adventuresofawkwardness

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Decked out in snorkel gear and supplied with underwater notebooks, the class fans out to form a line marking the start of a transect. Four days after the initial tagging of lobsters and their home sponges, it is time to see how far these creatures traveled. After finding a steady rhythm searching the sponges, we hear calling and look up to find the professor waving us over hurriedly. We swim over in a wide circle around the professor, careful not to disturb what lays below. Drifting closer, the shadows and shapes come into focus; we’ve found a nurse shark. We are so very close yet it hasn’t moved an inch! There’s a remora fish lying on its’ back, riding the shark in a commensalism relationship. As we watch and wait, the shark makes his move. The shark snaps at something in the sand before turning to swim away. Right as the shark turns, we catch a glimpse of an octopus tentacle trailing out of the sharks’ jaw. We just saw a shark capture its’ prey mere feet in away and captured it all on camera!

Although I have snorkeled at beautiful reefs around the world, I never knew how much I missed with my untrained eyes. Alex, Adriana and Denise pointed out many unique life forms, nearly invisible creatures and explained how each plays a role its’ ecosystem. The vastness and complexity of the ocean demands respect. I wish every student the opportunity to take a hands on class like marine field ecology to experience for themselves the impact of the tiniest organism makes in its’ ecosystem. It has truly been an exciting adventure with many lessons to learn!  

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Ahhh I love spring!!!!! Look how vibrant my trees are!!!! 🌳😍 #nofilter #Spring #Trees #Beautiful #Bloom #Blossom #Grass #Nature #Bees (at Hunterdon County, New Jersey)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Got to test these awesome headphones!! Super comfortable, great sound and they're a lot of fun!! Thanks @discover.xberts and @ausdom_headphone More info and full review to be published: ⠀ ⠀ •⠀ •⠀ ⠀ #Music #Apple #Iceland #Travel #Krona #Passport #Headphones #Review #ProductReview #ProductTest #Samples #Reviewer

[adventuresofawkwardness]

The sky was perfect this morning! ⠀ • ⠀ • ⠀ #MorningCommute #Sunrise #Traffic #Sun #Sky #Clouds #Pretty #Colors

[adventuresofawkwardness]

On November 24, 1973, United States Navy cargo plane Douglas Super DC-3 was forced to crash land on Sólheimasandur beach. It has withstood the harsh Icelandic elements for the past 44 years and become an icon to visit (although not without walking 4km in said elements!!)⠀ ⠀ #Iceland #Iceland🇮🇸 #Sólheimasandur #Plane #Crash #USNavy #DC-3 #Islandia #Travel #TravelCouple #BlackSandBeach Photo Credit: @Kneiswender (at Dc-3 Sólheimasandi)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

That face says it all. Couldn't resist posting more ponies! Photo credit: @kneiswender • • #Icelandic #Beauties #Horse #Pony #IcelandicHorse #Iceland #Nature #Travel #Wander #Wanderlust #Explore #Dream #Photography #Animal #BeautifulDestination #Snæfellsnes #Snæfellsjökull (at Snæfellsjökull)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Wishing I was still in #Iceland so I could see the beautiful #AuroraBorealis tonight. But I took home some pretty great memories!!! • • #Islandia #Lóndrangar #londrangarcliffs #Cliff #Beach #Volcanic #Lighthouse #Clouds #Travel #Photography #LoveIceland (at Lóndrangar)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

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A post shared by Carmella (@carmellas08)

#Skogafoss #Waterfall #Iceland 🇮🇸

[adventuresofawkwardness]

We made it to #Iceland!!! And stayed awake for 24 hours!!! And found some really cool #HotSprings #Travel #Couple #Reykjavik #Rekjadular #Geothermal

[adventuresofawkwardness]

The countdown is on!!!! I'm so excited!!!! 😄✈️🇮🇸

[adventuresofawkwardness]

I am missing the vibrant colors & warm air... #RoadToHana #BlackSandBeach #Hawaii 🏝 • • On the bright side, it wasn't completely dark on my 6:30am commute this morning!!! Cannot wait for the summer weather!!! 🌬🌤🌅 (at Waiʻanapanapa State Park)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Missing the sun ☀️ but I'm glad we all found our way home 🏡 Quite an unlucky Friday the 13th 👻 • • Until next time #Hawaii!!! 🏝🐳🤙 • • #Maui #Lahaina #Kaanapali #Coast #Beach #Surf #Waves #Sunset #FridayThe13th #TimeToGoHome #Family #Vacation (at Lahaina, Hawaii)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

The altitude got us like ^^ #Haleakala #Sunset #10,000feet #haleakalanationalpark #Maui #Hawaii #Cousins #Cute

[adventuresofawkwardness]

A whale swam under our boat!!!! 🐳 #Hawaii #WhaleWatch #Cousins #Vacation #BeautifulBlue #OceanAdventures #PacificWhaleWatchFoundation (at Lahaina Whale Watch)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Cousins made it to Hawaii!!!! 🏝😎 (at Maui Island Hawaii)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Dreaming of new destinations for 2017!! And appreciating all the fun places I've been to in 2016!! 🗺📍 • • Like the #Kapellbrücke in #Luzern!!! • • One of the most beautiful places I have seen so far! Love #Switzerland #Travel #Afar #Wander #Solo #Abroad #Beautiful #Cities #Wanderer #Journey (at Lucerne, Switzerland)

[adventuresofawkwardness]

Winter Exploration! ❄️☁️🇧🇪

I’ve been told countless times how horrible and dangerous the world is and not to trust anyone. However, I have been nothing but welcomed and encouraged by the kindness and respect shown to me throughout my travels. I have also made plenty of mistakes but each time learning a piece of knowledge that prepared me for the future. Don’t be discouraged!

This is an attempt at starting a blog to convey how solo travel has enriched my life piece by piece. I started as a tourist but has grown into finding my own way of travel with my goal to understand culture. It is called “Adventures of Awkwardness” because this main character wants to meet new people and learn stories of heritage and culture, but is lost in a sea of unfamiliar words and a lack of confidence to even say hello.