Advice for future Best Friends Interns

Well, I've been home from Utah exactly one week now. It has a been a long and difficult week of transition. I immersed myself so fully in my experience in Utah that in just five and a half weeks, Kanab felt like home, my friends felt like we'd known each other for way longer than 5 weeks, the family I stayed with felt like true family, and my internship felt like my job. The remoteness of Kanab had become a way of life, as had going to national parks on a regular basis. Suddenly, the city of Minneapolis seems like a giant metropolis! This is, of course, the exact opposite of how I felt when I first moved to Minneapolis from New York City!

After a week of reflecting on my experience at Best Friends, I have some advice that I would give to any prospective intern.

1. Live with a person/family who works at Best Friends. I was hesitant to do this at first because I thought I wanted my own space, and it was hard to conceive of living with a complete stranger for 5 weeks. But it is very helpful to have someone who knows the area, knows the sanctuary, and can answer your questions. I happened to completely luck out on who I stayed with. They treated me like family from the moment I arrived, and I left knowing I have a life-long relationship with an entire family that I didn't have before. Simply getting to know these wonderful people made the trip entirely worth it.

2. Pack lots of clothing layers. My internship was in the fall, so I assume it's a little different for everybody depending on what time of year you are in Kanab. However, I will say that there was often a 40 degree difference in temperature from the time I started work to the time I finished work. I would start out wearing a tank top, long sleeved shirt, fleece, and a jacket in the mornings and I'd still be cold! But as the beautiful high desert sun breaks through and starts to warm the day, I'd shed my layers until I was sweating in just jeans and a tank top. The work you do can be very physical, or you might be just sitting with an animal working on socialization, so you never know how cold or hot you might get through your work. Just bring lots of layers and check the weather each day!

3. Disconnect. Best Friends is a complete bubble. It's heaven for animal lovers, and it's so far removed from the rest of the world (despite the fact that the rest of the world flocks to it to volunteer and visit). Most of us live in a world where we're constantly on our computers, smart phones, tablets, etc. I would suggest embracing the bubble, throwing yourself entirely into the experience, and disconnecting somewhat from the digital age. Your cell phone probably won't get reception most places anyway, and you may or may not have internet access where you live. I found that because blogging became part of my experience, simply logging onto the computer once a day to write my blog and check for urgent e-mails was all I needed to do. I didn't watch one single second of television and I didn't miss it a bit. I did keep in touch with my loved ones on the phone, but not as much as I expected to, given that I usually talk to them everyday. I was so busy with the internship and living in the bubble, that I managed to talk to people maybe a couple times a week if I was lucky. I was okay with that because I had such amazing support where I was living and my loved ones were very understanding.

4. Connect. As you disconnect from the digital world, I cannot recommend enough that you connect with the people and environment around you. I was lucky enough to have the best possible group of interns working with me during my session. Make friends with your fellow interns! You all have at least one thing in common: a love of animals, and you will find that you have more and more in common as you get to know them and more and more that you can learn from them. I have so much respect for all my fellow interns. A great way to connect is to get together for lunches at the cafeteria during the week and head out for adventures during the weekends. Each week, I went to some amazing new place to hike with my intern friends and those are memories I will cherish forever. I feel equally connected to the family I stayed with during my internship, so I know that I now have relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime because of their unique circumstances.

5. Along the same lines as my last point, be sure to connect with nature. Hiking has not been a huge part of my life, but it is a huge part of life in Kanab. You will be within an hour or two of several incredible national parks and hidden gems. Get out there! Even if you do short hikes, or just stop by and sit in nature for a while, your mind, body, and soul with thank you for that connection to the earth that many of us just don't get often enough.

6. Keep an open mind. The first two weeks of the internship, you'll be rotating through all the different animal areas. I can't stress enough how important it is to keep an open mind as you experience what it is like to care for different species. I went in to the internship assuming I'd focus my time in DogTown, but luckily I kept an open mind. I ended up being so enthralled with so many of the species, that I spread my focus for the final three weeks across several areas. One of the areas in which I spent the most time was at Rescue Village working with rabbits. I never in a million years would have thought that's where I would end up. But I learned so much about that species, I loved the staff, and I found a way that I could really make an impact in my short time at the sanctuary by working in rabbits.

7. The internship is what you make of it. The first two weeks are very structured and you don't have a lot of input into your schedule. However, you will soon have complete freedom to design your own schedule. Think about what you really want to get out of this internship and make it happen. The entire sanctuary seems aligned in wanting to make volunteers and interns have the best experiences they possibly can. Leesa, the intern coordinator is especially helpful and will do everything in her power to help you get the most out of your internship. All you have to do is ask. One of the areas I'm very interested in is studying animal behavior. I found out there was a vet working at Best Friends who does exactly that. I took the initiative to schedule myself to work in his building when he'd be around and talked to several people about wanting to work with him. We set up a meeting and I spent my last three weeks basically doing my dream job of helping with animal behavior research. If I hadn't asked, it wouldn't have happened. Pursue your interests and everyone at Best Friends will do their best to make it happen for you!

