you, I am not talking about just growing in school, but also outside of it. Ideally, I have three summers between now and graduation.

Those summers are going to be so jam packed with learning also! Mostly concerning diving and hopefully photography/videography.

Last year I had a goal of making 2011 as exciting as possible, even though some of it was not what I was really planning on, it certainly was exciting. This new year, 2012, I don't have to worry about it having any sort of lack of excitement. Rather, I am going to have to learn a great deal of time management.

So I guess that would be my goal/plan/wish of 2012- Manage my time wisely.

Wishing you the best in this next year.

Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

... the end of the semester. You thought I was going to say Christmas huh? Well that too... And I am listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album. Yes it is only the day after Thanksgiving... So? The turkey had its day... Now its Christmas time :)Even decorated our suite with Christmas lights and wrapped our doors with wrapping paper!

Finals are approaching, I have a paper due in the next few weeks and I decided that before things get too crazy that I might take the time and catch up on the latest and greatest, and take some time to reflect on the past few months.


Its hard to believe that my first semester at college is almost done. It really hasn't felt like college because my classes are really small... with the exception on my Chem lecture. But really, most my classes are the size of my high school ones with exception that some of the people in my class can be my age, or even 10 years older! Its fun because no one looks down on you for your age. You are all taking the same class, you are all equal.

Going to a university the size of a public high school is fun because you get to recognize everyone to the point you will say hi and maybe stop and chat. Its like RCS but nobody cares about your drama! Refreshing :) Granted there are a few uhh "air heads" to put it nicely... But there are always a few.


With the semester closing, that means some friends are leaving. I'm really sad about this because the last few months I have met some awesome people and hope I will keep in contact with them. Wish they could stay longer, but I guess that is what Facebook is for! Really gonna miss them that is for sure!

On a happier note, I have done so much! Been on so many adventures- Green Sands beach hike, Mauna Kea summit, hiking into the caldera of a volcano, biked 23 miles, sailed, scuba dived, walked to town, went on photoshoot adventures, and so much more!

Which leads me into my other bit of big new... I got my first job! Yep I have officially entered the working world. As what might you ask? I am an employee of the Outdoor Adventure Staff!!! What does that mean? All the things I just listed up there... Yeah I now get paid to do that... Although I do have to drive the vans and there is office work... So it isn't all fun and games... ;) My coworkers are awesome! Two of which are my suitemates. I swear we do just about everything together. I love the vibe with the staff! Just a fun, relaxed yet a "we get it done" atmosphere.

So far life out here is pretty great... Minus that school work bit ;)

Enjoy the pictures.

Future Happenings of Now

So lately not much has been happening here in Hawaii. Although I'm really falling in love with the culture. It is just so laid back, relaxing, polite and fun. I really wish the rest of the Mainland would get on with the program. America would be a MUCH better place if it did.

Oh! I am going to try to get a job at the Student Life Center as an Outdoor Adventure team member! It would be amazing! I would get paid to go on the weekend trips that I already go on anyways. Granted its not all fun! I have to learn to drive the vans (eek!), make sure the kids on the trips don't do anything dangerous, and there is some office hours that come with the territory... But hey, its a job. I'll even power wash the drive way! (hehe)

Outside o school I have been doing a bit of thinking about internships, diving experience/certs that I want, and what I want to do when I get out of college (yeah I know that's 4 years away but still... )

So just quickly listing dive certs I want:
1) Scientific Diver(in the works)
2) Dive Master
3) Anything else offered here or back home
4) Keep diving at CSC

As for interning...
I have no clue. I know I want to work with Scott Cassell and his sub and what ever projects he has going on. I also want to continue diving at the California Science Center! I love it there. Also I wanna do some time on the R/V Sea Watch sometime (waddya say Capt?).
Ok so as far as "real" internships go... Something with sharks, or animal relocation/tagging/tracking/rehab/etc. Pretty basic. No micro organisms or mollusks for me. Or anything OUTSIDE. DOING something. Lab work drives me crazy (to an extent). All I know is that I am not made for strictly indoor lab work. No way, no how.

As for what I WANT to do when I'm out or what I am working towards... I have no clue. Which is new for me. I'll go for anything that has diving, deep sea exploration, underwater photography/filming, in field research, maybe even work in an aquarium... I have no set idea. I wanna try it all!

