I am a last minute packer, wait let me rephrase this, I take forever to pack and always pack up to the last minute, usually more removing things until I go. So in character, I don't get any sleep and leave for the Philadelphia airport at 4AM. Security was a breeze and had a nice bagel with my antimalarials before boarding. I have enough of them to get me through my planned 4 weeks, and with the 4 additional weeks to take after I leave, or to get me through another 4 weeks if I plan to extend. I originally signed up for 8 weeks but with worries of the rainy season and what if I don't enjoy diving as much as I think I might, I cut it to 4 weeks with the option to extend. I haven't been diving in 10 years. Wow, I can't believe it has been that long. I have enjoyed snorkelling, but to learn marine ecology and do some field work diving, sounds really cool. I found this program by doing a yahoo search on volunteer tropical biology, and this came up amoung others. I really liked the variety of projects that the centre was working on as well as the idea of living in the volunteer house with local cooks and being able to walk into the town. When I found it I was sure they would be full for January, but was happy when I emailed that there was an open spot. So, there I was packing for the tropics when I got the check in email from Continental Airlines to do online check in showing the weather in Utila. A bit chillier than I expected and there we go with the repacking. And happy for that email as it was not quite beautiful weather when I got there.
Arrival at San Pedro Sula went smoothly, from there I knew that I was to pick up my ticket at the SOSA counter and meet up with the other volunteer from the states, Anne. We spoke once before we left and neither of us were sure how many volunteers there would be, but we figured we were the only ones from the states. She was getting college credit for her month in Utila, but she had to write up a paper and send updates to her professor, ha, I was just going for fun! So, I walk into the airport off the plane and am immediately scooped up by the SOSA people.
