To go over my Invertebrates Lab 3 outline before my third lab, or not to go over my Invertebrates Lab 3 outline before my third lab? You know what the answer should be, but as I find myself snacking on carrots and typing away at this post, I don't think it's going to happen...
I am on the last leg of my (undergrad) degree! My final term is packed however, so hopefully I don't dig myself too deep in my usual procrastinating trench. Though, since I'm having to endure 4 Biology courses to fulfill a minor in one term (plus my last Psych req.), it just may be bound to happen!
As I gradually come to the end of my undergrad, the constant ever so lurking questions are: "So what's next? What are you going to pursue afterwards? Masters?" Before I attempt to answer these, I always smile and think of how I will finally leave the main campus--overpopulated by those of whom I see as teenyboppers and prepubescent children--and start a new exciting chapter of my life. On the other side, this in turn makes me feel "older" and "not that accomplished"; especially when I see a 17 year-old starting for Liverpool FC, or a 20 year-old signing a 5-year, 31 million dollar contract in the NHL (*fingers crossed for a season this year*)... But I guess it depends on your definition of "accomplished" (and I don't feel like getting that deep here).
So what is next? The truth is: I'm not sure. I live in the moment (maybe too much at times), and have always taken life one step at a time. I'm excited to see what will come my way, but I also realize that I have to meet it (whatever that "what" is) in the middle too. ... I have to focus on graduating first though!
Here are some more things that are keeping me preoccupied from looking over my lab:
All I've heard about in recent days, through friends and strangers, is how Replacement Refs have ruined the NFL, and how the new Mumford & Sons album, 'Babel', is finally out. Both are great news. The NFL Replacement Refs have become a strange, unbelievable phenomenon. The outrageous calls and extremely unlikely mishaps that have happened over the last couple of weeks are an amazing form of entertainment to a pseudo-fan, like myself.
As for Mumford & Sons new album, I can't wait to hear it. It's remarkable how they've reached a fan base that spreads way outside of their genre. They truly are a musical epidemic.
Anyway, now I'm off to my Invertebrates Lab.
Ciao for now.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Belize Bound! So Long! Farewell! (Chapter Five)
For our last couple days, we spent our time in the company of the Machaca staff, volunteers, and students. Sunday, we went down the highway to a local church gathering in the morning, and in the evening, took in Machaca's service at their own café in downtown Punta Gorda.
'Di BoneVille Café' was its name, based on the bible verses of Ezekiel 37:1-10. Newly renovated and about to be opened up to the citizens of PG! A perfect place to witness and hang out with the locals. Serving delicious food, drinks, and playing games and füssball. A drop-in centre essentially.
The next day, we decided to act like true tourists and go into town to buy some souvenirs. The markets were only set up til mid day, so we searched quickly for the best hammock deal we could find. After a few stops, we found our man and a technicoloured masterpiece was our prize. Along with other little souvenirs and a couple more hammocks (for good measure), we walked to the bus stop to catch a ride back to Machaca. On the way, Papa Jop (the elderly white Jehovah's Witness who made our delicious pizza two nights ago) passed by. He yelled while riding his bicycle, basket filled to the brim, trying to sell his sweet rolls and cheese buns. What a guy.
During the off days at Machaca, Willie and I hung around the gym, playing volleyball, soccer, and basketball with whoever was around. So that's what we did when there wasn't anything for us to do. On this day, we taught some visitors "Bump" and also played 3v3 volleyball with a group of teens from town (one kid had quite the vertical and could spike shockingly well, so it felt extra good to block him. Displaying some quality Canadian volleyball skill in doing so... as well as competitiveness). When we were too sweaty and drenched from the humid temperature, Willie and I retreated and read in our cabin. We heard purring and thought nothing of it, but later realized that there weren't any "house" cats at the camp... Apparently, Jaguarundi inhabit the bushes next to our cabin. Cool, actual wild cats, not stray "pets" with supposed owners.
