We awoke this morning to the pitter patter of rain on our bungalow roofs. After eating a delicious breakfast of pinto gallo (rice and beans), huevos revueltos (scrambled eggs), fruta (fruit), and jugo de mango (mango juice), we had the opportunity to do our favorite thing: eat more. In typical Vis girl fashion, we ate dark chocolate that was produced on this very farm. It was made just last week and beats any chocolate found back home. While enjoying this delicious treat, Pablo (our gracious host) taught us about the history of his farm and the crops grown here. Julia Sullivan's really glad he's switched from Macadamia nuts to cacao, the main ingredient in chocolate.
Armed with bug spray and rain jackets, we took a tour of Pablo's farm and learned how much work it is to maintain. Along our way, we got a chance to refresh ourselves with a Macarena plant. Its nickname is nature's hand sanitizer and it provides water and a crisp but delightful scent. After climbing numerous hills (with many rising seniors falling behind the pack), we arrived at the home of a hospitable family who sold us homemade fresh coconut and chocolate ice cream. Also, while we were there, Pablo explained the contrast between poverty and misery. Here, the people do not live rich lives; however, they have pride in what they have worked so hard for, whereas misery is just "breathing on the earth." For example, it's almost a competition throughout the village to see who has the most abundant flowers. Upon our return, Pablo gave us a each a piece of a plant and told us to smell it. While we were each pleasantly surprised by the scent, we were astounded to discover that it is the infamous scent of Chanel No. 5.
For lunch, we inhaled another scrumptious meal consisting of pork, rice, beans, and fresh salad; however, the main hit was the freshly squeezed blackberry juice. Then...the "sciencing" began. Beginning with fun introductions, we then transitioned into our lab groups and lecture about the tropical rainforest and epiphytes. To educate our less educated readers, an epiphyte is a fungus, vine, fern, or other *just in: a moth just entered Katherine's mouth* vegetation that absorbs excess rain water, aides in the diversity of the rainforest, and has a mutualistic relationship with ants. The names of the four lab groups are as follows: Smarty Ants, Ants Before Pants, Antz that JJIG, and KFC^2 with Antz. We had another fabulous, well prepared meal before returning to the lab to discuss potential experiment ideas.
Over and Out,
Katherine Weir and Jane Driano
Assisted by:
Julia Sullivan and Lauren Debertin
PS: quote of the day...
Grace: "If my hair actually dries, it'll just get wet again."
This is the view from our classroom...
The writing crew:
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