Final day

The sixth day of the trip began in the same manner that the others had; with nine young minds clammering to plunge themselves into the scientific world. We took off into the wetlands for three hours before lunch, performing the tasks that are rapidly becoming routine. I was in the fish squadron, and our traps yielded many specimens that would later be analyzed in the lab, another aspect of the trip that is steadily becoming common knowledge for the nine participants. Overall, the day went very well, and I look forward to finishing the trip in an emphatic fashion.

But, before I end this little passage, I would like to take this chance to say something I believe to be important. As this trip comes to a close, I am beginning to reflect on what it has meant for me, and for the eight good friends I’ve gained on this journey. When you think about it, you should realize how incredibly special this trip has been. We have all had an incredible opportunity to journey to an unknown environment, with a different climate, different people, and most importantly, new experiences. All nine participants landed in Manitoba knowing that Environmental science was something they were interested in. At that point, many of us may have believed that we could end up in this field. I know I did. But, no matter how set you may be on your future career, no matter how convinced you are that something is your passion, there always seems to be a little bit of doubt, gnawing there at the back of your mind. There was for me, made worse by my undetermined age of seventeen, when you’re not quite boy, not quite a man. That doubt had been plaguing me for months, and when I showed up here at the CNSC, I was determined to find out if that doubt had a basis in truth, or if it was merely a figment of my imagination. Do to this goal, I plunged myself into the tasks that were given to us by our coordinators, and accrued actual experience doing the types of things that I believed I want to do in the future. I got to speak to real live biologists, live the way many environmental scientists do, and get an overall understanding, or “better feeling” for the field itself. This experience was exactly what I needed and I can now say quite confidently that I was right. I DO want to go into environmental science; I do want to be involved with the environment, and the greatest part about that is that it’s not because I can get rich in the field, or become famous, it’s because I know I can do something I love and make a difference, that is not something a lot of people get to say.

I want to thank the CNSC, Earthwatch, and all the people who made this trip possible. It has been a great experience and it has had and will continue to have a very tangible impact on my life.

Emily on the second last day

Aug 2,2012  by Emily

It has been several days to stay here in the secret and wonderful north arctic. The fantastic and beautiful natural scene has left a deep impression on me. I will remember the fantastic polar light, the lovely polar bear, the huge whale and the beautiful seaside sunset forever. However, what made me more unforgettable are the friends I made during this journey, professor Ben Cash is a serious and responsible professor who is full of academic temperament. I learned a lot from him about the natural science. Lee Ann is courteous and accessible and has a wide range of knowledge. I must express my thanks to Paige Harms and Ben Jack who were willing to teach me English with great patience. Also I must say thanks to Willow, Annie and Jack who always helps to translate for me with their good English. Of course, I am very happy to work and play with all the little friends(Philip, John, Evan, Christian, Nolan, Poon, Willow, Annie and Jack) from difficult countries. They are full of vigor, friendship, responsibility and passion. They showed big humor and virtue when they always told me that their Chinese is worse than my English. Thanks to all. It is a big pleasure for me to know all of you. If I have another chance, I will choose to come here again to participate in this program. It is so great. The meaningful ecological experiments help us to know the real nature and love our common home, the earth much more. Finally I want to give my sincere blessing to all of you.

We'll miss you Phil!

Wednesday 1^st August 2012

    Today was the day before the last day we stayed in Churchill. As usual, we got up at 7:00 and have breakfast in the canteen at 7:30 then met in the classroom at 8:15. I’ve known that Phil, our assistant of the research, will leave us tomorrow that means today was the last day he stay with us.

     I still remember the first day we met at the hotel, Dr.Ben and Phil came and pick me up. He was a bright young man with a black hat on he head. I swear if he was in china, the girls in my school will be crazy of him! But appearance is not the most important part of his glamour. Hard-working is one of his personal charm. I still remember the day we went out to the beach, he didn’t came with us. It has already been 10:00 when we came back to the camp. But what surprise me is that I found Phil still working alone in the research laboratory. Paige said to Dr.Ben : “ Look at him, his is still working hard!”

    I didn’t work with Phil for many times, but he taught me a lot of things that I can’t learn from the school or from books. He taught me how to catch frogs, how to divide the growing season of frogs. He has told me that he love frogs since he was young he catch frogs, play with frogs. Frogs is his childhood.

All I want to say is: “thank you Phil! We will miss you!”