Why did you pick this program?
Traveling to work overseas is exciting, whether it be for a performance, or to make a difference. I have volunteered for Earthwatch since 2000, doing at least one expedition a year. I am interested in citizen science, and the hands-on opportunities afforded me by Earthwatch are incredibly varied, and give me the opportunity to interact with people of different cultures and nationalities, on the team, in the area around our work sites, and especially with project personnel - from the lead scientist to the cook and camp workers. The thought of living in a ger (yurt) in the Gobi was amazing and not to be passed up.
What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?
Be flexible, be openminded, try everything, get to know the people that populate our amazing world, appreciate the beauty of our planet and the flora and fauna who inhabit and create it. Realize also that scientific work (data collection of any kind) can be tedious at times, until something magical happens!
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Consider Earthwatch a working vacation; it is an exciting way to learn and contribute; be flexible and enjoy.
What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?
The Mongolian Expedition focuses on different animals at different times. There was a lot of hiking, and I was beginning to formulate a rule: never track anything that can run faster than you can. Then I got hedgehog duty. After ages of wandering around, and realizing with a sinking feeling that a hedgehog can travel 10 km overnight, I was rewarded with a mother and youngsters in a burrow, the cutest things ever!
Why do Earthwatch?
To participate, to be curious, to ask questions, to experience the unusual, and to be a part of an organization that is trying to change the world.