Universidad Metropolitana
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Universidad Metropolitana
Logbook entries
08.21.2005: Seattle to the San Juans
Today Celia and me meet Laura and the three of us go to her uncle's house.
There we got pancakes and coffee and go to a tour to see Downtown Seattle. We
saw beautiful parks, houses, the famous Locks where the boats comes to get to
the rivers, saw salmon in the water, go the Aquarium were we saw seals, river
and sea otters and even salmon. It was an incredible day. We have to fly from
Seattle to Anacortes to get the ferry (having the thought that we may miss it)
and be able to get to Friday Harbor Laboratories. We got on time and manage to
have, in my opinion, a very cool but very, very very, cold trip. For these guys
the climate was good but for me, a tropical guy, it was a freezing nightmare.
Thank God Laura lent me her jacket cause I may have arrive there like an ice
cube. There we met Scott, our main instructor. He picked us up and led us to
the Labs. There we met Nicole, another of the classmates. Scott showed our
rooms so we got wrapped for the night. Tomorrow the adventures begins and we
met the others two classmates, that arrive during the night.
08.22.2005: Orcas appeared
Today all the Beam Reach Class met at Scott's Duplex that serves like our class
and resource, and reference place and have a initial meeting to discuss a
introduction to the program, sign waivers, and talk about our ideas for our
individual research. All of us were excited to begin right way. We make some
lunch and go to this place on the west side of the island called Lime Kiln.
This place is state park and also a spot location to watch, identify and record
the pods of the southern residents pods of orcas. Man just a couples of hours
there and out of nowhere, ORCAS APPEARED!!!!!. It was a moment I cannot
describe, such an emotional and incredible experience. Seeing this animal live,
in his environment, knowing in the main reason why I'm doing this and why I'm
going to study marine sciences, is something that no word or expression can
express. I felt so complete, so happy and so proud I made this far in my life
is so rewarding. All of us are so grateful for the experience and motivated us
to have some ideas for our research themes.
This today couldn't be better. I wish my family especially my parents and brother had watched this. But I know in my heart they felt it miles away already. So let's keep walking the path....
08.23.2005: Tours of equipment and Labs
We got
today the chance to go to Val Veirs house (one of the instructors) and see his
equipment on orca acoustics. There we learned how to get directions on
navigational ways. It was very hard for me at first but thanks to Celia's help
I manage to get to it. Thanks Celia! Val showed us his equipment and how it
works, it was quite impressive to see it. Also today we got a tour about the
FHL and its operations. It was good. So good that today I received a package
from home, thanks mom.
08.24.2005: Chuck Greene and satellite tagging
We got a really good talk about satellite tagging. It was great. It reminded me
about the work we do with manatees and sea turtles in PR. I hope in the future
to talk to the person who gave it, Chuck Greene. The rest of the day it was
pretty cool. ;)
08.25.2005: Fred Felleman and wildlife
management
Fred Felleman talked to us today. Man that guy gave some of
the best quotes on the environmental topics I ever heard of. I will appreciate
a lot of what he said to us. Especially this quote: "Wildlife management has
nothing to do with managing wildlife, but everything to do with managing
people."
08.26.2005: Swim test and rowing to town
Man
this day was good and the same time bad for me. It was good cause Scott gave us
some lessons on rowing but then said to us that we need to take a swim test.
Me, a swim test? On this water? This cold? Uh-uh. I cannot tolerate the
temperature in this place how I'm gonna get to the water?!!!! Well, I have to
do it. I watched how Courtney, Nicole, Celia, Laura, and even Brett enjoy the
ride but for me it was a hard time. I jumped and as soon I touched that water I
got so freaking cold that my body has never been so numb for hours.
Later on the afternoon I row to town with Nicole and Courtney. It took a couple of hours and scares too but we made it. Everything was cool until some drunken guy start to hit on the girls. It gets me mad but I manage to get the entire group out. Even though we had a great time. I get back but this time walking with Laura, who walked to town with Celia after picking some berries on the road. Celia took my place on the boat cause my arms where hurting so much. At the end we have a good time.
08.27.2005: Weekend
During Saturday and Sunday
we went to do some shopping for the dinners we need to make during the week and
do laundry. These days were peaceful and everyone kept their time reading,
researching or resting. It was a good weekend. For me, I was anxious to for
Monday cause I will have a necropsy to perform. Nice! I was so rusty cause I
haven't perform one in months. Is good to get back in action.
08.29.2005: Necropsy day!
Today I assisted on
a necropsy on a Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and in a Harbor seal (Phoca
vitulina richardii). It was my first porpoise. I learned a lot from this
experience and enjoy it especially looking the reaction of my classmates at the
necropsy. The photos speak for themselves.