My
original decision to travel to the Galapagos was based on my interest in
Biology. Having just enrolled in a semester of BIO 170 with Professor Mitra, I
was hooked on the concepts and theories behind the study of life. Traveling to
the Galapagos Islands seemed like the perfect fit. Adventuring on the Islands
where Darwin, himself, once stood suddenly became an opportunity I could not
pass up. After a few weeks of paperwork, I was packing my bags for Ecuador. As
much as I attempted to inform myself of all the precautions I would have to
take, my thoughts were just too distracting. Just the multitude of ideas filled
my head. There were some nights I just couldn’t sleep because of the
anticipation. I would dream of
eventually waking up one day and standing on the equator, snorkeling with
sharks ten feet below me and tanning on beaches with sea lions at play next to
me. Yet, no thoughts can capture the intensity of the moment when it is truly
happening right in front of you.
I
could just go on YouTube and watch a video of sea lions, finches, or turtles. I
could just search Google for images of each and every one of the islands within
the Galapagos. Yet, the best part of studying abroad is that none of that
compares. The best camera or the highest quality image can’t capture the moment
like you can if you’re living it. Among the best moments of the entire trip
happened early on. Waking up early one morning, we traveled to Frigate bird Hill.
“Hill”
was truly an understatement; this was an extensive hike and as we increased our
elevation, our sights decreased with mists filling in and blocking every detail.
At best, most of us could only see thirty or forty feet ahead. As our sights
lessened, everything became only more intense as Frigate birds would come in
swooping down and past us. As we trekked through a blinding mist and muddy
paths (of which nearly everyone on the trip slipped and fell into), the best
moment came when we ventured into a short passage.
We
had reached one of the higher regions of the “hill” and our professor guided
our sights to what looked like a small cave. Thick moss and vines scattered
around the entrance created this sense that this was no longer my reality. I
thought I had ventured into a prehistoric period as we trudged into the cave,
ducking, and swooping to dodge the viscous water droplets (which were icy cold)
and ingrown roots that made the cave passage more of a physical and visual
splendor. I felt like a kid again, letting my imagination run free and flourishing
just as the environment around me was doing. The best part was that this was
just the beginning.
Whether
I look back and think about playing on the beaches of San Cristobal with sea
lions (sometimes more than with my friends), snorkeling at Kicker Rock
effortlessly as the current pushed my through the rocks giving me ample
opportunity to take in the sights underneath me as hammerhead sharks and sting
rays swarmed around, diving ten or fifteen feet below to spot ray-finned sharks
sleeping beneath coral and giving a dear friend a handshake all underwater,
going out at nights to enjoy meals with old friends and making new ones, or
just taking a photo with a live chicken at the local airport bay before we took
flight, all these moments and countless others have come to now define me. My
study abroad experience was nothing short of exceptional. Now all I can do is
count the days until my next adventure.
