With the start of week 2 comes the challenges. Our first challenge was that of speed PIT’s. Me and my dive buddy Nick (later to be known to ourselves as the ‘Dream Team’) were first up. We’d managed to pass our out- and in-water tests and completed our individual training PIT’s. As we were the first 2 that had reached this point, we were paired together to do speed PIT’s. Little did we know how daunting this challenge would be. A speed PIT involves doing 3 single PIT’s in a 45 minute dive. As easy as it may sound, it becomes a real challenge when you spend 15 minutes searching for a dive site that you were certain was in ‘that direction’, swimming behind a small motorboat underwater and gulping down half a tank of air (Nick, not me – I don’t breath underwater), then finally searching for the mythical stakes. Our first one was a complete mess and me (and Nick) being the perfectionists we are – got angry because we didn’t manage it as we assumed we would. The next day we did our second speed PIT and just didn’t make it. We were given Carte Blanche the next diving day so we could gather our thoughts for our last and final attempt and finally on the third day of attempting our speed PIT’s, we nailed it. At the end of the expedition we could do 6 single PITs and a fish belt each between the two of us. As we had now completed the first step of science training – we were told to start learning and identifying 150 species of fish.
During this week I had brought myself a hammock from the Women’s Association. It truly was the most magnificent gift I could give myself in Andavadoaka. It was expertly strung up on the porch but Georgie’s capable hands. This is where I would observe the inhabitants of Hut 1 (Georgie, Sally, Hannah) with their Instructor (Kim) do their afternoon exercise routine while Lauren barked orders and selected music appropriate to such routines. This is where my dives were logged and a large amount of thinking took place while staring over half moon beach. I made some important realisations in that hammock. I realised that this was to be my life – that diving, whether it be for conservation or teaching reasons, was going to be a major component. I also realised that I was bitten by the travel bug, and that this was only the first stop. I knew then that the man I would marry would be met on my journeys and would have the same passions as I do. I also realised that in my lifetime, I would make Madagascar my home.
We started official Malagasy lessons this week and although I will not go into depth with regard to these – I will say that I would love to speak Malagasy fluently. It is such a beautifully confused language.This is a challenge I have set myself for when I go to live in that country. What a strange, emotive language and also so simply structured.
A crazy week culminated in what would be a party night that went down in the history books. Our cross dressing party night! We each selected a name from a hat, of a volunteer of the opposite sex, and these were to be our alter egos. Not only were we to dress like them, but to act like them too. Naturally the men did not need to be forced to put on dresses, as we are all well aware that they secretly enjoy this small pleasure. I cannot even begin to describe the debauchery that ensued. I will however award and Oscar to Lauren for the most brilliant impersonation of Nick, to Hannah for the best impersonation of Sean and to Sean, for the worst South African accent I have ever heard! Congratulations and may you continue to prosper!
Until next week...
love it
ReplyDeleteAwesome Sweetie. Great update. Don't blame you for loving Madagascar!! What's a PIT?
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