A saying was shared with us at the beginning of this quarter: ”Anything that could possibly go wrong, will definitely go wrong.” There is no truer saying that could describe the bumpy start to the journey! With multiple hiccups on the way to Nicaragua – getting stuck at customs in and out of the two airports with action packs, missing personal backpacks at Managua, and a boat ride through the rapids all in twenty-four hours – the first day of the trip did not spare any surprises from us. What seemed like a well-tried procedure of getting to Refugio Bartola from LAX didn’t exactly turn out as planned.

This event definitely isn’t standalone in learning about the uncertainty of outcomes. Ben (my research buddy) and I woke up at 5am on the first of February for the grand start to our project only to be met with a rainstorm that washed all our plans away for the day. Or having set up a spider arena to study their aggression on prey, only to realize that all they did was stay still and wait for something to come along. Yet, not everything about uncertainty is doom and gloom. Just as the events that occurred during the journey pulled the class closer together in ways that could not have been otherwise, unexpected occurrences has given rise to some amazing moments.

Being here for just 4 days so far, I’ve seen incredible things: Howler monkeys as a daily alarm right outside our sleeping quarters, Spider monkeys crossing the river above our heads while in the canoe, a coral snake in one of the many night hikes with great company. Every step into the rainforest promises a realm of new possibilities and sights; and each day a great opportunity to learn more as we take strides in our research projects…each stride embracing the uncertainty to come!