19 May Change, Here I Come

Hi, my name is Luis Silva. I am a recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where I received my degree in mechanical engineering. I am lucky enough to start my internship with the Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve located in Jacksonville, Florida. I will be addressing alternative energy options for the park. So far, my trip has been an “awe” experience. I feel like a farm boy visiting the big city for the first time (but this case, it is just the opposite). There is so much that is new and so much that catches your attention. Being from Las Vegas, Nevada, there is a lot that I am not used to. Humidity is the first one. Then there is so much green here. Another is the amount of wildlife. This includes all the noises I hear outside my room when I am trying to sleep. Incredible and a little scary, to be honest. Apart from that, the staff here has been amazing. Everyone is so friendly and nice. The same goes with the local community and visitors. I feel like I have lived here my whole life. People wave and acknowledge each other everywhere we go. I cannot wait to see what else this internship has to offer. This is week one and my brain has already been flooded with so much information that I still do not know what to do with it.