Today is the last day of our expedition.

For the past few days, we’ve ridden massive waves of emotion (we’ve also ridden massive waves in pirogues while whale watching) from unexpectedly having the opportunity to swim with the graceful, yet massive, ballet dancers of the ocean, manta rays, through to acknowledging that we’re now all about to physically part ways, reflecting on our time here and the friendships we’ve made. 

And what we would like to eat first when we reach the next large city tomorrow afternoon. There will be no beans, rice or fish likely to feature in that menu. Maybe zebu.

It’s a quiet time at the moment.

We’re all sitting on our various verandas, some sunbathing, some in hammocks reading or doing puzzles, some being shown how to assemble their miniature pirogues for when they return home.

One is still in bed.

It’s not me.

Last night was marked with a bengi (goat) party as it was one of the field scientist’s last days in her role before transferring to the conservation team. It was also a way for us to celebrate our time together and what we have achieved. 

Everything we do today is the last time we’ll do it together here so it is tinged with a bit of sadness and in some cases, quite a lot of sadness. 

We’ve just eaten our last breakfast together.

After six weeks of a rather intense experience in a remote country, we have become quite close. We are fortunate to have all been on this expedition together and to get along with each other, quirks and all. 

Initially our common ground was the location we’re in, commitment to marine conservation and diving. We’ve now found other areas we have in common. Also quite a few areas we don’t. Everyone’s views are respected and it has led to some very interesting conversations as we all recognise that no judgement will be made based on our views. The only caveat is for those that don’t listen to others’ views and attempt to railroad the conversation instead. This is a normal part in forming a new team where we all go through testing the boundaries of what is acceptable. This was quickly addressed.

It was not all sunshine and roses. In fact, there are no roses here at all. 

It was not all sunshine and hermit crabs. We addressed our issues in the team and then played cards. Sometimes we addressed our issues as we played cards. An impressive level of coordination all round. 

We are now a high performing team. We have our accepted norms and values as a group and have overachieved the amount of surveys undertaken as well as completing all the data entry. We are the only group to have done this much yet we are a smaller group than they usually have here.

It’s for many reasons. The support we have received from the staff has been phenomenal. Not only have they trained us in the various field work aspects, they’ve provided encouragement for our progress and tips and tricks along the way too. They have helped us with our kit and ensured that our dives always go well even when the conditions turn out to be less than ideal. We are always safe. We always have fun. 

Not once were we referred to as “just” volunteers. We have been treated as equals in spite of our lack of knowledge about the fish, corals and whatever else hangs out in the benthos (clearly I studied fish…). We have brought other things and knowledge in other areas. We have also provided entertainment. 

We all know each others’ favourite fishes and corals and point them out to each other when we dive in case they have has missed it. Diving is an even greater joy for having had this experience and improving our understanding of what we are observing. 

The volunteers as individuals have been fantastic. From testing each other on our progress for remembering the fish species and various corals, helping each other when we’ve been ill, to protecting me from the village chickens (in a very impressive yet unique show of support, one even offered to wee on one for me as a show of dominance if it wouldn’t get out of the way – now that’s commitment!), no favour was considered too big or too small and was generally offered anyway. 

Most things were done with a smile and a joke. 

I could not have hoped for better people to spend an extended period of time and to have this experience with. We are all quite different yet the same. In the Asian way, this would be referred to as “same, same but different”. We really are.

They even laugh at my jokes. 

Or at least they are polite enough to pretend to.

While I would like to have done this with people I already know, meeting new people and hearing how they see the world, gaining from their perspectives and experiences, learning from former strangers, is also invaluable. 

It also gives me more couches / sofas to sleep on around the world. 

Thanks everyone that has been a part of this experience with me! 

* Thanks to John Mellencamp for the title to this post.