Melissa Lenker
Melissa Lenker is a young conservationist, attending McGill University in Quebec, Canada for her Masters.
The French Canadian specialty of golden, grease-sodden fries topped with rich, dark gravy and cheese curd beckoned my taste buds. I had never heard of poutine, but still tried it. As a savory bite of fried potato dropped to my tongue, I thought, “Montreal will be a good change for me.”
Photo by bhamsandwhich via Flickr, Creative Common License
I recently moved to earn a Master of Science degree in Renewable Resources. I will try to create a trout fishery management model for a land-locked lake in New York State; I could not be more excited.
I am a novice in the field of fishery management. My undergraduate research at Cornell University concerned seasonal variation of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, more commonly known as the frog-killing fungus. But the difference between a leopard frog and a pickerel frog is of no use when attempting to learn calculus-based fishery models. I feel as if my head is barely above water. Good thing I have my three faithful goldfish – Butter, Ginger, and Awkward Fish – for moral support and encouragement as I dive head first into the world of fisheries.
The best and worst part about being a graduate student is the field work. While studying amphibians, I spent many chilly nights shivering in muddy waiting for elusive bullfrog. While trudging around in muddy water in the early spring is cold, sitting in an aluminum boat for hours while rain soaks your clothing is even colder. Thus describes my experience with fishery field work. Weather can be a finicky companion while performing field work, but nothing beats being engulfed by unspoiled nature.
As much as I may wish it otherwise, moving to Quebec has not been entirely scenic cityscapes and delectable Canadian food. When I moved into my little studio apartment, I was greeted by a family of mice, hordes of mosquitoes, and hot, muggy weather. I never truly appreciated the movie Mousehunt (1997) until I waged my own frustrated battle against the charming rodents. Is it actually possible for a few mice to drive someone insane? Based upon my limited experience and newfound mouse paranoia, the answer is a resounding “yes.”
I am trying to enjoy the summer weather before the infamously cold Montreal winter threatens to send me sprinting back towards southern California’s sunshine. Fingers crossed (while I still have them), that I do not turn into an icicle this winter.
I have high hopes that the coming year will bring heaps of poutine, my first ice fishing experience, scuba certification, and French proficiency (or, at least, the ability to mumble more than a few mispronounced words). I was looking for a new adventure, and I have found it. Grad school, je viens!
