Three new volunteers arrived yesterday. One is from Toronto and is maybe in his mid 20's (?). He seems like a very nice guy and plans to be here for a month. The other two are biologists from Spain. (Story at a later date about superior races). The guy speaks great English and the girls at least understands almost everything.
A Day In the Life of Adam as a Volunteer.
Most days I am waking up around 6:15 or so. The latest I managed to sleep was maybe 7. The volunteers must be down at the sanctuary by 7:45. The first thing we all do is feed the four baby howler monkeys. The three youngest ones get bottle fed Isomil (baby formula) four times a day. While they are being fed, someone is preparing their food plates and cleaning out their cage. After the babies are all done we move on to the rest of the animals. Food is made for them all and cages are cleaned. After that is all done we take the baby howlers and the anteater out back to forage for food and play. Tarzan, our white-faced monkey gets let out of his cage as well to play and such. At about a quarter to 11 we feed the babies once again. When 11 o'clock rolls around we split from the sanctuary and have lunch. The full time volunteers staying up at the lodge house at the farm leave at 11 that is. The part timers leave at 12 and are then done for the day. We, the full timers, have until 2 for lunch and whatever else we please. Three hours in between shifts is plenty to eat, do laundry, read, and still have some free time. Although it feels like the break is getting shorter and shorter, it is still very pleasant. The afternoon routine is just about the same, but a little less food to be made. Afternoons tend to be more tranquil. At 5 o'clock we are done for the day. We head back up the the farm and get showered, eat, and then do whatever else for the rest of the evening. Sometimes we play cards, read, listen to music, have sing a longs, play Scattergories, talk, go for a swim in the ocean, hit the nightlife in Montezuma, etc. Many different things to do. A low key evening is very high on my list though. Usually by about 9 people are starting to retire for the night.
It is a good schedule for the day. In some respects I wish I had done part time so that I could do more exploring the area and swimming.
03/02/10
7:00 a.m.
Definitely ready to head on out.
Still short-staffed and things just feel as if they are heading downhill in various respects.
Evan, from Toronto, left to go to the sea turtle project in Manzanillo. A new volunteer, who arrived yesterday, left this morning at 6:30. So in terms of full time volunteers right now there are only four of us. Today is the last day for one of our two part timers. Luckily one of the best volunteers, although part time, will be here for a while longer. Supposedly we are going to get some new people today, but I'm not holding my breath. Yesterday we were supposed to have 5 new people and only one showed up.
I'm sorry to spend a whole entry complaining. There are other things as well that are factors in my readiness to go, but do not need to be discussed at this moment.
I was up this morning at 5:30 to see off 3 volunteers. There was a beautiful sunrise as well.
My last day working will be Thursday. We get the day before we leave off so this Friday I am not working. I'm trying to decide what to do with this day. It is almost too tempting to just plop down in a hammock and not leave it all day long. I was going to take one of my days off today, but that just wouldn't be fair to the other volunteers. There are only 4 of us today who know the ropes and two of them are only working in the morning.
One more thought for the moment.
I've been realizing it to be more and more true that I have come to this sanctuary at quite a large turning point in it's existence. Again, I'm sorry that I can't write this, but to those who are interested I will be happy to share the details.
Right now I'm going to run down to the sanctuary before we start for the day and do a quick e-mail check.
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