16 Jun Week: número cinco

Brum-brum-brum-brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Every week beats the previous week. I was able to speak to another solar contractor on Monday. So far, I have met people that are passionate about solar panels. It was a great way to start the week.

Next came our chainsaw training class. It was important to respect the chainsaw. We were trained by my supervisor and I could not have of asked for a more knowledgeable teacher. We also took apart the chainsaw a few times so we could become familiar with it. After learning about safety, maintenance, situational awareness, and resource management, we watched the chainsaw at work. Then we were able to start bucking. I think that the biggest takeaway was that you cannot be afraid of this kind of stuff, because that is when mistakes happen, and that overconfidence is also a problem. Then our instructor showed us how to properly fell a tree. It was also amazing to learn about trees and that they are to be taken very seriously. These trees are not only heavy but pack a lot of internal power. They twist and turn and can even slingshot back at you. I knew that nature was both beautiful and devastating, but this was a whole other creature. This is what my engineering degree taught me to look for–compression, tension and torsion.  I have learned to appreciate nature even more. It’s like falling in love every day. I cannot help but smile just thinking about it. We also attended an all-staff meeting, which included a potluck. We were able to meet most of the park staff. There are still some people that I have yet to meet because the park here is about 40,000 acres of land. At this meeting, I was able to introduce myself and the work I hope to accomplish. There was another intern who is trying to integrate STEM into the park here, so now we have a partnership. It’s almost like the universe is guiding me in the right direction. Now I am trying to see if I can get a cutout system of a solar cell to have on display and showcase. So much to do, so little time. Cuídense mucho.