How?

Many people want to know how I picked Madagascar. This part will not be short, there is quite a backstory leading up to my Madagascar adventure.

I mentioned on other pages that I wanted to be the next Jane Goodall, so I majored in Biological Anthropology, focusing on primate behavior. Graduate school didn’t pan out and I started working to develop Environmental Education curriculum for American Honda. I quickly let working with kids and nature replace my dream of living in the forest away from family and friends. I really love teaching and feel that teaching is my life calling.

Five years ago I was working on my Masters in Teaching Science at Cal State Fullerton when I saw a poster that reminded me about my Jane Goodall dreams. The poster was next to the elevator, it had a large picture of an orangutan and said something like, “Do you love animals? Do you want to volunteer?” Of course my answers were YES and YES! I visited the website for OUTROP, loved everything I read and submitted an application. During the summer of 2011 I spent 8 weeks living in an old logging camp in the middle of a forest in Bornean peat swamp. I learned that I still want to be like Jane Goodall, but not all year long. Living without internet, electricity and running water was a huge stress relief, but I learned that after 8 weeks I was excited to have flushing toilets and to see my family and friends.

After I returned from Indonesia I spent days, weeks and months wishing I was still there, especially when life became more stressful. I began dreaming of returning and spending more time enjoying the simple life. Gradually my dreaming turned into researching new wonderful places to travel. A simple google search took me to the Seed Madagascar website along with many others.

This Fall I decided that it was now or never and I finally submitted my application and was accepted to be a part of the Conservation Programme with Seed Madagascar. Once I was accepted to the program my to do list began…

1. Apply for a new passport
2. Apply for a travel visa
3. Research and get vaccinations
4. Save money/fundraise to pay for my donation
5. Book airplane tickets
6. Pack (I am lucky enough to have friends and family who are willing to loan me items)