Its funny though... I'm not sure that I am too keen on being completely submersed in the PhD society of science. Its too stuffy. Too many limitations. Too many rules. Plus, I have never done anything normally. Granted, I'm not going to completely shun the scientific community, but I'm not sure if I want to be submersed in it.

Two people who I really look up to are Capt Chris Wade and Scott Cassell. If there are two guys that I want to be like, its them. They redefine the "normal" in how to work with the ocean. I consider them two of my mentors. If you ever get the chance to meet one or both, they will change you life. Both have a thirst for life and desire to live it to the fullest. Two different personalities but both share a love of the ocean.

Nothing much else is going on. I'm really enjoying myself here. The friends I have made are super fun and my roommates rock. :)

Boats, divers, cameras. Oh my!

So this weekend to say the least was one whirlwind adventure! I am still seeing the world spin… or maybe it is just the fact that the last two days I have been on a boat. Yeah, that may have something to do about it! Ok so where to begin… I guess when I walked on to Sea Watch Friday morning-

I walk on to the R/V Sea Watch for the second time. My first being for a harbor cruise of sorts. After getting my bunk and putting my stuff away the camera crew from Global Reef started to show up. The most cameras that started to appear were worth $20 THOUSAND dollars or more. After getting whirlwind introduction to the camera crew, Kerry (Scott’s fiancé) and her two kids Shelby and Alec arrived. After they got situated and more introductions by camera crew, Scott arrived and we helped him get all his gear on board. And there was a LOT of gear! We shoved off around 4pm or so.
The ride over to Catalina was fun! I got to know Shelby and Alec some. Since I just met them! They are super great kids! They were a lot of fun to hang around with. I also spent time talking and laughing with Maleno, Will and Ricky who are three of the Sea Watch crew. How I missed those guys!

We docked in Toyon Bay where the CIMI camp is held. They were great in giving rooms for the crew that wouldn’t fit on Sea Watch for the night; also they fed some of us. Scott gave a talk to the counselors about what was going on and of course the cameras followed and recorded his every word.(Side note: If you ever get the chance to hear Scott talk, don’t pass it up! He is a wonderful speaker.)

That night most of the crew did not get to bed until 11pm or later. A few, like Ricky and Capt. Chris (captain of Sea Watch) stayed up throughout the night and made sure some details were cleared up so we did not have to worry about them in the morning. At 4am Scott arrived on Sea Watch after spending the night on shore. The boat came alive, full of cameras and crew, scrambling to get things together to make sure Scott and the camera crew going in the water had all the gear they needed. After 3 hours of mayhem Scott finally jumped in at 7:05am.

Scott took off with the crew of Blue Diver and the RIB (ridged inflatable boat). Sea Watch stayed behind a bit to make sure that the dive bell that Scott was going to be using to change gear and eat would be safe for him. Well after about 4 hours of testing we decided that it would not be. With the water conditions, and Scott’s fatigue that would arise, having him in the bell was just something that was an unnecessary risk. By the time that Sea Watch caught up with Scott and the rest of the boats, we noticed that there was one too many divers in the boat. Scott had to surface. The plan was to go without surfacing. But through a series of technical problems, Scott was forced to come up. The rest of the day ended up being Scott surfacing to exchange tanks or to rest and get some food in him, more than the protein shakes he was going to eat. Towards the second to last surface and equipment exchange things were not looking good. Even though he was faced with severe exhaustion and still another 5 miles to go, Scott still kept going on. For the last bit inside the harbor Scott changed back into his rebreather. Sid, Shelby and myself were “support divers”(Shelby and myself snorkeled because if Scott needed any real help we didn’t want our gear to be in the way) for the last little swim with his rebreather.

Scott surfaced for the last time of the day sometime around 6:15pm (or was it 7:15?) back on the shores of California in Cabrillo.

It was one long day. The hours blurred together, time was around us but did not really seem to exist. My first expedition has been completed. And what an expedition to be a first!

Quite a few things went wrong or broke. But Scott kept pushing through. His dedication to the sharks kept him going (as well as a great medic and support crew).

Let me set this straight- the 30 mile dive was not about making a world record, or being the first to do some stunt. It was to bring awareness to the declining population of sharks and just how endangered they are. This was to show people how sick our oceans are. Before and after the dive Scott talked about how back in the 80s and 90s he dove out there and he would see 20 or more blue sharks in one 45min dive. Over an expanse of 30 miles he saw absolutely no sharks. Scott also talked about how everything is interconnected in our world.

