We are helping out with field skills course today. This 10-day course where students come might be the best opportunity for OSU to set up a faculty-led/short-term program here.
The hired-out instructor, Joe (who I’ll refer to as Instructor Joe), taught the students some very basic wilderness field skills; essentially an overview, which would be great for people without any previous experience. He offered some information regarding basic first aid and environmental concerns, and then some navigation skills. Instructor Joe discussed what to do if one gets off-trail or lost, and he referred to all of us (who aren’t in field school) as the experts. After his talk, Abbie, Katey, and Charlie led us on a quick hike on the Ficus Trail, where Instructor Joe had the students practice using their compasses for a short bit, then we went back to the main building and gave the students the rest of the day off.
Abbie and Aubrey are heading out to check some slow loris and tarsier sleeping sites, and I think I’ll take a quick shower.
Since I’ve got a bit of a break right now, it seems pertinent to introduce you all to those who I am working and living alongside. Our PhD researchers include Meg (USA), Danika (Canada), and Sergio (Mexico; who also works as our veternarian and in-house medic). Joe (UK), Charlie (UK), Abbie (UK), and Katey (UK) are our year-long professional trainees (PTYs). Doyo, Alut, Koko, and Samsir are our research assistants (RAs), with Yusri training to be an RA. Our staff consists of Kila, Azlina, Ryko, and Hasner, who work as both wonderful cooks and take care of the cleaning. Without them the facility wouldn’t feel like a home away from home to our crew. Benoit (who should be arriving in a few day’s time) is our Director, and Peter functions as the on-site manager. Apart from myself, Aubrey (France) and Masayo (Japan) are long-term volunteers–the tree of us work alongside the PTYs and assist (and learn) whenever possible.
Once the field course had finished today, I helped Katey re-mark a trail for the field course students, as to prevent them from needing to practice their newly-aquired navigational skills.
Sadly, due to the field course being here, we have been asked to keep the guitars put away–and I had just been working on some new songs. Oh well, back to business…
Abbie and Katey finally saw the slow loris this evening, and had a rather unpleasant interaction with fire ants. Thankfully they are back, safe and sound.
Did I mention that since the field course is here, we have electricity from 7 AM until 11 PM? You would be correct in assuming that we can now have toast (with peanut butter and jam, for myself) for breakfast, and hot tea all day. Things here have been pretty good, but it appears as though things are looking up.
P.S. I felt a tinge of nostalgia today, as Charlie, Masayo, Joe, and myself had the opportunity to work with some herbarium samples. Hope you’re doing well OSC.
