Joie de vivre

I still find Moorea incredibly beautiful and I absolutely love it. It has taken some time to experience the culture here as I am often working, but my opportunities to do so have left me with the most positive impressions. Everything is very open, free and laid back. I am just as relaxed as when I first arrived here, and I continue to enjoy living in the moment. My days consist of waking up around 7:30 and setting up our scuba gear, riding in the boat to one of our research sites, making two or three long dives installing coral markers, and returning to rinse gear in the evening. Putting the markers in is now second nature and since it is so ingrained, sometimes when I close my eyes I see epoxy and corals. I love being able to spend so much time underwater and experience the island. On the weekends we usually go out dancing or to other social gatherings. I laugh often and really enjoy the company of the group of people here at the station. Overall I am very happy and loving life!

Zspar!

Today I dove a new site close off shore and the weather was really nice. However, the marine epoxy (coral tagging glue) I was using was not so nice. Since there is a large supply here, we try to use the oldest epoxy first. Well, apparently the container I took from was too old and it made a huge mess. There is a yellow component and a black component to the epoxy we mix together to start the hardening process. It normally gets all over everything, but this particular yellow putty would absolutely not come off anything it touched. In conclusion, I can now officially tell which gear is mine because it will always be yellow.

Octopus!

While diving in the lagoon just off the bay today I saw three big octopuses, which are my favorite! It always makes me happy to watch them underwater. The way they change colors and blend in is just incredible!

The water!

Today we went back out to dive the site on the west coast, however since the wind was up we stayed closer to shore for the commute. It made for some nice shots of the crystal clear turquoise water! Loved it!

A new dive site..

Today I made two dives on the west side of Moorea. We visited a new site and are moving much faster with our tagging now. Most of the coral is just now recovering from an outbreak of the crown of thorns starfish that recently decimated the population, as well as a huge cyclone that only contributed to their decline. The purpose of tagging them while they are still young is to learn more about the dynamics of their growth over an extended period of time. The dives had a heavy surge but overall were very clear and nice. Now that we have a designated routine, it makes installing the coral markers easy and enjoyable. I especially liked the boat ride out and back because I could see more of the island from the coast and could take everything in while the wind blew through my hair and the salty blue water splashed my face. I am still in awe at the beauty of Moorea. After we got back home and rinsed our gear, most of us from the station went up to Belvedere to watch the sunset. Then, we ordered food from a little stand and then brought it back to eat under the cabana outside. To finish up the night we learned some Tahitian dances while having a party for one of the students who is leaving tomorrow. La vie, c’est belle!

Exploring Moorea

Today I got to explore Moorea! First we went to Belvedere, an excellent lookout where you can see both Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay at the same time. Then, we went to a little stand run by some of Olivette’s family that is up a steep driveway and has fruit trees growing all around it. From the top there is an incredible view down to the crystal clear blue water. Each Friday for lunch they make a special plate of several different Tahitian foods for a good price. It was absolutely delicious! Also, it was served with fresh squeezed pineapple and papaya juice. After the meal I had Tiare flower flavored ice cream and it was also amazing. They also had a small gift shop behind it where Rea learned how to play the nose flute. Then I went to get a pareau, or Tahitian sarong because they are beautiful and so comfortable to wear here. When we got back to the station, I helped string a lei of Tiare flowers for Olivette’s sister who was going to a wedding tonight and she let me keep the extra flowers to make my own! Then I had dinner with Hunters family and we ate different dishes of poisson cru, or raw fish that had been caught by someone at the station the just night before. I have never tasted fish so fresh! After that I went to a fancy hotel with the other students for drinks and attempted to salsa dance. To finish the night we walked out on the docks for the overwater bungalows and watched brightly colored fish swim around in the water that had been lit up. It was magical. Overall today has been an exciting day in which I could absorb some of the Polynesian culture. The entire time I was thinking how much I love this island, and how glad I am that I learned French so I can interact with people here. I truly feel blessed.

Under the sea...

I have dove for the past five days straight spending at least three hours a day underwater. Today I spent a total of four and a half hours submerged in the ocean. Overall, I am amazed at the diversity of species found there. Even though my main focus is installing coral markers, I have seen a wide variety of bright colored fish, slugs, sea cucumbers, and corals. On one offshore dive I was lucky enough to see a 6 foot long lemon shark! Then, while coming back on the boat we saw a sea turtle too! One of my favorites are the giant clams, which are brightly colored greens, blues and yellows. I feel very fortunate to be able to spend so much time underwater in such a beautiful place!

On the Present...

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this."

Henry David Thoreau

Since leaving California, I have entered a new state of mind. It seems for quite a while up until this point I have been working hard to be somewhere that I am not, and was constantly focusing on the future. Perhaps the simplicity of my situation; living where I work, having all the necessities, and really only having one job has put me at ease. I am incredibly content with my circumstances as they have pushed me to operate in the present. Before I had to constantly write everything down I needed to do just to keep it in my sights, and now I don’t even have nor need a list. The satisfaction of accomplishing a dream and arriving in that place I have worked so hard for is immense. I am still in utter disbelief in the beauty of Moorea and that this is my reality. That’s why I want so badly to take it slowly and savor each moment for what it is.

Today was my first field day and we started to install the coral markers. I am still learning the proper technique, but I was so happy to be out on a boat and underwater again. Looking back at Moorea from offshore made me feel a mixture of peace and excitement that only could be expressed as a big goofy smile on my face. I’m working hard but life is good.

For all of those who wanted to post to my blog but didn't know how, my brother who is studying web design wrote up this convenient instructions and even created images which I have posted below. Thank you to my computer savvy big brother, Nick!

Blogspot, where Brie’s blog is hosted, only allows users a few ways to be able to leave comments on blogs. The easiest of these options is to use a Google account.

If you have Gmail, you already have a Google account and can move directly to the second step.

If you don’t have Google Account I have outlined what you need to do to create one below.

Step 1:

Go to this URL: mail.google.com/mail/signup

After you are here you should see a screen that looks like image-1 which is attached to this email message.

Fill out all of the fields.

Important: Write down your login name and password on a piece of paper before moving on.

Try to type the scrambled letters in the word verification field, but if you don’t think you can get it right just do your best and then click the accept button at the bottom of the screen.

If it didn’t work you will be sent back to this screen with most of your information still in all the boxes, except for the password and word scramble fields. You will need to retype your password twice and attempt the scrambled letters again.

Keep trying to do this until you get it right, and after you are done you will have created your Google Account. Next go to step 2 below.

Step 2:

Go to Brie’s blog here: http://brieofthesea.blogspot.com/

Once there, pick one of her posts that you want to comment on and click the “comments” link at the bottom of the post. I outlined exactly where this is in image-2, which is attached to this email message.

After clicking on the comments link, you will be taken to a screen which looks like image-3, which is also attached.

Type your comment in the text box, and after that click the dropdown box and select the "Google Account" option. I illustrate this in image-4.

After selecting the Google Account option, click the “Post Comment” button and then you should be taken to a screen that looks like image-5. Type in your Google Account login name and password, (which you wrote down from step 1), or if you already have Gmail and skipped step 1 just type in your Gmail username and password into the boxes and click the “Sign In” button.

After doing this you will be taken to a screen which looks like image-6. Type in what you would like your name to look like for your comments in the box, which I circled in the image. Fill out the rest of the fields and next click the submit button and you will be taken to a screen which looks similar to image-7.

After you get to this screen type in the scrambled letters and click the post comment button and your comment should be on her blog.