An example he used:
Are declining shark populations responsible for the rise in bear attacks in Alaska? At first I was thinking no. I mean how can sharks and bears be related in any way. In a condensed version this is what he explained- Sharks are the apex predators of the sea. Take them away and a new one comes up. This new one is the Humboldt squid. And these squid are viscous. They eat everything. So as sharks decline, squid rise and have moved north to Alaska to feed on salmon. Oddly the salmon population has been decreasing drastically. Scott mentioned a group of fishermen who were trying to catch salmon in the ocean and oddly kept hooking Humboldt squid and when they did get a salmon it was all chewed up already. Fishermen reported that they only caught 1/6 of what they normally get. So back to the bears… Bears eat salmon. What happens when bears don’t get enough salmon? They get hungry and go looking for other food sources. Just so happens that the nearest source of easy food is in people’s trash. See the connection now? Sure it may not be the primary cause of bear attacks, but do you think it is helping any??

Everything is interconnected. This dive was not about a world record. It was about getting the word out that the oceans are failing. People are not fishing sustainably anymore. Killing 200,000 sharks A DAY is not sustainable! When they have life spans and reproduction rates close to that of humans, they can’t support being killed at that rate! No one would stand by if people started killing off pandas or puppies or something cute and fuzzy. So why should we stand by when sharks are being killed?

Sharks are in trouble. We need to do something. The thing I love most about Scott is that he isn’t afraid to act. He stands up for the innocent and for what he believes in. Scott is a do-er, not a talk-er. It doesn’t take much to talk about facts and statistics. But it takes more to actually stand up and DO something.


Our oceans are in risk of collapsing. They are the life source for our world. He is right- if the oceans fail, mankind won’t be far behind.


For more information about Scott and what he does please check out his website for his non-profit company:
www.underseavoyagerproject.org

Or for more information about the 30-Mile Dive and the movie that will be coming out please visit:
www.30miledive.com

Green Sand and Tallest Mountain

So this weekend was sheer fun in the sun and relaxation!! Saturday we (my suite mates Hannah and Jaidon and I) "hiked" with the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) on their trip to the Green Sand Beach. I label it as a "hike" because it really is only a 2.5 mile walk. The only "hiking" was going up and down the cliff to get to the beach! But once down at the beach the waves were these awesome classic "body whompers" that we used to see in Baja! Super fun waves to ride and crash onto the shore if you didn't mind the load of sand in every crevice of your body! And these waves were HUGE might I add! We were getting the full force of a Southern swell so the waves were bigger than their average size... So kinda funny... Most people who went either stayed on the beach tanning (seriously you couldn't have done that at the pool?) or stayed right where all the sand was getting churned up and the waves broke... it was quite entertaining to see people get slammed when they least expected it! I can't laugh too hard though because me and Hannah were trying to go back out after getting some water and got nailed by a wave... but we stayed on our feet!!! So it wasn't that bad! haha We saw a turtle a few times, wondering what he was doing but he kept dipping below so we couldn't really follow the little guy!

Yesterday was soooo much fun! I climbed the world's tallest mountain. And I did not even need a jacket!! For those of you haters- Mauna Kea IS taller than Everest. From base to summit. Mount Everest just gets a head start being in the Himalayas! The view was absolutely breathtaking!! It was actually warm at the top and after you get acclimated, being at such high altitude was actually kinda nice! According to my Norwegian friend Simen it is because your body produces more red blood cells and athletes used to do it before a marathon, but then when they did the blood work test it looked like steroids! The air was so clean and clear I almost did not want to go down!

Well another week of school ahead and hopefully making a trip to Place of Refuge this Saturday!

Studying in Paradise... and some adventures along the way...

