Carnival y mas

Two weeks ago (wow it is amazing how fast time flies) was Carnival. The festival began on February 27^th and culminated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It was fun to go into town and enjoy the festivities. There were water cannons, parades, and diablos (devils) roaming the streets. The diablos are people who dress up in ornate red, black, and white costumes with large masks and dance in the street. I found them slightly frightening because they have whips with which they make loud cracking sounds.

Diablos in the street in town.

This past weekend was our weekend off after having midterms last Thursday and Friday. This basically meant that we didn’t have scheduled activities on Saturday so we could spend a night away from the center. A group of us decided to stay on the neighboring island of Bastimentos for the weekend. On Saturday, two of my friends and I hiked through the forest to the other side of the island to go to Wizard Beach and Red Frog Beach. On our way we summited the highest point on the island (a whopping 330 feet above sea level). The hike, while longer than expected, was very enjoyable. One of the highlights was our encounter with a most pleasantly smelling tree. We saw fruits on it, picked one, opened it, decided it looked like a guava, and ate it. It was delicious and fortunately we all survived our impulsive consumption of wild fruit. At our final destination, Red Frog Beach, there was a fundraiser for the local indigenous community of Bahia Honda so that they can send their children to school. They were selling fresh coconuts, empanadas, and johnny cakes (all of which were scrumptious). I was glad that we were able to go to the event because we had visited the community earlier in the semester and so it was nice to be able to support them in this way.

Maria and Tara trying the “guava” fruit.

Struggling with mud on the hike.

We made it to the beach!

Bonus Photo: My friend Herman who enjoyed being photographed after he joined me in the kitchen.

los loros

It is strange being in a place where my professor has to talk over the red-lored parrots that try to interrupt our class with their loud cackling as they fly by, but it sure makes class more exciting. In addition to classes, these past couple weeks have been filled with field excursions.

For our Tropical Coastal Ecology class we have been going snorkeling about 3 times a week as we learn to identify fish, invertebrates, coral, and algae. Each day and each snorkel site is a little different. Sometimes there is so much color and so many animals in the reef it is hard to keep track of all the species we see. The water can be so clear and when the sun is out the sea bottom glistens with the patterns of surface waves. Some of my favorite things I have seen are moon jellyfish and caribbean reef squids. But sadly the effects of human activity in the area are visible.  Amidst this beauty, there are coral reefs that have been damaged and are dying.

A view of one of the reefs

A cool looking seastar

Our terrestrial field work, led by our Resource Management professor, has been just as enjoyable (if not more in my opinion). These include early morning bird watching hikes, butterfly catching (and release), night hikes, and trips to other islands to observe differences in biodiversity. The night hike was especially exciting for me because there was a chance we would see an armadillo. We didn't, but that was okay because we did see a three-toed sloth climbing up a tree. I am still on the hunt for an armadillo sighting.

My group as we are about to leave for our night hike.

Collecting insects for classification.

Eating yummy cacao fruit while hiking on Isla San Cristobal.

A group picture after one of our hikes.

programa

Written on Friday, February 21^th.

As I write this, I am covered with salt. Why? Because I went snorkeling this morning! And since we are only allotted one shower a day, I am not going to waste it in case I plan to jump in the ocean a little later. What a life. I am so thankful that I can be here having this experience.

They keep us quite busy and this is my first afternoon off all week. Our schedule changes from day to day (although it always begins at 7am) and involves lectures, field excursions, and other activities in local communities. The agenda is constantly in flux and often the plans keep changing up to an hour before the activity. They say we are learning how to “live in the field” and I believe them but sometimes it is hard especially when we don’t know when our assignments are due.

Every Tuesday and Thursday we have Spanish class for 4 hours. Our last session is this coming Tuesday. The best part about it is that we take a boat to class since it is on a neighboring island. I love the boat rides. Not only are the views always gorgeous but it is so pleasant to sit there and enjoy the fresh ocean air blowing in my face.

My friend Tara enjoying a boat ride.

Sundays are our only day off from scheduled program time and also the only day we have to cook food for ourselves (aka scavenging for leftovers). Some people go into Bocas town on Isla Colon but so far my Sundays have consisted mostly of relaxing, baking, running/swimming, and attempting to get a head start on homework.

A strawberry poison dart frog I saw on a run.

Token Rhinoceros beetle.

introducción

Each of us is hurled

Into a great big world

What you do

Is up to you

Your path to be unfurled

Today marks the first full week I have been here on Isla Solarte! I am finding it harder than expected to write about my time here. First, it is difficult to express experiences to those who are unfamiliar with the location and the people I am surrounded by. Second, so much has happened since we arrived that I don’t know where to begin. Third, we have been kept so busy lately it is challenging to find time to put my thoughts into words. So, I will start with some introductions.

This is the building that we eat, sleep, and hangout in.

This is the beautiful (and sometimes distracting) view from our outdoor classroom.

This is our dock which has a swimming area next to us that we can use whenever we want.

We also have a resident pig that eats the scraps from all our meals.

Within walking distance from our comfy abode, there are two small villages (cleverly named Solate1 and Solarte2). Through the forested hills of the island wind hiking trails, remnants of the thankfully no longer existent plan to develop the island with luxury homes. The wildlife we see consists mainly of birds but there are also small frogs that hop ahead of us on paths, geckos that live in the walls, and a multitude of insects. Fortunately, there are very few mosquitos which eases my fear of getting dengue or malaria. However the chitras (sandflies) that have taken a liking to my arms and legs have the potential of transmitting leishmaniasis.

Bonus Photos of the Panama Canal!

Canal de Panamá

Our first two days in Panama we stayed in Gamboa, a town close to the canal and about 40 min away from Panama City. We spent time hiking, playing games, listening to a few introductory lectures, and going through orientation. The group of students is great. We are all different (as was expected) but it is neat to be surrounded by people who I know are also passionate about the environment and the nature that surrounds us.

On Wednesday, we learned about the history of Panama before heading into Panama City for lunch and a walking tour. Then we went to the Panama Canal! We stopped at one of the sets of locks and timed it perfectly to watch a cruise ship slowly squeeze through. There was also a museum there where we were able to learn about the process of building the canal and the plans they have for its future.

On Thursday we finally headed to our permanent temporary home in Bocas del Toro. After a 4am start to the day, we boarded a small plane that amazingly carried us and all our luggage to our destination. The views from the plane were gorgeous as we flew over the archipelago. A boat took us from Isla Colon to Isla Solarte where we are living.

We are now in the process of settling in and figuring out the rhythm of life here on the island. I am enjoying the sounds that surround us and how they change throughout the day. One of my favorite parts is that all our water is collected from the rain. It is filtered and held in a tank under the building we live in. I think it is neat to have such an obvious example of how we are directly relying on the environment to provide for us.