The Third Installment!

This month as consisted of preparing for my research project, this include marking trees with ribbon every 10m for 2400M so plenty of work. Then we need to conduct a couple of pilot studies. My report consists of doing  reconnaissance  transects using a standard sampling protocol, this includes collecting data on what birds and mammals we see each 50m alongside additional data on Reptiles, amphibians (as we have seen plenty including some pretty snakes). In conjunction with collecting fruit from the forest floor in order to monitor seasonal changes in fruiting trees. In January we are also collecting data on Butterflies something I am looking forward to. Even though it’s a lot of hard work and lots of hiking I enjoy it as the trail is beautiful especially when it’s not been raining. After a couple of pilot studies which will be taken this week. We will be ready to begin our actual study and contributions to the biodiversity monitoring project come December. So far we have seen plenty of wildlife including Moths, Butterflies, Snakes identified as Neuwied's False Fer-de-lance , (Xenodon neuwiedii) which we almost stood on, Large Monitor lizards, Large frogs, and Coati babies!

For a week we had another English person come to the park, however he was not a researcher but a language student wanting to do some extra volunteer work. It was interesting as he lived in the favelas in Rio and was a lot more involved with the culture than us. This was a pretty good learning curve and he explained a lot of the different cultural difference. This is one thing I've been struggling with whilst here. People in Brazil are very social and expect me and Joe to be equally as social, this wouldn't be a bad thing if the language barrier wasn’t so difficult. Although given the opportunity I want to try as hard as possible to get involved with the unique culture here. To help I’m doing a spot of traveling, on my last blog I mentioned I want to travel whilst I’m here. So far so good as for Christmas we are booked to go the beautiful island just of Rio called Ilha Grande which is apparently full of beautiful beaches and marine wildlife. And in February for a week we are booked to go to the well-known festival which is Carnival for a week in Rio.  Super excited! I plan to book more trips in the near futureJ. Yesterday (23/11/14)  I went to one of the most famous beaches worldwide, Copacabana beach and to be honest even though it had nice soft sand, to me it was a little overrated. They didn't have the cheesy beach shops like in England, the sea was to calm to do anything but paddle and the sand was too soft to make sand castles (Big Kid I know). To be honest it just lacked the charm English beaches have with the rock pool to explore and the good surf. Though I think Ihle Grande will be better especially for the snorkeling aspect.

One thing you don’t expect when traveling abroad is how hard Visas are to sort out. Getting the visa was difficult in itself, with the Brazilian consulate in London being the most disorganized governmental organisation ever. Everyone I have spoken to who has acquired a Visa from there has had a nightmare with it. It was even worse when we got here. The consulate said I have 30 days to register by “just going to a federal office”. Well 9 trips later to Rio and an all day trip to Niteroi (a city over the bridge from Rio) alongside trying to understand Portuguese websites and paper work, being fined for being late despite being told no information about how to organize this and I have finally registered my Visa. My advice is if traveling abroad is getting as much information as possible on how you’re Visa on both sides.  On the other-hand this has helped me come along way, to think a few weeks ago, I was scared to take a 20 minute bus into a small town to get food shopping, and now I can have a 3-5 hour bus ride into a major city, get a taxi and stuff. Bully for me.

Today 18/11/14 has been a good day overall, but it’s also made me come to the realization that my entire life has changed this past month and not just for the 10 months I’m living in Brazil. When I come home at the end of July I will be coming home to a new house as my house is up for sale. All my friends at university will be graduated and I will have to settle in with new people and friends when returning to university. Finally my boyfriend Joe will also be finishing his master’s degree and will be looking for work or further education which doesn't necessary mean somewhere close to home, which understandably I fully support like he has supported me during my career choosing. So in short my entire life has changed in the space of a month, this isn't necessary a bad thing but it’s definitely going to take some adjusting too.

You know you have reached another level of maturity when you realize your best friends are actually your family. For me my best friends would be my mum , dad,  my sister Sarah , her partner Jake  and my partner Joe who to me are also part of my family.  Alongside other members of my family which have also been supportive. People told me that living abroad would divide my real friends from the other people in my life. I can happily say that so far I have not experienced this, as every single person in my life at home have all been there for me during my time here. Admitting this is a big step for me.  It’s no secret that I didn’t really have many friends during my school years and a good group of friends was something I craved for years. I feel that now I have really hit the jackpot and have the best friends and family in the entire world. It just had to take something as big as moving away to make me realize this.  A friend I would like to particularly mention in my blog is one of my best-friend’s Hannah Woolhead, who has gone above and beyond that of a friend, and has done everything in her power to be there for me like my family has and I hope that in the future I can return the kindness that she has shown me.

As you can probably tell from the blog entries so far, being in Brazil has made me soft (with also help from half a bottle of wine whilst writing this). In all honesty being here has really made me realize is life is too short to be too embarrassed and hard-faced about expressing your feelings. With that in mind I am glad that this experience has helped me open up to my family and friends so much more and how much every person means to me. I realize now that I have got everything I wanted in life so far, and I am so glad I can share it with the people I love the most.  Internet however is still being very temperamental, and Sometimes it feels like the worlds against you For example this morning I managed to get internet access all morning, but it always seems to happen when people are working or busy, and then as soon as you no everyone’s free to talk it no longer works. 

Survived the first month!

