PreSeason Preparations
I have finally arrived in Costa Rica. After several weeks of intense preparations… I now have more preseason errands to run before the actual work can begin.
Most of the equipment flew down with me, but several pieces will come down with Pam and Brie.
For those among you that have never had the experience of a field season….
Packing and preparing is always an adventure in its own right, and my apartment looked for weeks as if a bomb exploded and left different piles of things behind. Buying equipment, trying out equipment, labeling equipment, and packing equipment was all I was able to think about, in addition to packing lists, and check-lists and whatever else list there might be. My best friends were the UPS guy (bringing packages every day almost) and the TSA (flight safety), that I had to call frequently to ask if I am allowed to transport XY piece of equipment on an airplane. Then the stressful moments at the airport while passing security in the USA and customs in Costa Rica, especially given that I was traveling with a pelican case full of radio transmitters and satellite transmitters, which will be deployed on our turtles, but which might look slightly dangerous to the non-biologists among us. Interestingly, nobody asked me about the transmitters (though the pelican case got a drug sweep in Houston), but Costa Rican customs were very interested in my sampling vials. I guess you never know.
My first week in Costa Rica I spent in San Jose (the capital) trying to find a used car to buy. We decided to rather buy a car than rent after punching numbers, and deciding that it will be in fact cheaper, plus we can use it in the years to come. I found four potential candidates, but one fell through the mechanic’s inspection, and the third one had a n embargo on it (meaning the original owner is paying off debts and the car can get confiscated any moment), and the other two are inscribed in the name of two companies…which both owe taxes, and I wouldn’t be able to register the car under my name until they or I pay their taxes.
So unfortunately I had to leave San Jose empty handed to pick up one of my research assistants from the Liberia airport: Marcus Saikaley from Canada (I will post pictures of the team at a later point), who will help me till the beginning of September.
My next stop will be Playa Grande, where I will partake in the filming of a short film against plastic pollution, in particular against plastic straws. Very exciting.
Have a great start into the week!
