The adventure

I realize I have not specified or explained what I am referring to when I talk about my “adventures”. I have for as long as I can remember preferred creating my own path rather than follow others’ footsteps. This eagerness to explore on my own terms have led me to many corners of the world. It is only recently that I have started living like I preach – do what you love and don’t worry too much about the future or what is expected of you from others. If there is a dream job or opportunity, then why could it not be you who get to experience it? Someone has to do it, right? There is a Swedish saying that goes “you sleep as well as you made your bed”. I like to make my bed well. Here is my plan for the next up coming months, and there is not a single thing I would want to change about it.

Now until End of summer: Work in the British Virgin Islands for a company called ActionQuest, teaching sailing and scuba diving whilst sailing around the islands.

End of summer until Mid September: Wrap up my life in Sweden and get ready to leave my nest (sorry mom) and sail the Swedish archipelago. Visit treasured friends and family and enjoy all that Sweden has to offer

September until November: Destination Bali. My brother is getting married and I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world. I am so incredibly happy for him and his wife. They mean more to me than I’d like to admit. Hopefully I will find some freelance dive work in the close vicinity of Bali or elsewhere in Indonesia for a month before I head of to…

November until who knows when: Costa Rica. I will do my master’s project in ecotoxicology on how the pesticide usage from the Costa Rican agriculture is affecting the ecosystem. More specifically I am going to find, catch, and examine crocodiles and sea turtles for blood samples. We will analyze the blood to see if there are differences in the population based on the individuals’ exposure to toxic chemicals. I am very excited to spend a couple of months doing proper scientific research and to brush up on my Spanish.

Current location: The Bite, Norman Island, BVI.

Up with the rooster

Monday 7 July 2014

Departure day and the night leading up to it is always a little hectic. The boat needs to be cleaned and all items have to be packed in the right bags. I did not end up going to sleep until well after midnight.. Aaron, my skipper, and me still had to write cards so we stayed up late and finished writing them. These cards are an important part of our closing program and as a staff member they weigh more heavily in the hands of the receiver than of other peers. On these cards we write things that we like about the person that will receive it, and other positive feedback. They mean so much to so many of them, and sometimes they really affect the person for the better. So Aaron and me were not done, and since our boat was asleep we couldn’t sit out in the common area writing them. I ended up hogging the bunk, and Aaron stepped into his office – the head (boat bathroom). I eventually finished and fell asleep like a rock, only to wake up stressed about having overslept 20 minutes. At 5 am the taxi carrying me, four extremely tired shipmates, and a slightly peculiar taxi driver took off heading towards the airport of Tortola. On the way Juni, the taxi driver, turned on the morning program that happened to be the morning mass service. The preacher explained how he had managed to stop smoking crack and heroin thanks to the lord and Jesus Christ. He told his story and gave a thorough summary about the life he had had as a drug addict. I glanced over to the kids in the back seat and smiled a little. They were zonked out and didn’t seem to react too much to the immensely inappropriate spectacle that was broadcasted on local radio. As the sun went up over the hills and the ocean started glittering, I was again reminded about how beautiful this place is. Right now I am sitting at an Internet café (who’s internet is not working ironically enough) waiting for the next batch of students to arrive at the airport so that I can see them off safely. I have never before been to an airport that is literally within crawling distance to a beautiful beach. And breakfast is on my boss – thanks Mike, what a great start to my day!

Current location: Trellis Bay Kitchen & Cyber Café, Beef Island, Tortola, BVI: 18°44’52’’ N 64°53’45’’ W