8. Prepare for tough transitions. Arriving in Kanab, I was excited and nervous. I also got a massive case of altitude sickness. If you live at sea level or you are prone to altitude sickness, I suggest getting to Kanab several days before your internship starts so that you have time to let your body adjust. And drink lots of water! I felt miserable my first few days in Kanab due to the altitude and homesickness. I considered going back to Minnesota before my internship even began. Now, I know about myself that I personally have trouble with transitions, probably more so than most people. But, it is a tough adjustment no matter where you're coming from just because life there is so different than most places. After giving myself time to transition, I had one of the best experiences of my life. And then, before I knew it, it was over. Time for another transition back home. I had grown so close to the animals, people, and even the lifestyle in Kanab, that transitioning back home has been incredibly difficult. My advice is to plan some things that you love to do and people you want to see for when you get back. Seeing my friends and going to my orchestra rehearsals has grounded me back in my life at home, helping me realize that I can also be happy outside the bubble of Best Friends.

There's so much more I feel I could tell a potential intern, but part of the fun is figuring it all out by yourself as you go. Plus, this is getting to be a really long blog post! So, go out there, immerse yourself, and have an amazing experience! This goes for people who are going out just for a few days or weeks to volunteer as well. Same advice applies!

Thank you, Best Friends, for a life-changing experience. I'll be back one way or another!

Weekend: Bryce and Intern Gathering

This weekend has been amazing. On Saturday, several of us girls got up bright an early and hit the road for Bryce Canyon National Park. It was stunning. There really are no words to describe it, nor can my photos do it justice. It was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I was so happy to be able to enjoy the beauty with my intern friends. Here we are at the trail head (we ended up hiking a few more miles than we meant to!) and then there's a picture of the famous hoodoos.

Given that I hadn't felt well the previous few days, and even that morning, I was a little concerned about hiking at Bryce, given that it is 8,000-9,000 ft in elevation and I get altitude sickness at 4,000 feet! I definitely felt it a few times on the hike, but it was so worth it.

Today, Sunday, I took a rest day and it was lovely. I capped off the weekend with an intern gathering where Japhy's staying, which had the most spectacular views. Our intern coordinator, Leesa, was also there and it was a really relaxing, fun night. What a great group of people:

Left to Right: Karen, Steph, Meghan, Me, Leesa, Amy, Japhy, Ryan

All in all, a great weekend. I can't believe I only have two weeks left here. I feel like I have so much to do, both at work and at play! I have four more sights I want to experience and two projects to complete at work! I better get to bed!

Out and About in Kanab

I am very happy to report that I had a much better night's sleep last night. It was such an exhausting day yesterday, even though I hardly did a thing. Just dealing with altitude sickness and homesickness was almost more than I could handle. But luckily, I have some amazing people in my life that talked to me and helped me get through the day. I went to bed early last night and hardly woke up at all in the night. What a relief. Today I'm feeling a bit better. I definitely still have some altitude sickness (mostly in the form of a headache, fatigue, dizziness, and inability to do much walking around without feeling like I'm not getting enough air). So I'm going to take it easy this afternoon and go to bed early again tonight, since my internship starts tomorrow.

But since I had a little more energy this morning, I got out and about around Kanab a little bit. First, I drove to Best Friends to see how long it would take to get there and to make sure I could find my way to the Welcome Center. Have I mentioned how gorgeous it is out here? I felt like I was driving through a picture perfect postcard the entire drive to the sanctuary. The sanctuary itself is much bigger than I had imagined...and I only made it as far as the Welcome Center!

Not a bad place for horses to hang out, huh?

I have a bunch of other pretty pictures from the Welcome Center area, but for some reason they're uploading with distorted coloring, so this will have to do for now.

After checking out Best Friends, I went into town and looked at some of the local shops:

It feels so different here than anywhere I've ever been. Everyone is very friendly and I'm beginning to learn how the town is set up so that I don't get lost as much anymore. I've been to all three markets in town, including a vegetarian market called Laid Back Larry's that is awesome. I told them about a certain type of cracker that I can actually eat, but can't find anywhere around town. The woman who owns the place said she knows of them and will order them for me to arrive next week! How nice is that?!

I can't believe my first day of the internship is tomorrow. I'm excited because I've seen how beautiful Best Friends is in person now. I'm also anxious about getting my dietary needs met and also being able to keep up with a full-time job given that I'm not feeling very well with the altitude and at this point in my recovery from chronic illness. Mostly, I'm looking forward to it.

By the way, I have an adorable cat curled up sleeping under my right arm and a snuggled up dog right next to that. I adore the animals that live here. And it only took me 3 days to learn all their names!