Doesn’t sound too bad huh? Well so far, it really isn’t. Granted I am limited to campus but, going to school in Hawaii has to be one of the best choices that I have made! Don’t get me wrong. I do miss my friends and family and pets! Now, as much as I love it here, I am coming back. I have to. There is a lot for me back home and I am here for just school (hear that papa? JUST school ;) ) Well I suppose you want to know how I am doing… like classes, roommates, friends, etc… Well here I go:

I have to say the most awesome thing about college so far is that you meet people from all over!!! My roommates are from Alaska, Oahu, and Japan. I have made friends from across the US like Idaho, Colorado and Rhode Island. But I have also managed to pick up a few international friends! Like Canada, Sweden and Norway!! Its so exciting to meet new people :) My friend from Norway (my first international friend named Simon) is sooo funny! The accent just makes him adorable. My two Canadian friends are really funny as well! One I run into a lot around campus, and he seems really chill. The other Canadian friend was actually the van driver to Hapuna! Me and my suitemates had a bundle of fun antagonizing him and singing random camp songs (One about a moose named Fred and another about a bay with watermelon). The international exchange program here is really big! I cant wait to meet more friend from around the world :)

Classes are well.. its school haha not much to say… I’m just kidding! Lets see… Chem is chem. The teacher is really cool. Mr. Furumo… Think he is Asian? Haha nope White guy!!! Full name: Norbert Furumo… ya I was really confused too… He gives a lot of extra credit which I am so taking advantage of! All test are online and quizzes you use that cool iClicker thing! It’s a really big lecture hall so haven’t really made any friends in there… I have no chem lab yet, as the lab has not been completed yet (yay no class but I still get credit!) My marine biology and diversity class is kinda cool.. I mean it’s the beginning so its about scientific method and basics like that (which we went over in chem AND archaeology!) Mrs. Turner seems really cool. She LOVES batman! I also have her as my marine bio lab teacher. That class will be one of my top favs! 8 out of like 13 labs are out in the field!!! Aka guess who gets to snorkel for class?? That’s right this girl right here :) So awesome. Archaeology will be interesting to say the least. My teacher in there isn’t too fond of religion (Christianity) I am noticing…. More on that class later. Public Speaking will also be quite interesting. But that is just because it’s a speaking class and Im not much of a speaker… but according to everyone at graduation, I was great! Granted everyone was probably just being nice… haha Last class is the MOP seminar. This one is sheer fun with minimal work. Its all about what I love and I honestly have no idea what to expect from this class!

Oh! I got to work with some turtles this last week! Granted they were dead… and frozen….. but still! Ok so you know when something dies how its stinks?? And when it sits in the Cali sun during summer how THAT smells? Ok add that to a rotting fish smell and you get one putrid funk of an odor. Not for the faint of heart my friends! But my line of work wont be all glamour, and Im gonna hafta get my hands dirty sooner or later!

Ok so back to that archaeology class… So my teacher’s dad was a minister. But my teacher is not a religion fan (funny how that works). So of course one of our books is gonna bash (not obviously but if you know its happening, you notice) Christianity. Now instead of getting offended, I find it quite comical. How? Cause it slyly blames Christianity for everything that’s “wrong” scientifically or too complicated. No really. Too complicated. Christianity has too many variables where the laws of nature are broken by God (i.e. burning bush). So because Christianity is too complicated it can’t be true. One thing I almost died laughing while reading was that science does not claim to be the one truth and that it’s the only way, while earlier the book said that Darwin’s Origins of the Species was the most brilliant scientific fact and blah blah blah… So while reading my archaeology book it so far has basically said that religion (Christianity, no really its hasn’t named a different religion… just Christianity) is too complicated to be true and that science doesn’t claim to have all the answers but is easier to understand so it must be the right way… Oh how it entertains me. Oh and then it goes on to say that Evolution is fact based on theory... Isnt your theory supposed to be based on facts?? Little backwards to me...


On a happier note, this weekend was a BLAST! Hapuna beach on Saturday was soooooo much fun! The van ride to and from was hysterical with our teasing/antagonizing/messing with/ singing with our van driver Andrew. He was a good sport and I swear we have to have been at least one of his top favorites to have driven! The beach was gorgeous! Not much to snorkel but it was really nice none the less. The water was crystal clear and warm. We used our "Poi Pounder" boogie boards... which is a fancy term for foam covered in fabric... those things were so cheesy but fun! Oddly the worked better upside down... Ya crazy I know. Had so much fun with my suitemates :)

Ok so my suitemates rock! Hannah (Alaska) and Jaidon (Oahu) are super fun and sweet and we are always laughing and having a good time! We already have our own language after the first week… People probably think we are crazy but we embrace it! Best part- they are Christian!!! Its sooo nice to have 2 suitemates that share your values. Me and Hannah actually had a talk the other day about God and guys and our lives. It was amazing! Im so glad God granted me suitemates like them! My other suitemate is Karin (Cah-reen) is from Japan. She is sweet but I haven’t really seen her as she has her exchange friends that she already knew. I’m hoping to get to know her more though.


