We've been VERY busy the last couple weeks.
February 23: We visited to La Purisima, which is the 3rd largest oasis on the peninsula. After two lectures we were allowed to go swimming. So far, this is the most beautiful place we have visited.
February 27: We went snorkeling for the first time. We were instructed to find the crab traps that had been set the night before. The traps were left unmarked because in previous years there has been trouble with local fishermen who take the crabs from the traps. We found 12 of the 13 traps, and then had a lecture on crab biology.
March 1: We went to Constitucion for a language exchange. We helped students at a school practice their English and they helped us with our Spanish. On the way back to Puerto San Carlos one of the vans broke down in the middle of an intersection. I got to direct traffic as some of the other students pushed the van out of the way. While we waiting for a mechanic we ate pizza! --The van is fixed now and we haven’t had any more trouble.
March 2-4: Friday, March 2nd was the 1st day of the Gray Whale Festival!!! The festival was complete with lighted rides, venders, and live music. We ate churros, which are fried dough-- basically a doughnut that is straight instead of circular. Saturday, we were scheduled to play in a local volleyball tournament. However, the other team never showed up. In the evening we set up a few tables of children's activities including Pin the Tail on the Whale, coloring sheets, and face painting. I was part of the face painting group. The most interesting request I received was from an elderly tourist who wanted Roadrunner on his forehead.
Sunday was our day-long homestays. Another student I went with the family known affectionately as the Frutti Family because they run the store named the Tutti Frutti. Sunday was the National Family Day, so we went to Constitucion and met the Frutti's extended family. We ate all day long. The foods included abalone sauce and chips, clam salsa, steak tacos, roasted onions, a Jell-O dessert, and pineapple-peach cake. Everyone was friendly and patient with us as we practiced our Spanish. However, by the end of the day my brain was completely exhausted.
We also had two groups of visitors stay with us over the past two weeks. The first group was education abroad officers and professors from different U.S. universities, and one woman from headquarters. The second group was students from Rochester Institute of Technology, NY.
Thursday, March 8th: I TOUCHED A WHALE!!!!!!! In the morning my research group went out on the boats to collect some whale acoustic recordings. We had been recording a mother and calf who had been pretty friendly with the whale watching boats, when the calf swam towards us. We all held our breath as it slowly surfaced right beside our boat, it felt surprisingly soft, smooth, and somewhat rubbery. I think this is and probably will be the most memorable event of my study abroad experience.
In the afternoon my research group and the RIT group went to San Buto to collect more sea turtle data. This time the nets were much closer to the campsite, so we were able to have much shorter shifts. I went out the last ship and we caught 3 turtles! A total of seven turtles were caught. The largest weighed 38 kilograms, which is about 83 pounds!
Today, we had exam review all day. Exams are on Monday. Break starts on Wednesday!!!
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