Morning Post: Altitude and Catzilla

Good morning from Utah! It was somewhat of an eventful night, so I thought I would write a quick morning post. Do you want the good news or the not-so-good news first? We'll go with not-so-good first so that we end on a positive note.

The Not-So-Good

I was so exhausted last night that I expected to sleep really soundly. But I ended up staying awake, tossing and turning, and not feeling well. There were several times throughout the night that I literally had to just focus on breathing. I felt like I could not get air no matter what and I had a weird tightness in my lungs. My heart would race if I so much as rolled over in bed. Any movement made me feel like I was going to simultaneously have a heart attack and pass out. This lasted through the whole night. Despite all the comforts I could want (a very comfortable bed, the softest blanket ever, and a great room prepared by my gracious hosts), I could not sleep for the life of me.

Of course, this is disconcerting to me. My health is my absolute number one priority. You don't fight for your life for two years and then let something get in the way of that and damage your body. I was expecting to get altitude sickness because I actually spent a summer in Salt Lake City about 8 years ago, and I remember it was pretty bad then. But it manifested in a different way. I was just so exhausted all the time, and I couldn't walk distances without getting completely out of breath. My body was so healthy back then, and I still was miserable. But this time around, it feels different. I am at a slightly higher altitude, but I think a lot of it might be the fact that I wasn't 100% my healthiest coming into this. This time, my symptoms are much more severe, and I'm noticing things like dizziness, tripping, headaches, and even a little confusion (for a few moments this morning, I completely forgot how to make the breakfast that I make every single day for myself). I don't think I'm in an emergency situation or anything, but the fact that I'd have to drive 1.5-2 hours to get medical care is not a comfort. I've been reading up an altitude sickness this morning (Congratulations to me! I have all the symptoms!) and it basically says you should start getting better within 48 hours or else you really need to get to a lower altitude. So I will try to give myself another full day of this and see how I feel. I hope I get better, but if I don't, I'm not risking my entire health that I've worked so hard for. I will go home if I have to. Yes, it will break my heart. But I have to do what's right for my body or else I won't be able to help any animals now or in the future. Stay tuned. I'll keep you posted. Oh, and yes, I'm still drinking tons of water, as that is supposed to help the most, but I still can't get enough and all it's really doing is making me have to use the bathroom every five minutes!

The Good

So last night I shut my door to my room and turned out the lights, all set to go to sleep. I plugged in my nightlight (I'm not fond of sleeping in complete darkness) and started to attempt sleep. Well, I guess I didn't shut my door tight enough for it to latch, because not so long after I lay down, a couple smart kitties pushed my door open and started a parade of cats through my room! I was totally okay with that, but when one of the cats entered my closet, I knew I had to get up and get her out of there. My room was totally animal proofed, but my closet still had toiletries and such on the floor, and the last thing I wanted to do was be responsible for one of my hosts' cats getting sick on my first night! So I got up and  gently carried the cat, who I'll call M, out of there, shut the door tight, and put her back down on the floor. I thought that would be the end of it. But apparently our brief snuggle while I carried her made us best buds, so she jumped up on my bed, purring and wanting to snuggle. Not being one who's ever had pets allowed on furniture, this was a new experience to have one in bed with me. M was so sweet, crawled all over me, licked me, and then settled down to sleep on the pillow next to mine. It was really cute. But it wasn't over yet...

The other cats came and went. I'm pretty sure one was sleeping under my bed for most of the night. But the best part was when one went to inspect the nightlight: he/she put his/her head so close to it that if you looked up at the ceiling there was a giant shadow about 10 feet big of a cat head. Catzilla! I almost laughed out loud. 

Cats weren't my only guests last night. Since my door was wide open by this point, a darling little dog I'll call S decided to come check out my room. Her tail was wagging like crazy and I figured, I already had one animal on my bed, what's one more? So S jumped up on the bed, gave me a few kisses, and lay down literally on top of me. M, the cat, took this as a cue to also lay on top of me. I was covered from the neck down with animals! They make good blankets. Very warm! I couldn't take too much of that though, since I was already feeling odd sensations with my heart and lungs, a cat lying on my chest wasn't helping. I rolled over and they all found places to snuggle and sleep. They stayed with me all night and were so good. When I would wake up, not feeling well, they'd give me a kiss on the cheek or snuggle in closer. It was really comforting. They are also apparently quite good friends with each other, because several times in the night I caught them snuggled up together and even grooming each other. In fact, they're back on my bed right now as I type this, doing just that. I can't believe how calm all the animals here are!

A couple other cats jumped up on my bed, but only stayed for a matter of seconds. One even jumped up onto my head. I'm not sure which one that is yet, because I'm still learning the names of 9 animals. I think I have 3 of them down so far.

So that was my not-so-short morning blog. I'm going to take it easy today. I'm glad I got here early so that I could get adjusted if needed. I'm hoping I start to feel better and that I can stay and work. Wish me luck! I'm going to drink more water...