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In December, after deciding to take a semester off from school (because of losing interest in basically just about everything) I wanted to experience something totally different than anything before. I wanted to meet people, travel, learn, and in the process, try to give back; to hopefully gain a new perspective on life and find insight into what I actually wanted to do. Although it sounds cliché, I needed some soul searching.

In March, I left my cosy little hamlet city of Perth in Western Australia to embark on my first (but hopefully not my last) South American adventure. But even living in one of the most isolated cities of the world did not prepare me for this remoteness, this kind of quiet; the immense kind that shuts off all the brain chatter and forces you to listen. It would take me time to adjust to this new environment but once I did, it became very difficult to leave it behind as I continued my travels.

One dreary January evening, in my Irish city home, I realised how inexcusable it was that I had been harbouring a dream for four years, without giving much thought to fulfilling it. The object of my dream was The Galapagos Archipelago. Having studied conservation management, The Islands held a special, almost mythical, appeal for me. So, I packed my camera, along with my courage, and set off alone for the adventure of a lifetime.

We each took our turn trying to stand an egg on a nail, walking the equator line in a DUI-type test, muscle strength, and watched the water empty straight down versus clock-or-counter-clockwise. The guide also gave us a tour of the indiginous cutlures that inhabit Ecuador. In particular, she enjoyed showing us their shrunken head from one of the tribes in the Amazon. It was about 150 years old. Make a fist with your hand–that would be the size of your shrunken head.

Upon arriving in Quito, we were greeted by our in-country coordinator, Gaby Cadena, and whisked off to our family homestays followed by a quick orientation. There are 8 of us in all. Four volunteers at the Animal Care & Park Maintenance in the Amazon; one at the Jambeli Animal Rehabilitation Project near Guayaquil; one doing Cloud Forest Conservation; and two of us heading over to the Galapagos. On Tuesday, we will arrive on the Reserve, after a quick trip to the Mitad del Mundo (Equator line). Greetings from the center of the planet!