Where's North From Here?

Dear Ali,

Thank you for your follow-up e-mail and for your honesty!  We’re sorry to hear about your relapse.  I apologize for the brief delay in responding to you, as February and March tend to be the busier months for me.

The physical nature of the Penguin Colony, while some responsibilities are very unique (i.e. being in the water), transfer across all animal husbandry positions at the New England Aquarium.  In Rescue, as well as Aquarium Medical Center, lifting of some heavy objects, food preparation/bloody situations, necropsies/surgeries, and the labor intensive nature of scrubbing and cleaning tanks and equipment can be quite draining.  All positions require being on your feet all day, and the Rescue Department does have elements of the position that would expose volunteers to colder temperatures outdoors, as well as hotter temperatures in the summer whenever any offsite rescues or events take place on beaches.

We’d like to err on the safe side for your own health, as well as the health of the animals, and allow you time to recover before reconsidering you for future position openings.  Once you feel up to it, we can reevaluate the situation at that point.  It may be best to consider you for a less physically exerting position like Visitor Education which gives a large overview of all animals and is a first step to getting involved at the Aquarium on some level.  Those positions are also only a ½ day (9am – 1pm or 1pm – 6pm).

Please feel free to let me know your thoughts or ask if you have any questions.  We’d love to get you involved in some way in the future!

Best,

Anthony

Anthony Roux

Program Coordinator

Volunteer Programs and Internships

New England Aquarium

Central Wharf

Boston, MA 02110

(617) 226-2153

As painful as it was to read, it is significant.  I have to wait for remission...  I don't know when that will be.  But I can't ignore this sign.

All of my time and efforts will go to Kick Crohn's Boston.  I have decided that it is only upon finding Non-Profit success that I will carry on my Veterinary pursuits. 

But... Damn, this hurts.

Day 1 without Michele.  This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.