Simon Havas

1. The most important life lesson I learned from Mike was...

Mike has given us so many lessons, ideas and so much advice. He shares everything with us and gives us hope. He talks to us very wisely, with experience, and he believes in us. I love the briefing session at the end of the day – I learn something new each time. I think I have learned more here in two week than I have at school. When I think about everything he told us, for me was most impressive the way he shares his ideas, experience, belief and trust, in a way that changes everyone’s thinking. He is giving us hope and motivation, and that for me is the most important experience. It will be very useful in the coming years and for the generation after me. I want to teach my kids the same way that my father and Mike do.

2. What will change in your life after this experience?

I will improve my lifestyle. I think, through the expedition I have more confidence; I feel I did something good for the world and I will continue to help, best as I can. I will concentrate more on sharing my ideas and opinions with the public, inform them about the environment and about conserving nature, as well as how to live in a more nature-friendly and respectful way.

3. The best part of the expedition was …

I can’t say what the best part was. Every dive, every activity and every job was very special to me. I also learned something new during every activity, something what will help me, and something that I wouldn’t learn elsewhere, thanks to Mike, the crew and Young Explorers. When I start to think deeper about the memories, I feel I enjoyed the visit to Lankayan Island the most. It is now a big part of my heart because one of my biggest dreams is to own a conservation station and help biodiversity through my work and knowledge of animals. I have seen how a specific conservation station works, and I have ideas on how to improve my station and their station. I have seen that to own a station like this is not a dream – it could be realized. It has motivated me and I really hope that I will one day have the chance to try to own a conservation station to help nature.

4. The worst was…

It will be the flight back, leaving Pangaea to go back to a normal, unspecial life with no more adventure. I can’t imagine it. I feel so sad that I have to leave in about 100 hours. Every hour is for me like one percent. I wish I could stop time. The expedition was too short, I would like to be here longer, to tell Mike my dreams, to learn more on Pangaea. I have been preparing for the expedition the whole year – it changed me a lot, and now the expedition is almost over. I hope so much that Mike sees how important the expedition is for me. I want to continue to support his aim of spreading the message of Pangaea to the world. I would like to get people involved – those who are interested in preserving nature and also those whose interest in nature has been awakened because of my influence.

5. What will you miss most?

I will miss everything.

6. What did you learn from …

• Kerstin – to criticise other people’s ideas.
• Michelle – to be more confident underwater. To slow down breathing and be more calm under water – without being hectic.
• Eugénie – as a dive buddy I learned how to communicate and work together during a dive. We worked together well. I learned from her how to be a better team worker.
• Daniel K – I learned so much from him. We talked so often about belief, trust and religion, but also just normal conversations with lot of jokes. From him I learned about how to believe. What as I see is very important and makes your life nicer.
• Dongkyun – to help at any moment without any personal reasons. He showed me also how hard he works to achieve his aims (such as snorkelling).
• Rodrigo – he was my first dive buddy and together we faced the problems. I learned from him how to enjoy life and think positively in difficult situations, how to decide through the heart and how to be yourself. Rodrigo is very interesting and I am full of respect for him.
• Garrett – how to think creatively and to create interesting ideas.
• Big Danny – how to stand by your beliefs. I also learned a lot about sailing from him. He was very helpful. I also learned from him a little bit about underwater navigation. He was also my dive buddy

7. As a Pangaea ambassador I would like to …

Speak to the public. To educate others, especially the young generations, about what I learned from Mike. I would not just inform people about nature’s situation, but I would give them a chance to help, to be a part of it, to see the beauty which needs to conversation. I’m already so proud to be a member of the expedition and I want to give all my best for Mike. He gave me the chance, which I want to use and I will.

8. What is you life philosophy?

Use every minute. Share with others my experience. Listen to my heart and decide through my heart. To take responsibility for my decisions and to finish what I have already started.

9. The most useful thing I brought on expedition was …

My Pangaea diary. I wrote everything – ideas, thoughts, opinions, information about the expedition, memories. Each day I concentrated on not forgetting what I have learned in the expedition. Without the book I would lose a lot.

10. This is what made me laugh …

During the expedition there was a lot to laugh about. I liked Daniel’s jokes or funny moments with others. I laughed a lot about when I came back from the doctor, Daniel asked me if the thing that I saw spells like P.E. I thought he is asking if I pee so I answered him I didn’t pee… Crazy.

11. This is what got me through the expedition:

Muesli, I had it every morning. I started to be sick of it!

12. Five words that describe me are:

Curious, courage, endurance, realist, forward [progressive] Without Mike and his crew I couldn’t have the chance to be a part of this adventure.. Thank you all!