Returning to shore
Finally had the headspace to go back here on bearblog!
I just updated my now page. It's crazy how my last update was still last November 2024 when I went home for the holidays!
To summarize everything that happened that could potentially explain my absence:
- January 2025 - Flew back to Quezon City and immediately started preparations for a research expedition in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
- February 2025 - Pag-asa Island Research Expedition 2025. I initially thought I would not be coming to catch up on other pending work, but I am still grateful I had another chance to revisit the island! Sharing stories soon!
- March 2025 - Immediately started preparations for the next research expedition, still in the West Philippine Sea, but this time in Rizal Reef and Recto Bank. On top of that, I spent two weekends doing fieldwork in Quezon province.
- April 2025 - Spent the first half of the month running around like a headless chicken. It was all a blur, the next thing I remember I was on a plane to Puerto Princesa, then on a 6-hour trip to Buliluyan Port where we embarked our research vessel, MV Panata, our home for about 9 days. We ended up not going to Recto Bank since there was a developing low-pressure area and instead went to Dalagang Bukid Shoal (Northeast Investigator Shoal), which was just a little north of Rizal Reef. What an experience. I will share more soon!
And now it's the middle of May 2025. I think I haven't really processed everything that has happened in the past couple of months. I got sick right after the Rizal Reef and Dalagang Bukid expedition, and the professors were telling me it was probably my body's response to the sustained high stress I've experienced since the start of the year. Then it hit me, it was indeed a stressful time. I don't know exactly how I managed to navigate through it all, but I am pretty sure a strong factor was that I was surrounded and inspired by the most hardworking and supportive people.
Expect more stories to come!
Thank you for sailing by,
Janell