I think my biggest personal challenge while here has been the nightly patrols. After waking up early and working all day in the heat of the sun, you’re exhausted by the time patrol comes around. Not only are you exhausted but your muscles are sore and the difficult hours of patrol throw you off your whole rhythm. I know for myself some nights I have felt terrible and have dreaded patrol due to the late hours and long walks in the sand. It feels like an intense workout that we have to do every single night.
One night in particular, my stomach was killing me, my head was pounding, and I was all around in a bad mood. What helped me overcome this terrible night was that it was the first night our group found a nest. Digging up the eggs made me excited and I eventually forgot about how bad I was feeling. I respond to these long night patrols by knowing we are helping these baby turtles LIVE! It made it all worth it when we finally saw a nest hatch! It lets you know why you are here and what our purpose is in these little guys’ life.
