Earthwatch Day 10

I can’t believe it’s over. Suddenly, I am all alone, flying away from a place I grew to love. It’s funny how you start out so independent. Then you are joined by a group of people you’ve never met before. And before you know it, you become part of a unit. You come to know these people as friends, and you find something in each one of them that you adore. And as you experience Earthwatch together, you become a family without even realizing it.

I fully expected to enjoy this Earthwatch expedition. But I never expected to enjoy it as much as I did. When I reflect on the week, I see it as a science adventure as well as a human adventure. It was an integration of the natural history of the Chiracahua Mountains, and the people who shared the experience of exploring it. It's kind of like an ecosystem - interactions are the dynamic force. The trip would have meant nothing without the interactions and experiences shared with these people. I learned so much science. But I also learned a lot about people. And the two combined is what made this trip so memorable.

.....So now I'm off to Jackson, Wyoming. My husband will meet me there to spend a few days with our son. I will be back with my "real" family soon, but I will never forget my Earthwatch family.