A lot has happened since my last blog. I feel a lot more integrated here and can find my way around. There always seems something to do! I already dived twice, went snorkeling a lot and went on day trips to nice sites. Also things at the university are getting more routined and interesting.

My First week here I mostly stayed in Puerto Morelos and got showed around at UNAM. Picked up my neighbour Chantal at the airport who will be here on holiday for 6 weeks but will also sometimes help at UNAM. Discovered the Ojo de agua which is beautifull for snorkeling just 5 minutes walking from my home! It is a hole in the ocean where fresh water comes in and a lot of life is around it.

In the second week I was confronted with the Mexican way of living more.. If you want to arrange something you shouldn't expect it to be arranged as fast as you want it.. Patience.. I tried to get a health check so I could dive but some doctors were closed (while they should be open) others didn't do health checks etc etc.. Also it was very windy this week so we couldn't go on fieldtrips. So was a bit of slow week at UNAM but the weekend was amazing! I went diving at Cozumel which is a island of the coast of Playa del carmen (30 min from Puerto). I was really nervous since it was my first dive ever! It was very beautifull and something I will definitely do again! We also went to cancun this weekend to do some bigger shopping, like a football! ;)

In the third week it was still to windy for us to go on the fieldtrip which we had to do! So it was more aquarium optimilisation and getting to know the lab. On friday it was finally good weather to go out! But the captain was sick so we couldn't do the collecting.. In the weekend we wanted to go to the botanical gardens of Puerto (yes they have them here as well!) But they were closed (although they should've been open but OK its Mexico..) So instead we went to a cenote called siete bocas (seven holes) in the middle of the jungle. It was beautifull and had 7 entrances. The water was a bit chilly but very nice to snorkel in :)On sunday we went to Akumel which is a beautifull beach and when you go into the ocean you can go snorkeling with the turtles! I saw dozen of turtles and even a Ray.

In the next week I finally got my health check done and I went diving in cenotes! This was a very interesting experience indeed.. Like diving in a cave where it is dark and you can follow all the stalactites. If you ever can dive in a cenote I totally recommend to do it! Like your in another world... During the second dive in the second cenote I got some problems with my ears unfortunately but all went well in the end. During this week it was also not so windy anymore and finally we could collect the samples! Did a lot of snorkeling on the sites which was beautifull. In the weekend we went to Isla Mujeres which is named after the Goddess of the Mayans Ixchel. Very nice like a cliff coast in france but then in the Carribean! On sunday they went diving again in Cozumel but since I still had some troubles with my ear I didn't go.

The next weekdayion) and shouldn't be in the sun or water for the coming week. So the last week I was mostly sick at home but I am now all better and excited to begin again next week!!