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Looking Up

UNGE sunset

I’ve never been so enamored of a daily sight as I was of this one. During the quarter that I spend studying abroad, I regularly watched fleeting, equatorial sunsets from the lawn of the Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial. My classmates and I had a daily break from late afternoon to early evening. In those hours, the sun and the heat retreated just enough to make the stifling, soupy air feel fresh again. It was the perfect time to sprawl on the grass and take in the play of burning light on the fluffy, dense clouds that perpetually threatened rain.

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Exploring this Earth Together

Twisted Ficus Limb
Twisted Ficus Limb

Today, I wanted to share some more shots from my adventures on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. One of the many reasons I enjoyed my time in the field was the opportunity to explore the rainforest. With my friends and fellow students by my side, I immersed myself in its enormity and stately solitude. We were awestruck by the most glorious sensory overload imaginable. Fortunately, there was no need for conversation in those moments. We were all tuned in to our common surroundings, and we had plenty of time to chat about our experiences when we re-convened at camp in the evenings. Read more

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Embracing the Morning

A thought-provoking ocean view
Morning on Moraca Playa, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
Why do we bother with the rest of the day,
the swale of the afternoon,
the sudden dip into evening…

excerpt from “Morning” by Billy Collins

Morning is my favorite time of day. I like to be up bright and early, but, if I can help it, I don’t like to leave the house first thing in the morning. That way, I can start my day in the most unhurried way possible. If I have the luxury of waking up slowly, I feel calm and focused, and then I’m ready to start my work. Like the speaker in Billy Collins’ poem, I feel potent and alive in the morning. A little caffeine coursing through my veins doesn’t hurt, either. Read more