Mystic Aquarium

Well, I arrived safe and sound in South Africa. I am very tired. All flights went well, last one was just very long and cramped so I did not get much sleep. Margaret picked me up at the airport and gave me the option of going to the hotel to rest or going in to work.  As much as I would have loved to sleep....I felt the need to hold up my end and follow Laurie's example and offered to get right to work.

I probably would not have slept well at the hotel anyway being that the sun is brightly shinning and its over 70 degrees outside. I've seen many pictures of SANCCOB and some of the faces are familiar but I have to admit on first impression, its much smaller than I thought it would be. There are also less people than I expected. Vanessa is away on a well-deserved couple of days off, but I was happy to be greeted by a smiling Nola!!

Nola gave me a tour of the facility and introduced me to staff and volunteers. I am horrible with names and since very tired...worse...so I will have to focus bit more on those tomorrow. I am already in love – an African chick that can't be released due to an eye issue/injury and called Rudy. We had him barred off in the lab, but he insists on being with everyone else and knocked down and barreled through it several times today. We gave up and let him wander the larger indoor common area. Also one of the permanent rockhopper habitants keep sneaking out by the fish prep area because the winds were so strong they kept blowing the screen door open giving him just enough time to sneak through! I love it when they hop!

I am little overwhelmed. I have little time to get their system down and learn what to do. I am here for a short time compared to other volunteers. However, most don't have the penguin experience I have.  I helped mostly with laundry, fish prep and prepping fish formula and other fluids into syringes ready to be fed to the chicks today. I think tomorrow I will be working in one of the pens with volunteer Jenny. I’m looking forward to that, a Brae or cookout at Margaret’s, and even more catching up on some shut eye tonight!!