I am such a slacker

Hello-

It has been quite some time since I've made a post. Its just sort of difficult to want to sit inside and write about things since I'm doing them all day and then homework (sometimes) at night, but I really wanna keep in touch with things at home plus recount everything that is going on right now so that I can remember.

I'm starting to like it here more and more. I'm finding my footing with my Spanish and cultural differences, and I'm also making more friends outside of the GAIAS American students. I broke down and bought a cell phone. It was just too difficult to make/coordinate plans without one.

Ahh jeez, where to start? I finally got to see the tortoises, although it was rainy and kind of miserable. The coolest part was seeing the babies. They were all clumped together, and at first it looked like they were attacking one, but actually it had turned over on its shell and they were helping it right itself. Awwww.

Disclaimer: Next part is a bit gross

So this was part of a camping trip that our Botany professor took us Monday-Wednesday. Dios mios, this guy is crazy, fun, and really animated. I thoroughly enjoyed his class. I think my favorite part of the day was when we were hiking through the Miconia forest (raining miserably) and he wiped out in a small pond of sorts and emerged covered in mud. He pointed out the mud on his butt, and then proceeded to demonstrate what a dog does after taking a dump and dragged it across the ground. I laughed so hard I almost threw up.

Okay, gross part over.

One disconcerting part of our trip to the highlands was that the invasive species were EVERYWHERE. We semi-enjoyed the presence of mora (blackberry), but it is introduced and has spread to overtake native and endemic plants. Its really sad because there isn't any way (at this point) to get rid of it. People cut it with machetes, but afterwards it just grows back. However, there are a lot of prevention programs going on right now that give a little more hope.

Conservation wise, one really cool part of the trip was when we saw the windmills. San Cristobal gets more than half of its energy through these, and they're beginning to start similar programs on other islands. Sustainability! The recycling here is better than the US with about 97% compliance. All organic waste is composted, and almost everything that can be recycled is recycled.

We got back from the Highlands on Wednesday and my friend Hannah and I finished up our research project on algae. We made a pretty good presentation, but we still need to write a paper. Most likely, I am going to continue this research for the rest of the semester and take the last 3 weeks off to concentrate on it. I'm finally getting into research! I've been wanting to do it for a while, and hopefully I'll get one of these internships this summer.

I was snorkeling with Hannah yesterday and we saw a sea turtle, a couple eels, crazy algae, sea stars plus a lobo (sea lion) wanted to play with us the whole time. When I was little, I was obsessed with turtles, and now I've seen giant tortoises and a sea turtle all in one week. Today I saw a HUGE lobster.

Okay, so i really should write this paper now.

I LOVE IT HERE!

:)

galapagan goodness

Yesterday began Galapagos week with Charles Darwin Day, complete with a beach clean-up and huuge fiesta. Much fun was had by all.

Had my first blue-footed booby sighting, actually right next to a lobo and a marine iguana. Perfect picture if I only had a camera.

I will get better about uploading/taking pictures. Maybe I would be better if I didn't live right next to a beach. Maybe.

I have a mid-term on Friday- libros call.

Julie

pictures

Hanging out in the bathroom
Way to Tiptutini
Humongous fig tree
Top of bird watching station
Indigenous village near Riombamba

More to come!

Vida Tranquila

Greetings from the Galapagos!

So i'm finally here, right now about a few feet from the ocean! I guess I should start with cotopaxi though.
I did actually get cold in Ecuador, believe it or not, in Riobamba and Cotpaxi, which are a crazy high altitudes. I got a chance to practice my spanish with some students in Riobamba, and I presented a project on the problem with invasive goats in the galapagos and the enormous eradication effort. It was great to read about an eradication that worked (in Isabela), since the situation with invasive species sometimes seems impossible to fix. It was frustrating this summer, working all day in the field with a chainsaw, herbicide, sweat, poison ivy, etc etc to drive home for the weekend and see Russian Olive all over the highway on both sides, all of the way across 195.
We stayed for a night in an indigenous community. These women ran a hostal and made us dinner. Apparently the men used to run the hostal, but it didn't work. Generally, women are not as well-respected in Ecuador as in the US, and the indigenous women have it worse. It made me happy to get to talk with them and support them.
The next day was hiking rock climbing- a lot harder than it looks! I didn't get very far, but i felt pretty accomplished afterwards.
Saturday we went horseback riding and some hiking. We got to an altitude of 4,800 meters! That's like 3 miles! Boy, was it cold.
Sunday was the polar opposite- the trip to the islands. We took a plane, stopped in Guayaquil, and flew into Baltra, where we saw a lot of iguanas just hanging out. It really seemed like a desert. Then we took a 2.5 hour boat ride to San Cristobal, where I met my host family. They seem great and very accommodating of my limited Spanish.
The way of life is so different here. People walk slowly, and everyone knows each other. Everything is so much more calm and tranquil. It is quite a change for me, and I love it. There is wildlife everywhere- interesting birds, SO MANY SEA LIONS, plus crabs, lizzards... I went for a run this morning and got to explore some of the town/island, which was fantastic. Running should be a great way to explore. This is going to be a great 3 months!
Ciao!