I had an argument with a coworker this past week. The issue was not really anything of great importance, but a result of the fatigue and irritability that can result from field work. This event lead me to examine some specific considerations surrounding my current and future employment as a field biologist. Field work has a certain set of demands infrequently experienced in other work environments. One obvious, yet significant, aspect of field work is the outdoor environment. Local climate and inclement weather can cause general physical discomfort. Physical discomfort often leads to a negative emotional response. I have learned that my patience and composure are tried by the relentless heat I’ve experienced this summer. I have learned to be aware of shifts in my temperament caused by the heat. I know that I cannot prevent the physical discomfort, therefore the only thing under my control is my emotional response to it.

A second aspect of field work is working closely with the same person/group of people daily. Under these circumstances individuals rapidly get to know each other. We learn to get along almost out of necessity, in order to get the work done, but also to make the experience pleasant for everyone. I think that confrontation will inevitable arise during this process. Individuals of a team must voice their concerns or feelings to make others aware of them if they have been offended or are feeling uncomfortable. The key in this situation is to speak up early, thus to prevent the build up of resentment or grudges. I’m glad this internship has provided me with the opportunity to grow in personal and emotional wisdom as well as botanical and scientific knowledge. Thanks CLM!

I’ve become a  shade seeker in the past month, contorting my body in the shape required to escape the direct rays of the sun.  There aren’t too many trees out here, so shade is hard to come by, but the shadow of a shrub or Saguaro will do in a pinch.  Never would I have thought that I could experience an excess of summer… specifically the relentless 100+ degree heat produced by that desert sun.  Despite the aforementioned, (and somewhat overstated) heat, I have relished the opportunity to begin learning a new suite of plants, and catch glimpses of elusive desert critters.  A recent encounter with a desert tortoise made me feel very blessed and grateful to be exactly where I am at this moment in my life.