One Year Anniversary

Well, six more days and i will have been interning with the Atlantis Marine World Marine Mammal department for a year. I have interned with them every Saturday, and then some, accumulating almost 400 hours of experience.

I've learned so much being here that i could never repeat it all in this one blog. I've met so many great people, and made new friends with the same interests.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with the seals, monkeys, and train Whiskers.(a rat) Since the seals already know a bunch of behaviors, it is me, who's learning to use the behaviors for their benefit when I'm feeding that seal. There are two seals that i have to choose from, Max and Cecil. They are brothers whom came from Sea World, Orlando. Cecil and Max are

10 years old and have been at Atlantis for most of their lives. (Left, Cecil doing the behavior "wave"/Above: Whiskers targeting)

This past summer was so great, I interned with Jessica Paoli and Rebecca McBride. They are two of the most amazing people and I am very sad that they have left and went back to

college. (right pic: Jess is in back(asain!!), rebecca and me, this picture really represents us haha!)

I was lucky enough this summer to have played a part in the california sea lion show, Aquarium Idol, sometimes in front of 600 people. "YIKES." but it really has helped me out with my public speaking skills. (below: My mentor and me in costume! She's Ryan Wavecrest, I'm Ms. Sue Perstar)

But it's not all fun and games, there is still a lot of work to get done from fish prep to cleaning the walk-in refrigerator to writing in the observation books to scrubbing buckets.

Hopefully i will continue to update this blog talking about my great experience with the Marine Mammal Department.