Zoo Project - you never know what you're gonna see...

I've decided to do a zoo project with my 10th grade Biology class... Back in Denver I collaborated with the Denver Zoo and did a project where the students learned how to observe animal behavior and they used that information to research how animals behaved in the wild and then collected data on how that same animal behaved at the zoo. The goal was to build a zoo enclosure (no they don't call them cages anymore) that provides an environment that encourages the animal to behave more like it would in the wild. This really supports many goals in science, like, how do scientists collect and analyze data and real world applications of biology, as well as the content of what is behavior and the difference between observations and inferences.

So, this weekend I dragged my roommates to the lovely zoo here in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. When I asked my students to tell me about their zoo they complained that the enclosures were ugly and sad, what a perfect opportunity to collect data and design a new environment for the animals living at the zoo!

Now, when you want to study the behavior of animals at the zoo the animal that you don't want to choose is a jaguar... oh, look, it's sleeping, wait, he's still sleeping, oh now what is he doing, yup, still sleeping. Not very interesting data...

The tapir would be a little more interesting... at least he moves his nose every once and a while...

There are bunnies at the zoo, in a "cage" and all, I guess they do have "wild" behavior that the students could compare... 

The dirty glass was a bit distracting, but you could still see the caiman, again, not very interesting to observe...

I know! The largest rodent in the WORLD, the capybara, now that would be a cool animal to observe...

Look, there he is swimming...

Is he trying to nibble on that stick, let's watch and see...

No, he's getting out and walking towards us...

Look at those cool webbed feet.

Oh, wait, he's just going to sit and pose for us?

Yup, look at the adorable face!

Huh, what else at the zoo could be interesting to observe?

PRIMATES!!! Yes, who doesn't love observing the behavior of monkeys???

We sat and watched this guy try and crack open this bottle for 10 minutes! He switched from banging it with his front legs to jumping on it with his hind legs. Interesting behavior... I wonder what it represents...

Wait, what is that - over there? Is that a speckled bear from the Amazon???

Cool! Look at that speckled face. Hey, wait, where is the big one going? Oh, it's heading toward the little one, what are they doing - oh NO the little one just swatted the big one with it's paw... what is this behavior?

Is this territorial, aggressive, dominance behavior? Or maybe...

Wait, what is that coming out of the big bear? Huh, ohhhhh, this is courtship behavior...

How many days til my next vacation?

I think I'm a little obsessed with counting days. When I stop for a moment to think and reflect my first instinct is to figure out how many days I've been doing something. What is that all about? How many days have I been traveling? How many days have I been back to work? Maybe it's because my life is constantly changing, but it doesn't seem healthy.

I did call in sick on Friday and that is a huge deal for me. I NEVER call in sick, unless I'm really really sick and on Friday morning I couldn't stand up without feeling so dizzy that I needed to sit down. I slept for 22 hours and then my roommates came home and cooked me some soup and I slept for the rest of the night. I wonder how people with kids and families do it? I am grateful that right now I don't have anyone counting on me because I feel like crap and can't function. One more day of rest and I should be good to go, but what would I do if I had a family? I guess this is why I don't...

So far - so good - at school. I love my freshman and have decided that next year I'm going to look for a middle school job. I forgot how much I like people part of my job. Middle school kids are still full of wonder and especially in science I can give them lots of it. I love science, don't get me wrong, but it's the people part that I like better. I was actually thinking of going back to school (maybe an online thing) and getting certified in counseling. I think I would enjoy being a middle/high school counselor.

This is the second year of my 2 year contract. Yes, I could put in to stay for a third, but this city is not what I'm looking for. So... in a few months I'll start the job hunting and moving process again. I know it sounds scary, but to me, it's all excitement. Where to go next???

It's only Wednesday???

It can not be possible that it is only Wednesday! I've only been back in the full swing teaching for two days? This must be a joke! I suppose it doesn't help that I had a birthday dinner last night at 8 pm! Yes, eating at 8 pm, doesn't that sound crazy. I am a gringo through and through and want my dinner time to be at 5:30, possibly 6, but not much later and certainly not at 8 or 9 pm. This is one of the issues about living and traveling in a foreign country... many people around the world do not eat like us gringos in the US, and I know that there are people in the US that eat later as well, but I am not one of them. The thing I don't get about it is that you need a snack after work, if you are going to eat past 8, so you end up eating a snack and then eating dinner, which seems like more food than necessary if you were to just eat at a normal hour. I know the US is the fattest country, but I am not in that fat category and I like dinner at a reasonable time. I also like to be somewhat toward the end of stomach digestion by the time I lay down for bed.

I suppose I better get myself organized for the day. Wish me luck.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

I know, can you believe it, I called Bolivia my home! Actually I call anywhere I sleep my home, but coming back to Santa Cruz, especially to our nice retirement house community, felt like home. I am almost all moved in with clean clothes and enough bath and body products to last me for the year!

I feel different, but in a way that is really difficult to describe. I feel... more... I don't know, relaxed? Being alone all summer has given me a unique perspective on my life. I can do it, I can be alone, but boy is it nice to be around friends. Coming back to find Laura and Ale in the house was like returning to comfort. I missed Laura - a lot. There were many times during my summer that I wanted her to be there because I knew that she would help make light of whatever messed up situation I was in. Ale, my other roommate, you don't know her yet, but she is the mom of the house for sure. She is the kindest person you will meet and would give her the shirt off her back if you even hinted at being cold. We are a good trio.

I'm the glass half empty person, you know that. I've spent my life being disappointed and therefore have put up thick walls to protect myself, but I feel different. I feel like the house situation is going to be a much different environment and that right there is a nice start to the school year. We have more stuff and it is more homey. I usually need some time before I go out and buy things, but now I realize that I do need some personal items around, AND I now have the adult room, so more space to spread out. I'll take some photos for you to see.

About the school year... again, I have a much more relaxed attitude about it. I know I am creeping up on 40, but I am really starting to learn how to take things in stride. I do want to help save the world, I always will, but I can't beat myself up over all the details I really can't control. It's about doing the best we can, huh? I'm going to make my classroom the best learning environment I can and anything outside these walls is beyond my control. Check back with me in a few weeks, when I'm tired of getting up in the 6:00 hour :)

I am looking forward to this year in Bolivia!