Test 4a 4b listening my 18th birthday was coming up and I was about to leave school.0:00
Before going to college, I thought it would be a good idea to get some work experience.0:09
I was keen to participate in an environmental project of some kind.0:14
So I decided to become a volunteer.0:18
My family asked me what kind of voluntary work I wanted to do and after doing some research on the Internet, I. I came up with the idea of working on a conservation project to help save an endangered species,0:20
The project was organized by a British company, but the work took place in far away Costa Rica.0:33
At first I was anxious about the trip, even though I was traveling with a friend.0:39
But everything went smoothly.0:43
I arrived at the Manzanillo Wildlife park where I was to spend a whole month of my summer vacation.0:45
The experience of a lifetime had begun.0:51
My main objective was to look after the nests of the leatherback sea turtle.0:54
This involved night patrols to protect the eggs.0:58
The nesting season is quite long, from March through to mid August each year.1:01
So the project had a large number of volunteers, students, travelers and professionals.1:06
We worked in shifts from 8pm to midnight and from midnight to 4am Sometimes I had to work in the daytime too, for example, when there was a beach cleanup or a special project.1:12
At first I had a very romantic image of what the work would be like, but the reality is very different.1:23
At night, we would walk anything between 5-10 km in the dark on soft wet sand.1:29
It was also quite hard on my eyes as we weren't allowed to use artificial lights.1:35
Of course, the work continued whether it was raining or not.1:40
The climate there is very hot and humid and there were lots of mosquitoes and sand flies.1:43
But I soon got used to the conditions and concentrated on the job rather than my own comfort.1:48
Once we found a turtle during night patrol, we set about taking measurements, collecting the eggs and tagging the turtle.1:53
The eggs are then either relocated on the beach to a safer place or taken to the hatchery.2:00
After about 60 days, the eggs hatch.2:06
After that, it is our job to make sure the newborn turtles reach the sea safely.2:09
During my time in Costa Rica, I stayed with a family.2:14
This really is the best way to learn about the local culture and everyday life there.2:17
And most importantly, the money I paid to stay with them helps to support the local community.2:22
Some others stayed in tents, but they had to cook their own meals or pay to eat at the restaurant.2:28
Some people complained about the facilities because they were very basic.2:33
The project is in an isolated location, but at least the village has electricity, clean drinking water, washing and Toilet facilities.2:37
When I was there, they opened a new Internet cafe.2:45
So I was really happy to be able to contact my family and friends back home.2:48
I really had a wonderful experience and I truly recommend it.2:52
But you must be willing to work hard in quite difficult conditions.2:56
Just think, thanks to the conservation work being done, the leatherback sea turtle may not be extinct within 20 years as previously feared.3:00
My 18th birthday was coming up and I was about to leave school.3:14
Before going to college, I thought it would be a good idea to get some work experience.3:18
I was keen to participate in an environmental project of some kind.3:23
So I decided to become a volunteer.3:27
My family asked me what kind of voluntary work I wanted to do, and after doing some research on the Internet, I came up with the idea of working on a conservation project to help save an endangered species, sea3:30
The project was organized by a British company, but the work took place in far away Costa Rica.3:42
At first I was anxious about the trip, even though I was traveling with a friend.3:48
But everything went smoothly.3:52
I arrived at the Manzanillo Wildlife park where I was to spend a whole month of my summer vacation.3:54
The experience of a lifetime had begun.4:00
My main objective was to look after the nests of the leatherback sea turtle.4:03
This involved night patrols to protect the eggs.4:08
The nesting season is quite long from March through to mid August each year, so the project had a large number of volunteers, students, travelers and professionals.4:11
We worked in shifts from 8pm to midnight and from midnight to 4am Sometimes I had to work in the daytime too, for example when there was a beach cleanup or a special project.4:21
At first I had a very romantic image of what the work would be like, but the reality is very different.4:33
At night, we would walk anything between 5-10 km in the dark on soft wet sand.4:39
It was also quite hard on my eyes as we weren't allowed to use artificial lights.4:44
Of course, the work continued whether it was raining or not.4:49
The climate there is very hot and humid and there were lots of mosquitoes and sand flies.4:52
But I soon got used to the conditions and concentrated on the job rather than my own comfort.4:57
Once we found a turtle during night patrol, we set about taking measurements, collecting the eggs and tagging the turtle.5:02
The eggs are then either relocated on the beach to a safer place or taken to the hatchery.5:09
After about 60 days, the eggs hatch.5:15
After that, it is our job to make sure the newborn turtles reach the sea safely.5:19
During my time in Costa Rica, I stayed with a family.5:23
This really is the best way to learn about the local culture and everyday life.5:26
There, and most importantly, the money I paid to stay with them helps to support the local community.5:30
Some others stayed in tents, but they had to cook their own meals or pay to eat at the restaurant.5:37
Some people complained about the facilities because they were very basic.5:42
The project is in an isolated location, but at least the village has electricity, clean drinking water, washing and toilet facilities.5:46
When I was there, they opened a new Internet cafe, so I was really happy to be able to contact my family and friends back home.5:55
I really had a wonderful experience and I truly recommend it, but you must be willing to work hard in quite difficult conditions.6:01
Just think, thanks to the conservation work being done, the leatherback sea turtle may not be extinct within 20 years as previously feared.6:09
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