Hello everyone! I am an intern from Telluride, Colorado, and my name is Chloe Hehir. At the moment, I am in Santa Barbara California, where I am studying marine biology and aquatic animals at an educational site named REEF. Since this was my second week in my internship I have started falling into a sort of rhythm throughout the week.
Monday started with my bike ride to the REEF. Once I got there I worked with an undergraduate student named Paul. We checked the flow and water quality of the tanks housing various aquatic creatures, and he taught me about some of the animals and projects that we are working on. Then, I went down to the beach for lunch. After lunch, another undergrad came and we did a zoom for the upcoming freshman. This week I actually got to talk and pick up animals on the zoom, or drive the camera, so it was way more involved than last week. Once the zoom was over I went and got a boba from a shop in Isla Vista. Then, I went home and went in the pool and hot tub for a little bit before going for a walk around the neighborhood.
Tuesday was the most jam-packed day of the week. I biked to work in the morning and met two new undergrads who were going to help me out for the week. One of the undergrads is the REEF’s tropical aquarist (the person who works with the animals in the warmer water tanks), and one of the tropical tanks had a chemical imbalance. We spent a lot of the morning doing water quality and trying to figure out what was wrong in the tank so the clownfish could stay healthy. Then, it was time to feed the animals for the day. We shucked mussels and cut up the anchovies to give to the animals. After that was done, I was off early! I was super excited to have some time off, so I went down to the beach and went surfing for a few hour
s. The waves at Campus Point were pretty big: in the past they have been tiny. After a ton of fun, I hopped on my bike and went to get boba. Finally, my host mom took me to a farmers mar
ket in downtown Santa Barbara. It was super cool! Then, we went out to a yummy dinner and got a super good cake at the end!
On Wednesday after my bike to work it was time to siphon the tanks. Since food cannot be in the tanks for more than twenty-four hours we had to basically “water vacuum” it all up in order to get it out. In the process, we also end up taking waste out as well. After that, we had a shark egg specialist stop by before some tours. For the first time since covid REEF was able to have an in-person tour which was super fun. The family was super nice and it was really interesting to finally show people around. There was one more family afterward to who we told fun facts about the animals! Then, I was done early for the day. I went onto the beach and read for a long time since I was barely able to see the waves and couldn’t get a surfboard. After reading I went and got a drink before heading home. 
Thursday I worked with Scott (my mentor) for almost the entire day. I learned about the more technical side of the REEF, all the zooms and scheduling and grants, etc… Then we tried to film some videos before the undergrads came in for freshman orientation. After that was over, another undergrad, Lauren, took me on a tour of UCSB’s campus. It was nice to check out everything that USCB offers! Then we went out and got a boba before heading home. I watched some Olympic gymnastics and went to bed.
Friday I got off this week. I hopped on a train at 6:35 in the morning to head up to Orange County to visit my cousins. The train was super cool and went past the ocean and beaches and through all different sides of LA. When I got off I went and hung out with my cousins. I then went to a pilates class with my aunt, who is one of the instructors there. It was super fun, and a relatively new experience! Then, since one of my cousins had gotten surgery the day before we just hung around the house and watched a new show that had just come out. To end the day, I went swimming in their pool before it was time for bed. 
Saturday was a slow day as well. I ended up sleeping in super late (whoopsies ahaha) and so did my family. Then we finished our show and had some yummy lunch. Then, my cousin, my aunt, and I went to a thrift shop. We looked around for a while before coming back to the house and watching the Olympics. Then, my uncle, my cousin, and I went for a drive in their Tesla (I drove it on autopilot)! We visited Laguna beach before getting dinner and watching a movie. 
Sunday is not yet over, but I woke up this morning and ate some french toast that my uncle made for me. Then we are watching the Olympics, and planning on going out and around the city. Then we are going to get some acaí bowls and go to a barbecue. At 6:10 I’m going to get on the train to go back to Santa Barbara.
This week was a wonderful week working at the REEF, and seeing my cousins. I had a super fun time and am super excited for my last week in my internship! 
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