Last night Hannah, Jaidon and I decided to make a run to Target and Walmart. Well we made a normal college student spree... Target: Snacks, snacks, snacks, a mop (Ill tell you that story later) and a movie. Pretty normal. Then we headed to Walmart. Now Target and Walmart are not right next to each other but instead Walmart is another building or so away... We must have been a sight at 7:30pm walking with out Target bags to Walmart! Well we grab what little we need from Walmart (taking turns, two people sit outside while one runs around for their stuff and we switch). Then while we are waiting for our taxi, who else would show up but Andrew, our van driver from Hapuna! He looked just about as confused and shocked as we did. Once he comes back out with all his stuff and is trying to figure out how to carry a giant calendar and white board and a bag of stuff on his scooter, he asked us if we were going to this weekends trips. We said yes and explained how we mistook the OAC (Outdoor Adventure Center) opening time with the gyms (6:30am) and how we were there at 7am when the OAC didn't open until 8... He laughed and said "Oh so YOU are the crazies!" Glad to know that the whole office got a kick out of that for the day!

Ok so the mop story... Well with four girls in one bathroom you can just imagine how dirty it can get with hair and what not... So this weekend we took a few minutes to clean the bathroom... It was all going smoothly until we got to the shower... mind you this shower is tiny! its like a 4x5 box with a "dressing area" outside the actual water part of the shower... well that outside part doesn't really have a drain... and we didn't think about when we spray it, scrub it then poured water on it, that it wont drain anywhere and it will just sit there..... Well after a few paper towels and much thinking, Hannah runs down to the laundry room to scrounge up old towels... Well she runs into our Norwegian friend Simon! He lets us borrow this little rag. Saying its magic in Norway. And sure enough it was! After about half a dozen soaks, most all of the water. And in return for his kindness of letting us borrow his rag, we give him an avocado... And that is why we decided that we need a mop!

This first week was amazing. Easiest part of college is over. First week jitters are gone, know its getting down to business. I will try to keep updated with the latest, but as I don’t have internet in my room, I have to go downstairs to the internet table, which is where everyone sits and you are almost guaranteed to meet someone new!

Aloha

Aloha means both Hello and Goodbye. And I feel that is exactly how my life is right now. In less than 12 hours I will be on a plane headed towards the next chapter in my life. College. Yep, pretty big. Especially since I am the only child... and I am heading out to Hawaii... Yeah I know, poor me, I'm gonna be soooo miserable right? (note the sarcasm)

Well as today was my last day home, and my last night, I was able to see a few of the friends who I hold most dear in my heart. These few friends got me through the roughest parts in my life this last year. I am definitely going to miss them!!

Now you are probably wondering if I'm crying... Well no, at least not right now. I'm not really the crying type... well not in front of people that is. Also you are wondering if I'm nervous, or excited or what am I feeling?? Well to be honest, I'm excited! A little nervous.. but just about my classes... I'm excited to meet new people, even if I am a tad shy!I am a little sad to be leaving my dag and cat... I'm rubbing my cats ears right now and am definitely gonna miss having a furry companion!

A new life is about to being for me. It will be hard a times, but it will also be a lot of fun!

So until next time,
Aloha!

Reckless and Wild

Seems to be a growing trend of mine... Supporting "reckless ventures". Well you know what? Someone I look up to is my age and dreamed of sailing around the world. A rogue wave rolled her boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean and paused that dream. She said "A lot of times, the things that are most worth doing involve risk", and she is right.

You can't change the world watching TV or playing video games. You can't change the world just by dreaming about it. You have to act. You have to DO something.

I'm not saying that I am going to be a world changer, or that I'm striving to do that. Honestly, if I change the world doing what I love, great. That would be awesome. But to even do what I love, I have to DO something.

I love a good adventure. And I'm beginning to realize there is no bigger adventure than life itself. There are a lot of things I want to do in life, but life is the ultimate adventure. There are a handful of words that get me excited- adventure, map, diving, compass, ocean, beach,... you get the idea. Indiana Jones is my style of life, not Jersey Shore. I understand this isn't very appealing to most people, heck I'm not sure if I'm cut out for it. but I will give it my best shot.