After supper, when it was dark enough, we headed for the pit in the field to talk and play guitar around the bonfire. The only source of light for miles was our fire, everything else was lit up by the stars; literally billions of them, all visible. No moon to be seen, just a labyrinth of stars. We saw the most we've ever seen. Galaxies were strewn every which way as we took in the 360˚ gaze above. A ghoulish sound interrupted our awe. Howler monkeys. Their creepy hollow screeches resonated from miles away. Hearing these new wild sounds served as a reminder of how foreign we actually were. That realization is quite the feeling: the sense of adventure.
This was our final night of the trip, and still we had yet to stumble upon a snake. If you could remember (from the second chapter), we were told to check the other side of every log before we stepped over, just in case there was a coiled-up snake. Common, we thought they were! Well, my Dad and Don at least got a minor scare... While Willie and I were at the bonfire the whole time, my Dad and Don visited a local residence to check up on a girl who needed medical attention. On the drive there, they ran over something snake-like and decided to reverse back a bit to see what it was. Sure enough, the long snake was scrunched-up in it's coils, lying still. Unsure if it was dead or not, Don leaned out of his window with his flashlight to confirm their suspicions. It featured dark yellow-diamond blotches and was indeed a deadly Fer de Lance (Bothrops asper), the ultimate, venomous pit viper. Just as he was noting it's deadliness, the viper sprung up and lashed out at him. Startled badly, Don floored it out of there! The Fer de Lance is known to eject venom from it's fangs at a distance of at least 6 feet!!! In fact, these snakes are so dangerous that even a small bite could result in an entirely crippled limb. A worse bite could be fatal. Scary stuff. On our way to the Mayan Ruins a few days before (in chapter three), we filled up the van at a gas station, and the employee actually had a crippled hand from a Fer de Lance bite; again (Life Lesson #54), be careful where you swing your machete!
My Dad and Don's close call had definitely fulfilled our snake-encounter quota for the trip, and made us wonder what was under our cabin at night a little too much when we went to bed!
On our last day, we packed up and finally had to say our goodbyes. One last game of tetherball was needed, along with pictures, hugs, and blessings. Homeward bound, we were. The time we shared at Machaca and in the Southern Toledo district will be remembered dearly! It was such a blast to travel and just be with my Dad and brother on such an exciting trip, which gifted a fresh environment and culture for us. Who knows, we might find ourselves down there more sooner than later.
Enjoy the final vlog installment!
Music:
Ben Howard - "Only Love"
~~~
p.s. Wow, it has been seven months since our amazing trip to Belize. It took me a long time to finish this series of posts, but it has been a joy to continuously relive the memories for every single one of these five segments. I'm glad I stuck with it for my family's sake! And now, maybe I'll be free from my conscience to blog more... We'll see! Ha
 |
| A wall mural at the café feat. a song based on Ezekiel 37:1-10. |
The next day, we decided to act like true tourists and go into town to buy some souvenirs. The markets were only set up til mid day, so we searched quickly for the best hammock deal we could find. After a few stops, we found our man and a technicoloured masterpiece was our prize. Along with other little souvenirs and a couple more hammocks (for good measure), we walked to the bus stop to catch a ride back to Machaca. On the way, Papa Jop (the elderly white Jehovah's Witness who made our delicious pizza two nights ago) passed by. He yelled while riding his bicycle, basket filled to the brim, trying to sell his sweet rolls and cheese buns. What a guy.
During the off days at Machaca, Willie and I hung around the gym, playing volleyball, soccer, and basketball with whoever was around. So that's what we did when there wasn't anything for us to do. On this day, we taught some visitors "Bump" and also played 3v3 volleyball with a group of teens from town (one kid had quite the vertical and could spike shockingly well, so it felt extra good to block him. Displaying some quality Canadian volleyball skill in doing so... as well as competitiveness). When we were too sweaty and drenched from the humid temperature, Willie and I retreated and read in our cabin. We heard purring and thought nothing of it, but later realized that there weren't any "house" cats at the camp... Apparently, Jaguarundi inhabit the bushes next to our cabin. Cool, actual wild cats, not stray "pets" with supposed owners.
