Week 5 was exciting, marking the arrival of the sea cucumbers in the farm after weeks of preparation, but despite the triumph of observing our previous work come to fruition and collecting our initial data, my biggest impression of the week was one of routine. Heading into the final stretch of my LiA, I finally feel settled and less struck by the new environment which has challenged me to resist complacency, especially in the shadow of last week's difficulties. Repeating tasks I'd done before and embodying the same values throughout the humdrum has shown me that while character growth requires boldness to go into the unknown, it also demands a steady focus day in and day out, even when the mind is comfortable.

The most blatant sense of repetition came from my project itself, as I have tested the theoretical basis for my work and am now doing repeat trials to build confidence in my results and troubleshoot any issues. While this is a necessary step that I built into my schedule, I had not anticipated how mundane it would feel to be doing repetitive work after being so stimulated by the new location, new people, and new ideas. Additionally, confusing results have disrupted the smoothness of repeating the trials, as differing values require still more research and analysis, but without the intrigue that comes with starting from the beginning. Exploring multiple avenues to be met with disappointment is necessary, but still frustrating. Overall, persisting through this stage in the project has caused me to examine my determination and drive, and to use transcendence to reinforce how this work is necessary to produce meaningful results for the NGO. 

Outside of my project, this sense of routine was heightened by growing accustomed to my accommodation and the weekly schedule. Minor things such as beginning at 8am, cooking in the small shared kitchen, or checking for ants had initially pushed me to be more mentally active, altering my thought patterns to accommodate differences from how I lived at home. However, after five weeks, many of these things have become perfunctory. Though the landscape is still stunning, there is less wonder in navigation to the farm or shops. Becoming aware of this, I have challenged myself to be curious to learn yet more about the people and environment. In the context of leadership, there is often a pressure to continually seek out the unfamiliar, but most growth comes gradually, through absorbing daily situations and introspection. I have learned that no matter how novel a place, whether it be my LiA or moving to a new country for university, the brain will eventually treat it as the "new normal," and it requires effort not merely to pursue new things but to maintain a growth mindset invariably.

While I feel I have maintained a sense of urgency throughout, my objective for my final week is to use to the time pressure as motivation to be productive. I need to wrap up the loose ends I still have and clearly outline any work that still needs to be done, either remotely by myself or by future volunteers at UTW, keeping in mind how my project will lead to the next steps. Transcendence has been the main theme of this week and the project as a whole, as I work to understand how this project fits into global goals, as well as how this experience fits into the wider picture of my daily life and perspective towards it.