Please realize you are in more danger driving your car to work than being bit by a shark. Also you have a greater chance of dying from a soda machine than a shark attack. Yes I realize they are wild creatures and if I look like a seal or turtle there is a good chance I may get attacked. Thank you for the warning, but I have been watching shark week for many years.

People who do "reckless" things are the ones I look up to. They know what living life is about. And in the reality of it all, it really isn't that reckless. Dictionary.com defines reckless as "having or showing no regard for danger or consequences; heedless; rash". The ones I look up to, my mentors, really aren't "reckless" then according to the definition. They know the risk, they know the dangers, they know the consequences of their actions. The people I look up to aren't reckless; they are dreamers who have dared to go beyond their dreams and make them reality.

I realize what is adventurous for me may be way beyond what someone could ever consider doing. Take diving for example. I have been certified for 3 years. I am a Rescue Certified diver. The sheer idea of just snorkeling freaks some people out. I get that. I can see how fish coming up to your face can freak you out. I got bit by a fish on my lip and looking back, its hysterical, but if you don't like fish, I'm sure you would have had a heart attack. I do my best to be understanding to people who get freaked out by water, really I try.

In my opinion, its all about upbringing. I was raised swimming, going to the beach, collecting rocks in the desert, spending a week in Baja once a year, traveling, etc. I was lucky to have a very diversified childhood. Some one who has stayed in one state their whole lives boggle my mind. But that is just because I was raised in car rides and airplanes. I respect those who are happy staying in one place for their life. To me that is reckless. I couldn't imagine "putting my eggs in one basket" as the saying goes. Not until I have settled down with a family, but even that I can't imagine myself doing for some time. Out of all the things I want to do, settling down with a family would be the craziest most reckless thing I can think of doing.

One of the things I am learning, is to be understanding of someones view and opinion when it doesn't really mesh with mine. Its hard, because when I try to be understanding, it seems like the other person keeps trying to impose their idea on me. And it seems you can't stand firm on your view without insulting the other person, when THEY are the ones imposing the idea, and you are just saying "Yes I know the risk" or "No this is what I believe but I value your view".

When someone says to me "Oh! You scuba dive?? Isn't that dangerous? How can you not freak out being surrounded by water and only have so much air?" I just laugh and smile saying it really isn't horrible, you get trained on how to use the gear and watch your air supply. Then the person shakes their head and call me crazy and the topic moves on.

It puzzles me how some people can be happy living in a safe little bubble. I have grown up in the "RCS bubble" my whole life and can't wait to punch holes in it and breathe the fresh air. I know it won't be easy, but I can't wait. The idea of something new excites me. To each his own I guess.

If you are understanding and open to my view, I'll be open to yours.

My final words for this post are just gonna be words of encouragement to try something new. Try to break through your bubble. It won't be easy, it might not be glamorous, but just try. "In stepping out and trying to achieve great things, the only way [you] can truly fail is never to try at all" ~Abby Sunderland

Bucket List

The other night I was reading some friend's statuses on Facebook and thought "I wanna do that" and "I wanna go there". I have been meaning to make an actual list sooner or later, so I figure why not now? I will keep adding to this list as I go about in life. These are in n particular order...

1. Dive the Great Barrier Reef
2. Dive the A,B,C Islands in the Caribbean
3. Visit the filming sights for the Pirates of the Caribbean films
4. See all 7 Wonders of the World (new 7 and original 7)
5. See Mt. Everest (maybe climb it)
6. Get my pilots license
7. Become a Dive Master
8. Dive in a/ pilot a submersible (this one is real and in the works!)
9. Sky Dive
10. Dive the continental divide in Greenland
11. Travel to every continent
12. Travel around the world
13. Dive with Great Whites
14. See "Air Jaws" in South Africa
15. Get my captain license
16. Go on an African Safari
17. Meet the Cousteau family
18. Get a cake from Ace of Cakes
19. Meet my favorite Hollywood actors
20. Swim in Jellyfish Lake in Palau
21. Own a Yellow/White/Green/Blue Jeep Wrangler
22. Work at Disney World Orlando in EPCOT in their fish tank
23. Experience a hurricane
24. Touch lava (with a stick of course)
25. Go Paint balling
26. Drive a real NASCAR race car
27. See baby turtles hatch :)
28. Watch a shark pup hatch
29. See a foal being born
30. Start a fire by rubbing two sticks
31. Drive all of Route 66
32. See the "green flash" at sunset
33. Sail around North America
34. Sail through the Panama Canal
35. Sail around the world
36. Have at least one friend from every major country
37. Learn to play the Ukelele
38. Backpack Yosemite/Yellowstone
39. Backpack Ireland
40. Swim in the Dead Sea
41. Visit Caesarea (Its by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel area)
42. Tour Greece
43. See the ancient ruins in the Yucatan and in South America


