Here's how it starts......

Back in July 2008, while working on my masters in Fiji, I had this idea. What if I could get a Fulbright Scholarship to study seahorses somewhere in the world? So I wrote to Dr. Amanda Vincent at the University of British Columbia, a well-known seahorse biologist with whom I would like to do my PhD , and said I'd like to apply for a Fulbright to study seahorses in southeast asia. Dr. Vincent wrote back and suggested I get in touch with Dr. Ierece Rosa in Brazil, because her lab was one of the best. Dr. Rosa wrote back immediately and said she would love to work with me! So we put together a proposal for me to study longsnout seahorse habitat in Ceara (a northern coastal state), Brazil. After a long evaluation and interview process, both the US State Department and Brazilian State Department decided my proposal was worthy of a Fulbright Scholarship!

So here I am about to leave for my year long trip to Brazil and with my departure only a few days away, I still have a few details to sort out. I am flying into the capital of Ceara State, Fortaleza.  Where am I staying, might you ask? Well......I don't know is the short answer. I'm planning on vacationing for the first few weeks trying to get a handle on different towns and places where I might want to rent a room or apartment.  Ceara is well known for kite boarding, so while I'm here, I plan on picking up the favorite local watersport. Then in February, I'll spend another few weeks in Paraiba (another coastal state further south of Ceara), where Dr. Rosa and I will sort out the final logistics for my research. She is a professor at the Universidade Federal do Paraiba, in the city of Joao Pessoa.  I'm also excited to travel to this part of Brazil because it is an area known for its scuba diving! Hopefully while I'm here I"ll be able to mix a little business and pleasure and get in the water for a dive.

After Joao Pessoa, I'll be heading to Sao Paulo for Fulbright Orientation before starting research in March! Or atleast that's the general plan, with lots of room for flexibility, adventure and crazy stories. With my first few weeks in Brazil it will  also be Carnaval time! Carnaval is the annual festival in Brazil that takes place 40 days before easter that is a time for camaraderie, freedom, no work, and parties day and night! I'm not sure where exactly I'll be spending Carnaval but guaranteed it will be an experience! 

That's it for now. I'm off to squeeze those last few items into my suitcase. So wish me luck, check back for more stories about my adventure and if you fancy a vacation to Brazil- Just let me know!