Two Weeks and Counting!

So it's amazing to me that this summer is almost over. It feels like it was just yesterday that I had a countdown for when I was leaving Baton Rouge for San Antonio and a fantastic summer at SeaWorld, and now I have a countdown to go BACK to Baton Rouge.

The past few weeks have been very busy and very fun. Definitely getting used to the daily routine of being an apprentice trainer at Shamu. Lots and lots of hard work but it's hard to complain when the rewards are so great.

Lately, we've been getting a lot of interaction time with the whales. First, we got to do a scuba play time with the whales. We suit up in our scuba gear and then hop in one pool and there's a massive 6,500lb whale on the other side of the gate and I get to throw fish to him. It's incredible. Yes it's very obvious how big they are all the time, but when you're less than a foot from them and their massive mouth, wow. Breathtaking.

It's always cool to be able to feed a whale. At the end of the day after our last show we feed out their dinner. Sometimes they allow the apprentices to feed during that time. I got to feed Ky which was just great. Seems like such a simple, boring thing, but it's really quite incredible.

The BEST thing I've done so far this summer was a recent relate session with Takara. The reason we're able to train killer whales and spend time in the water with these top predators of the ocean, is because we have such a strong relationship with them. They trust us. One way we build these relationships is through relate sessions. This time it consisted of a trainer John and I giving Takara about a 10 minute rub down. It was just amazing. It's funny, they're almost like dogs getting scratched. They move their body so that you're rubbing just the riiiight spot. Haha.

It's weird. I think I'd be used to these animals because I work with them everyday. But being so close to Takara and rubbing her down really made me realize how majestic and beautiful these animals are. I was having a relate session with a 4,500 KILLER WHALE. Just beautiful.

Since I last wrote, Chris and Donut came and visited! Chris and his parents came and I got to show them around the park and go backstage. They got to rubdown and get kissed by a Beluga which they loved. It was a lot of fun showing them what I do! Donut came in for a brief visit during his Tour de Tejas and it was great to see him. We went to the park shortly to see a quick Shamu show and then went downtown to see the Alamo and the Riverwalk. It was really great to see my best friends and really got me excited to be back home and around everyone I love.

It's very, very weird that I'll be leaving soon. I'm definitely split 50/50. Half of me is very excited to be back in Baton Rouge, at LSU, football season, my best friends, people I love, my family, and just not being in Texas. Haha. The other half of me will absolutely miss the close friends I've made here, everything about SeaWorld, the dream job that I've finally achieved, and mostly the whales. Sounds funny but I've grown close to the whales. I miss them over the weekend! So it'll be sad when I won't see them for quite some time.

To close, I am very upset that I am missing STRIPES this year. The staff started training yesterday and their first session starts on Monday. I'm very sad that I won't be partaking in this amazing program this year. I wish all the leaders and soon-to-be STRIPErs the best of luck and I hope they have a fantastic time. :)

Until next time...