Today is the first day of the Marine Mammals of Monterey Earthwatch expedition. Seven volunteers arrived at the house this morning with a variety of previous experiences and expectations. Everyone has excellent stories to tell and I know that we will all get along with ease. We had a delicious spaghetti lunch cooked by the lead Principal Invesigator, Daniela Maldini. She is quite the cook. I'm not sure if I'll have much luck duplicating her meals, but she has instructed me to cook from the heart and not from the head. The first day of the project is primarily an orientation to the accomodations, the area and a brief introduction to the research. Four of the volunteers have arrived from overseas (3 from the UK and one from Australia) so after lunch we've let everyone take some time to un-pack, relax and get acquainted. In the mid-afternoon we'll have a team meeting, a tour of the house and walk through the Pacific Grove and down towards the coastline. Tomorrow we will go to Moss Landing Harbor to get oriented to the boats and the research methods.We are renting a lovely victorian home in Pacific Grove. It was built in 1893 and originally owned by Margaret McCormick. Downstairs there is a large sitting room with fireplace, an office for data entry and internet use, a dining room, large kitchen, pantry, one bedroom and one bathroom. Upstairs there is an additional bathroom and four more bedrooms. We also have a nice large common area for team meetings and there is also a television. Out back we have a small yard, deck, gas fire pit and a hot tub. (So far, the tub has not been too hot, but it was repaired this afternoon and should be in good working order this evening.) We are only a few blocks from town and less than a mile from the coast line where several harbor seals have hauled out on the shore to get warm.

Anna