And many more to come :)

"A lot of times, the things that are most worth doing involve risk" ~Abby Sunderland

The Simple Life

Everyone has their place where they are happiest. The place where they are totally at peace, can relax. That place for me is in Baja California about 13miles south of San Felipe in a camp called Rancho Laguna Percebu. i have been going down there since before I was born. No really, my mom went down when she was pregnant with me. So literally I have grown up my life making a trip once a year for a week down there.

I remember catching a scorpion and taking it back for my pre-school class. Or another trip where we stopped on the road because a tarantula was crossing, and I hop out to get a closer look... and to hold it! Mind you I was probably around 7 or younger. No fear as a little kid! I also remember the times when we came across rattlesnakes or a sidewinder! Super rare but always exciting.

Baja always holds some form of excitement, in small ways or big ways. This trip nothing super exciting happened... bit of a wind storm one night and I got covered in salt pine needles (hey its better than mosquitoes!!). And there was the several nights of lightning storms off the horizon. They were so awesome! Sometimes you just see the sky light up and if you are lucky you can catch a glimpse of actual lightning bolt! So i guess you can say an all night lightning show exciting!

I found something that we have never seen before.... a shark tooth!!! Crazy I know... well for us it was. We have found every kind of shell, and even the rare stingray tail barb... but NEVER a shark tooth. I'm guessing its a hammerhead because we have seen small ones on the beach in town that fishermen catch sometimes on accident and just toss them aside.

I want to get this off my chest... Honestly if I was the only person down at our house in Baja, with none of the neighbors around, I would spend the day in "the buff". No joke! Its soooooo hot down there that any small amount of clothes are just a burden. Now I know you think this is weird... but c'mon, if no one is around, why not? It was nice air drying at our neighbors house (they were not home dont worry!) after taking a shower... Im just being honest here!

Anyways, Baja is my second home. Granted it is just a step up from camping... Glorified camping really. No running water, you have to get it trucked in from ton, so limited water supply. No real electricity, all solar. So eco-friendly there. But no TV, no internet, no cell phone. Pure simplicity. And I love it! Life is so simple out there.

This year was a shorter trip, but worth every minute. No trip is ever the same. But every trip holds that same excitement and just pure Baja.

Chapter One: reflections of my senior year

***WARNING: CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT IN THIS POST***




Alot has happened this year. My senior year of high school. I feel I need to write it down, so I don't forget. This year was my senior year of high school at Riverside Christian. Year 15. Basically my whole life! And I was excited. I was about to get my licence, I had an amazing group of friends, I had an idea of where I wanted to go for college... Life couldn't be better! Well there was that pesky new super intendent that looked down at the students like we were below him... well this was gonna be an interesting year, I could tell... changes were on their way, if only I knew how big of changes!!!

A few weeks before school the students get an email saying that school is now 8am-2:50pm instead of 7:45am-2:15pm like it has been for as long as I can remember. Alright no big.... Just a nuisance. Whatever.

First day of school we all check the new class schedules... Break is 10min long, and Lunch is 30min... with no passing periods.. Are you kidding me?? Lets be honest, what girl do you know that can walk from class, pee, go to her locker, eat, and get to the next class without running?? Exactly, you don't. Ok and lunch being 30min... there is no way us seniors could possibly go out to lunch in that amount of time, get real.

This is only the beginning of the problems...


Some more things happen, but then some parents think this new superintendent is kinda fishy... So they look into it. To me he reminded me of this creepy super intendent in a book I read that shipped kids off to detention camps and if they tried to run away they were killed. Oh and he brain washed parents... The parallels creeped me out, especially how he looked and acted (minus detention camps)compared to the character in the book. Long story short, he was an admitted, BUT NEVER CONVICTED, child molestor... yeah, real nice huh? Sure it was 30 some odd years ago blah blah blah. Ya Mr. Jones was an alcoholic back in the 80s but now he is clean and working as a bartender... ok what??? Ya doesn't make sense. Just to be clear, I was for getting him OUT OF MY SCHOOL.

