My National Geographic Dream

Whenever I imaged the time that I would start travelling I always considered having a blog as a huge part of the experience. In my head I would fantasise that my blogging would be top class and someone like National Geographic would employ me to travel the world and write for them. The thing that amuses me most about this fantasy is I was never very good at English in school and always struggled to write anything that would get me over a 7*. However I feel this 'assignment' might be a little easier than my 6th year essay on Hamlet titled 'An actor who cannot act'. If any of you understands what that means, please go back in time to help out poor 16 year old Shannon, she'll appreciate it greatly.

I guess for those who don't know me I should give you a little introduction. I'm a Swiss-born, Italian bred, 21 year old, born to a Welsh father and Scottish/Irish mother. I grew up mainly with my dad and my brothers Kyle (24) and Gareth (24). Luckily I got to see my oldest brothers Rhys (32) and Sean (30) frequently during school holidays when they came back from the UK. I had a lovely upbringing in the gorgeous Italian countryside next to Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy. I went to a privately run European School where I learnt a hell of a lot of languages (despite being very unaverage at them all) but also found my love of science and sport. Unfortunately though my school was amazing in many ways, if you weren't a linguist, into politics or science, your future prospects were limited. Luckily I found my passion in Biology** and applied to do Animal Biology and Conservation at Oxford Brookes University.

My time at uni was incredible. I found interests particularly in animal behaviour, evolution and development of animals and threatened species (to name a few). I worked with some of the top scientists in their field such as Alistair McGregor, Casper Breuker, Bruce Riddoch, Daniela Santos-Nunes and Stewart Thompson. All inspiring people who showed me what passion for your work really looks like. Obviously there were moments when it was tough and I had doubts whether I should be there, but I always remember thinking "each moment that I sit in a lecture or seminar and learn something new, it always outweighed the stress of coursework and exams". I feel very lucky to have enjoyed my course as much as I did.

So finally getting to the real reason I started this blog - I know you weren't here just to hear about my life! I've always wanted to work with orangutans at some point in my life and throughout university I saved up money to make that dream come true. My housemate Becki and I found a project based in Sepilok - Malaysian Borneo. We are heading out on 19th October to travel Bali and Borneo before starting our volunteering at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for two months. When we finish Becki will be flying back to her natural habitat of tropical North Wales and I'll carry on my travels to NZ and Australia.

If I may speak for the both of us I think we are very passionate about saving the environment and doing what we can to make our planet just that little bit better. I feel our volunteering project is so important in helping orphaned or injured orangutans successfully make it back to the wild. I will dedicate an entire post to 'everything orangutan' soon. I'll outline the work that Sepilok does and hopefully help you understand the reasons why we need to help these gorgeous primates.

In the mean time, if anyone would like to pass on this post to National Geographic that would be great ;)

S x

*For all you non-European School folk that's very average.
** Thank you Simon and Mrs Parnell for your patience

Lake Maggiore seen from Isola Bella

   

Lake Maggiore seen from Isola Madre

My ridiculous family (L-R): Gareth, Me, Kyle, Sean, Rhys, Dad

Doing field work in Oxford for uni. Evidently an expert at all things mud and water