Life as a volunteer on the Galapagos

Santa Rosa Beach resident Dale Foster is settling in for four months at the Charles Darwin Foundation on the Galapagos Islands, where he is volunteering his expertise as an archivist. He arrived at the research site March 25 and is sharing accommodations in a dormitory style compound with approximately 18 other volunteers working at the CDF.

"Everyone here is transient and bring varying skills to the foundation," Foster said. "They are contracted as volunteers for a specific time."

Foster's first order of business was meeting his fellow roommates and several islanders. He sampled some of the local fare, which, according to him, wasn't as spicy as he had expected and the daily meals consist of a lot of rice and beans. There are still plenty of fish, local fruits and vegetables to be savored, Foster said.

"I sure miss Stinky's and would love some blackened wings from Beef O'Brady's," he said.

While he's adjusting to the local flavor, Foster is also getting a lesson in Spanish, the official language. Foster's roommate is from Ecuador, and helps him practice speaking Spanish every night. In return, Foster is teaching him English, and will "have him speaking with a Southern drawl in no time."

Although Foster's first few days were spent setting up equipment and computers he found time to mingle with other volunteers and met a couple of scientists.

"I met Peter Grant, an expert on the finches," he said. Grant and his scientist wife, Rosemary, had just returned from the island of Daphne part of the archipelago of the Galapagos, which Foster found ironic since he lived in Daphne, Ala., at one point during his career as a library director.

Finches are just one of the myriad of species studied by scientist with the CDF. Some of the oldest known reptiles, the Pinta tortoise, are indigenous to the Galapagos and at one time were thought to be extinct, explained Foster.

"This is a unique place," Foster said. "It's quite rustic, yet contributes so much to science."

During the first few days on Santa Cruz, Foster explored the island and discovered he had much to see.

He enjoyed finding Las Grietas, a favorite swimming and snorkeling site for the locals, and the end of his first evening, he enjoyed the sunset over the town of Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz.

"The beauty of the island far out weighs the heat," Foster said.

The Galapagos Island chain rests on the equator and to cool off Foster will take in diving excursions, when he's not meeting other scientists or working, he said.

"I'm looking forward to this adventure," Foster declared, "even with the heat. Did I mention it is hot here?"