So kids revolt, parents revolt. The school board is crazy. Teachers scared out of their minds because they can't talk freely... isn't that like an infringement on a constitutional right?? Private school can do what ever now a days... School board DENIES everything. Friends now split on whether to take a stand for what they believe or sit back. Oh did I mention this all happens before Christmas?? Yeah Happy Holidays to you too. So after getting a private detective, a couple clips on the evening news, the superintendent leaves. But not before the Board LIES to us saying that no staff member is going to be fired, let go, what have you... Two days before Christmas Vacation we get the news that our beloved principal has been fired... Because he couldn't "control the parents". Ya like he has to control a group of adults, pretty sure his job description was to control rowdy teens! And the President of the School Board just left the note on his desk saying "Your service is no longer needed" or something to that effect. Our principal wasn't even in his office! He left the NOTE on the CHAIR when our Principal WANT IN HIS OFFICE. Merry Christmas.

When school is back we all hope everything is resolved. WRONG. They hire a new principal. My class' 8th grade Bible teacher. Mind you I love this guy- totally chill teacher and reminds everyone of Santa. But he just didn't seem right for this job. And its awkward... and I felt bad for him. Because now the bulls eye just moved to his back. And that isn't a pleasant feeling.

Finally things quiet down... Until things start to get into motion for the annual Senior Trip to Disney World in Florida (ya be jealous! 5 days across the country with your friends, minimal supervision... it was AWESOME). Well between some controversy happened and our senior advisor decided to not go because it was his birthday when we were to be going........ Well My mom and I decided to go to the wonderful school board and ask them to 1) get our senior advisor on trip what ever way possible and 2) get our principal from the beginning of the year to graduation (he was BANNED from graduation). With out incriminating people and to keep things short, our senior advisor now was going on our trip and our original principal was allowed to graduation. Finally something good!

Things were looking up. I had a car, a licence, an awesome group of friends. Then one week, that all changed. While studying I said something I shouldn't have, but didn't realize until later. That one thing changed the rest of my senior year. I was on a high horse, thought I was cool. Then I got knocked down. I turned into a loner for a little bit. Thankfully some amazing friends in the class below me took me under their wing, and my faithful neighbor was there for me too! So that was great, but not a week later, and I get into a car accident. My fault. Car totalled. Great, pretty much friendless, now carless, scared out of my mind, I hit rock bottom. And I was humbled. In an odd way it was just what I needed.


Granted my senior year wasn't a complete disaster. I got into University of Hawaii Hilo, and that is where I am moving to in just a few short weeks. I gained several valuable friends in the Marine Science community, and I don't wanna name drop... so I won't. But through an amazing trail of people, I have a definite sight on my future, a real plan. And that rocks. I also learned who my true friends are. I learned who I am, well more about myself. I learned about my future. Or where I hope to be headed.


Its funny how we grow more out of the bad rather than the good. Its almost like the good in life is a resting period, a time to recoup after that shocking low that made us realize different things and grow.


So that is the story of my senior year from hell. It is hard to make you understand unless you were one of the 200 High Schoolers or countless teachers and staff members who went through it. I'm keeping names out of this for privacy of those involved. There is more but again, I don't want trouble or to incriminate those involved. It has been a crazy year to say the least! Highest of highs, lowest of lows occupied my life the last 9 months of high school that I would ever experence. It has been a great learning experience for sure! I wouldn't go through it again that's for sure! But now I can look to where I am headed. With the petty things of high school behind me I can look forward to other things.


To those of you in the middle of high school, or just entering it:
High school is only FOUR years of your life. Dont waste it on petty things. I promise, cliques and that lil "popular" group of kids won't be in your life after those four years. look forward to life after high school, thats when the living begins!

To those of you who are seniors in high school:
Figure out who your true friends are. You won't see the rest of those kids in your class after graduation. Ya maybe around town but as for day to day, 8 hours? Nope. Get yourself ready for LIFE. Life outside petty high school drama. It will be exciting and way better than those last four years. Will it be easy? Most likely not. but rise up to the challenge. I believe in you!

For the rest of you either in college or out of college:
I can't wait to finally join you in the world!