So since my last blog everything has changed here, as the other English student Joe B arrived. For starters me and Joe B share a room which feels really odd never having had a housemate before or live in such close quarters with someone which isn’t my boyfriend Joe (same name, confusing I know) or my family. This was something I was really worried about as me and Joe B have completely different personalities but so far it’s been better and we haven’t killed each other yet.  We both agree that even though living together is not ideal, but it’s a small sacrifice for free privileged accommodation within the national park. And I guess is just part of being a researcher.  It also means I have someone English to talk to and we can share movies and TV shows, Thank god for my Brainy sister at home who makes sure I’m never stuck without British TV, very useful since Joe B has brought a TV into our room, not that I’m complaining.  Also the day Joe B arrived we got invited to a house party where I tasted some of the local alcohol including some home-made sugarcane stuff. (Getting drunk really helps you get settled here). Me and Joe B are also going to try and arrange some stuff to visit Rio during carnival and we want to visit the Pantanal (the largest wetlands worldwide) at some point and maybe even an island at Christmas (to keep our mind of the fact that were not with our families and friends during the festive period). Something I very much looking forward too. Nathan the student whom came here last year did a lot of traveling and has really set the bar high.

Also Since Joe B has arrived it’s also means I’ve managed to get out onto the trails more, this has been fantastic and we have seems some breath taking views and wildlife, including mountain ranges, Humming Birds, Butterflies and Black Horned Capuchins. And noted these mountain ranges and trails are sure keeping me in shape.

Last week was the researcher’s event and no doubt this would have been fantastic apart from the fact it was all in Portuguese and no matter how much I listened none seemed to be going in. although on the week of the researchers event many of the researchers went for a meal at a local restaurant, ate some nice food and even tried to learn how to samba (however to dance the samba you have to be a little close for comfort) which is often noted that the English are not keen on human contact.

One thing that has been a nightmare is the Brazilian Federal office and registering our VISAS, so there was hidden costs and stuff that we have not been told and about and so far has taken me 6 trips to the airport to try and get things sorted and yesterday (5/11/14) made another unsuccessful trip into Rio. On the other hand visiting in Rio yesterday really showed the large poor/rich divide of Brazil. With beautiful buildings at one side of you and the favelas (slums) on the other side.

Recently internet has not been working properly. And with a lack of internet and entertainment we have had to improvise which has included me and Joe B wandering around in a thunderstorm and attempting to survey moths at night (which has yet to be successful). I really hope they get the internet fixed soon as I really would like another skype call with family. Another recent bad point has been me flying onto my face the other day, I got overly enthused about seeing the capuchins near our room that I went flying, nearly broke my camera and IPod, luckily the only thing damaged was me with a very bruised hand at the minute and scrapes all over me. But like a true trooper I patched myself up and went back to take pictures and videos and I’m just grateful it’s only me that was damaged.   

We have been discussing research projects and even though a lot of details still need to be worked out it seems I’ll be surveying mammals, birds, butterflies, fruit and primates including the Endangered Marquis. In short calculating if there are seasonal differences and the best surveying method in relation to consecutive days and random days each season (I think) but everything is up in the air at the moment.

Today (6/11/14) was my first day checking out where we are going to be collecting data for our research and it sure came as a shock. This consists of hiking through loose-ground and scrabbling across many slippery rock in dense rainforest for 2400 KM (6 hour round trip) and its pain strikingly hard work.  Many people think working in research in conservation is fun, easy and glamourous work. I mean why not you get to see tones of cute animals and get to look at the pretty trees, right? When really it is long hikes in unpredictable weather! (No lie I was stuck in a thunder/hail storm today, where is hale were the size of bricks), Rainforests are also high diverse habitats but are also very dense, Which means you could be hiking for hours and days without finding any data. As far as staying glamourous goes when working in these conditions, you have to develop a mutual understanding with colleagues that your all going to sweat like pigs, you’re going to have to shuffle on your bum through mud and rocks, and there’s going to be many occasions when you’re going to fall on your face and arse. Safe to say there’s no way of remaining a classy and beautiful lady in this field of work. On the other hand though all the blood, sweat and tears, a long hike is very rewarding and even if you see one tiny little frog you have never seen before makes all the hard work worthwhile. Conservationists are easily satisfied.

 Since my last blog my cooking has improved a lot, I’ve managed to get more inventive with my cooking, yes me getting all domestic and stuff!! My parents would be proud. I have also become good friends with my Portuguese teacher has he’s fun to hang out with and is a good teacher. However the last couple of weeks I’ve been busy and I am well overdue another language lesson. 

Even though I feel a lot more settled here, I still miss home like crazy. I miss my boyfriend Joe so much. I guess it’s something that some people don’t really understand much. When you have been living and spending almost every day with someone you care about so much for 6-7 years (which being only 21, contributes the a large chunk of my life)  it becomes familiar and apart of you as a person and its hard finding my feet independently. Also unlike many other students I have also lived at home during my time at university and honestly I’m not used to spending long periods of time alone. But with constant support from family and friends at home I am slowly adjusting but still excited for the end of July when I see them again. Even though there’s Skype, it doesn’t come close to speaking to someone in the flesh.  I’ve accepted here that Homesickness never goes away, It’s just something need to live with it and try and keep myself busy enough here working with the amazing wildlife.

I have been told that the hardest time here would be the first month and I have conquered it, although I am expecting more hard times to come I think now they will continue to become less and less frequent. I hope that on my next blog entry I can tell you more about my research and my new adventures here in Brazil.