After supper, when it was dark enough, we headed for the pit in the field to talk and play guitar around the bonfire. The only source of light for miles was our fire, everything else was lit up by the stars; literally billions of them, all visible. No moon to be seen, just a labyrinth of stars. We saw the most we've ever seen. Galaxies were strewn every which way as we took in the 360˚ gaze above. A ghoulish sound interrupted our awe. Howler monkeys. Their creepy hollow screeches resonated from miles away. Hearing these new wild sounds served as a reminder of how foreign we actually were. That realization is quite the feeling: the sense of adventure.
This was our final night of the trip, and still we had yet to stumble upon a snake. If you could remember (from the second chapter), we were told to check the other side of every log before we stepped over, just in case there was a coiled-up snake. Common, we thought they were! Well, my Dad and Don at least got a minor scare... While Willie and I were at the bonfire the whole time, my Dad and Don visited a local residence to check up on a girl who needed medical attention. On the drive there, they ran over something snake-like and decided to reverse back a bit to see what it was. Sure enough, the long snake was scrunched-up in it's coils, lying still. Unsure if it was dead or not, Don leaned out of his window with his flashlight to confirm their suspicions. It featured dark yellow-diamond blotches and was indeed a deadly Fer de Lance (Bothrops asper), the ultimate, venomous pit viper. Just as he was noting it's deadliness, the viper sprung up and lashed out at him. Startled badly, Don floored it out of there! The Fer de Lance is known to eject venom from it's fangs at a distance of at least 6 feet!!! In fact, these snakes are so dangerous that even a small bite could result in an entirely crippled limb. A worse bite could be fatal. Scary stuff. On our way to the Mayan Ruins a few days before (in chapter three), we filled up the van at a gas station, and the employee actually had a crippled hand from a Fer de Lance bite; again (Life Lesson #54), be careful where you swing your machete!
My Dad and Don's close call had definitely fulfilled our snake-encounter quota for the trip, and made us wonder what was under our cabin at night a little too much when we went to bed!
On our last day, we packed up and finally had to say our goodbyes. One last game of tetherball was needed, along with pictures, hugs, and blessings. Homeward bound, we were. The time we shared at Machaca and in the Southern Toledo district will be remembered dearly! It was such a blast to travel and just be with my Dad and brother on such an exciting trip, which gifted a fresh environment and culture for us. Who knows, we might find ourselves down there more sooner than later.
... You better BELIZE IT!
 |
| S.T.T.I's Class of 2012 at Machaca |
 |
| Our goodbye photo with Cliff, Luke, and Don. |
 |
| Willie taking it all in. |
Ben Howard - "Only Love"
~~~
p.s. Wow, it has been seven months since our amazing trip to Belize. It took me a long time to finish this series of posts, but it has been a joy to continuously relive the memories for every single one of these five segments. I'm glad I stuck with it for my family's sake! And now, maybe I'll be free from my conscience to blog more... We'll see! Ha
Ciao for now!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Boat-Stream Sky
Have you ever had one of those evenings where the sky and lake are one in the same? I just did a couple nights ago. The white horizon seamlessly merged with the silent glass lake, and formed what seemingly felt like a 'Trueman Show' dome.
My parents arrived at the beach on boat, straight from what literally looked like the sky. Their following stream, a pathway, cut so clean. "It felt like we were boating in heaven," my mom proclaimed.
We need more of these moments.
My parents arrived at the beach on boat, straight from what literally looked like the sky. Their following stream, a pathway, cut so clean. "It felt like we were boating in heaven," my mom proclaimed.
We need more of these moments.
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