Exciting news, amigos! I am returning to Chile! After several months of keeping it on the down-low while I waited for everything to be finalized, I am absolutely thrilled to let you know that I will be returning to perform a new research project this summer (their winter). I will be there for a few weeks longer this time (10 weeks instead of 7) and I will be working with one of my favorite subjects: fish! The details are still being worked out, but I can tell you that it involves fish behavior. Part of me is exceptionally excited, part of me a little nervous (especially since I will be there for a little longer this time), but I know that I have a wonderful journey ahead of me, and this time I think it may be even better.
My first trip was life-changing, both for my path as a Biologist and me as a person. I truly love the ocean and marine research, and while I will be the first to admit that the path I have chosen can often be fraught with stress and a bit of anxiety, those moments when I am studying and learning about what I love are worth everything to me, and I cannot wait to continue doing what I adore.
As with the first trip, I will be posting blog updates, hopefully a little more frequently than the first time, as well as posting my photographs on here and my social media. I will also create films, and I already have a few ideas brewing. Something new that I will be introducing, however, will be a few Instagram Live sessions where I will go live at defined times and show you some of my work and some of the beautiful views (although I must warn you that the internet is not great there, so it may be a bit choppy but we will work with it!). If Instagram isn't for you, I'd be happy to perhaps put Facebook Live or Periscope via Twitter on the books if you ask.
Also like the first trip, this is an expensive endeavor and I cannot feasibly afford everything myself, so that is where I am asking for your help. This time, I am using Indiegogo to fund my trip, but with an exciting new aspect: rather than just donating, you are actually purchasing prints from my first trip, or perhaps you can score an original watercolor or canvas painting based on shots from my first trip. A really fun perk that you might consider is the $10 level where I send you two surprise 4x6 prints from my first trip sent to you in the mail. I'll pick them out especially for you and you'll have two memories from my first excursion while helping me go on the next one. You can check out my Indiegogo here: https://igg.me/at/8zFxtlj-q7Y
Even if you cannot donate, please share it with your circles! I cannot do this without you: we did it before, and we can do it again. I look forward to sharing the stories of my adventures (and possibly misadventures) with you very soon.