The Countdown Starts

In a week and a half Michaelle (my classmate, friend, travel buddy, and partner in crime) and I will be flying over the Atlantic to begin our Great African Adventure. We will be spending two months in Cape St. Francis, South Africa, working at a penguin rescue and rehabilitation center and conducting a study on vector-borne blood parasites in African penguins on the Eastern coast of South Africa. Basically we'll be collecting blood samples from penguins (and other wild birds) that come through the rehab facility in order to determine the prevalence of blood parasites (Borrelia, Babesia, and Plasmodium) and comparing the detection rates by analysis of blood smears versus PCR (polymerase chain reaction). We will also try to identify potential vectors of Babesia and Borrelia by collecting ectoparasites from the birds that come through the rehab center. We're still hoping to get on the islands in order to collect ectoparasites from the environment, but that will depend in if we can get in with another group making a trip since we have not been approved for an independent trip to the islands.

Here's the website for the rehab if y'all are interested in checking out where we'll be spending most of our time: Penguins! Our apartment will be in Cape St. Francis within walking distance of the beach and the rehab center and we'll be going into St. Francis Bay to use the lab facilities, do grocery shopping and get internet access. I am hoping to update this blog with stories and pictures throughout the summer, so stay tuned!

FYI- May 12th is our departure date and July 8th is when we'll be returning to the States. Good times to be had in between :) And much preparation to be done before I leave- finals, moving, packing, etc... yikes!