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EarthCare1.Ihavethegreatestjobintheworld.Itraveltounusualplacesandworkalongsidepeoplefromallovertheworld.Sometimesworkingoutdoors,sometimesinanoffice,sometimesusingscientificequipmentandsometimesmeetinglocalpeopleandtourists,Iamneverbored.2.Althoughmyjobisoccasionallydangerous,Idon'tmindbecausedangerexcitesmeandmakesmefeelalive.However,themostimportantthingaboutmyjobisthatIhelpprotectordinarypeoplefromoneofthemostpowerfulforcesonearth-thevolcano.3.IwasappointedasavolcanologistworkingfortheHawaiianVolcanoObservatory(HVO)twentyyearsago.MyjobiscollectinginformationforadatabaseaboutMountKilauea,whichisoneofthemostactivevolcanoesinHawaii.4.Havingcollectedandevaluatedtheinformation,Ihelpotherscientiststopredictwherelavafromthevolcanowillflownextandhowfast.5.Ourworkhassavedmanylivesbecausepeopleinthepathofthelavacanbewarnedtoleavetheirhouses.6.Unfortunately,wecannotmovetheirhomesoutoftheway,andmanyhouseshavebeencoveredwithlavaorburnedtotheground.7.Whenboilingrockeruptsfromavolcanoandcrashesbacktoearth,itcauseslessdamagethanyoumightimagine.8.ThisisbecausenoonelivesnearthetopofMountKilauea,wheretherocksfall.9.Thelavathatflowsslowlylikeawavedownthemountaincausesfarmoredamagebecauseitburieseverythinginitspathunderthemoltenrock.10.However,theeruptionitselfisreallyexcitingtowatchandIshallneverforgetmyfirstsightofone.ItwasinthesecondweekafterIarrivedinHawaii.11.Havingworkedhardallday,Iwenttobedearly.IwasfastasleepwhensuddenlymybedbeganshakingandIheardastrangesound,likearailwaytrainpassingmywindow.12.HavingexperiencedquiteafewearthquakesinHawaiialready,Ididn'ttakemuchnotice.13.Iwasabouttogobacktosleepwhensuddenlymybedroombecameasbrightasday.14.IranoutofthehouseintothebackgardenwhereIcouldseeMountKilaueainthedistance.15.Therehadbeenaneruptionfromthesideofthemountainandredhotlavawasfountaininghundredsofmetresintotheair.Itwasanabsolutelyfantasticsight.16.ThedayafterthiseruptionIwasluckyenoughtohaveamuchcloserlookatit.TwootherscientistsandIweredrivenupthemountainanddroppedascloseaspossibletothecraterthathadbeenformedduringtheeruption.17.Havingearliercollectedspecialclothesfromtheobservatory,weputthemonbeforewewentanycloser.Allthreeofuslookedlikespacemen.Wehadwhiteprotectivesuitsthatcoveredourwholebody,helmets,bigbootsandspecialgloves.18.Itwasnoteasytowalkinthesesuits,butweslowlymadeourwaytotheedgeofthecraterandlookeddownintothered,boilingcentre.19.Theothertwoclimbeddownintothecratertocollectsomelavaforlaterstudy,butthisbeingmyfirstexperience,Istayedatthetopandwatchedthem.20.Today,IamjustasenthusiasticaboutmyjobasthedayIfirststarted.21.Havingstudiedvolcanoesnowformanyyears,Iamstillamazedattheirbeautyaswellastheirpotentialtocausegreatdamage.