Ms Betsy Perna
Ms. Perna's Wiki Page!
Hello everyone, this is the front page to my virtual classroom. I'll be dropping photos into the gallery, as I can. You can find photos of what we are up to in the menu to the left! You can check my photo gallery in Flickr, too.
08 December 2008
12-6-08 Final trip update: Dear Folks, I have an 18 hour flight, including layovers today, so I may be "draggin' it" a bit on Monday. We've had an incredible couple days, here in Ecuador. First, it's a huge celebration around the Spaniards coming to "save" the indigenous population, way back in the day. Needless to say, many don't recognize this holiday. But you wouldn't know it looking around town, as we did last evening after dinner from the chiva! It's a truck, with seats for revelers, and a band playing on top. I don't think I'll ever forget the polka-style tune they played, over and over (and I still have my whistle). Toyota sent us off in style with a catered dinner, featuring indigenous-style foods (corn and lupine beans, chile, pork and chicken, special cheese and potato dishes, hominy, and salads) all done somehow in the St. Augustine convent and museum. The "fig and cheese" dessert was a work of art in 3D. The paintings, architecture, and sculptures in the convent were a combination of Spanish, Arabic, and indigenous Ecuadorean influence, circa 1500 A.D. There were several sculptures with thorns and blood-red paint, "to scare" los indios, according to Tomas, the self-taught guide for the evening. These guides are amazing in their knowledge and pride for their culture. We couldn't hear the city revelers outside because of the wall construction. Dinner was finished at 9:00 p.m., and then we walked through the town hall area, a curious mixture of old buildings and one modern one that Tomas said the locals wanted to go, during the next earthquake! Prior to that, we spent the day touring various places outside of Quito, and learning about how they make some of the crafts--such as marzipan figurines. Again, lunch was incredible with several entrees, fresh juices and seafood. I will be on a diet, starting this morning! The market was about six square blocks, and the craftspersons were dressed traditionally. Many of our group were buying alpaca shawls and ponchos for less than $15 each. Scarves were going for $1.50. They went crazy--forgetting all about the weight limit for luggage! I'll see you all, soon. Betsy Perna
05 December 2008
12-6 Dear Ivan, I just found your message, I think. Looking forward to seeing you very soon. I have an 18 hour flight today, so please plan on running class on Monday! Just kidding! Betsy Perna
12-6 Hey Jacob, Looking forward to seeing you on Monday. Please plan on running class! Just kidding. Mrs. Perna
12-6 Dear Tanya, So glad to hear we have snow. After all this sun, at the the equator, and mandatory sunscreen! Check the update for how to get to the most pictures--not mine! Mine will be on later. Betsy
04 December 2008
12-6 Janet, Thanks for writing! And thanks again for helping to get me here. Check the update for tips on checking out the most awesome pictures--not mine! These people are incredible photographers. See you soon. Betsy
12-6 Dear Jackie, Thanks for writing, and I hope you are appreciating the fun snow. Did the substitute let you guys shovel the the ramp? See you soon. Betsy Perna
12-4 update We got to sleep in today, until 7:00 a.m. By the way it´s central standard time on the Galapagos Islands. That´s an hour earlier than you. We had breakfast: toast and an egg and a beautiful roll. The bread here is so moist and the crusts are wonderful. There´s a guava jam that I like to put on them. I was drinking the coffee they grow on the island because it´s delicious, but today I´m back to tea, which is also tasty. A couple of days ago we were up at a ¨finca,¨which is a large farm. Among the crops is coffee, which is becoming a large export. As this area is working on conservation, which includes land, they are trying to grow more coffee under trees. Ask for¨shade grown coffee,¨ and you will be helping too. We later went to a place called, ¨FUNDAR,¨where we planted some scalesia trees. Each has our name on it. Mine is Number 29. In six months they will e-mail a picture of our tree and let us know how it´s doing! Believe it or not, the trees should be about six feet tall by then.In planting the baby tree, I discovered an introduced species that´s causing a real problem: fire ants. They can kill baby tortoises and turtles as they emerge from shells. They´re tiny insects, but they pack a mean punch. The wild tortoises in this area seem to be doing very well, though.The climate is so different in the highlands. It´s misty and humid. I like it with the humidity. It´s more green because of that. The volcanic soil really makes the plants take off. We are returning to Ecuador,today. Lots of time on the plane. I will be happy to get to the rain forest, tomorrow. See you soon. Betsy Perna
03 December 2008
12-3 update It´s out last evening on Santa Cruz. Back to Ecuador, tomorrow. I will be going to a rain forest the next day. We had an excellent lecture by Dr. Arturo Keller from Mexico. He now instructs at a university in California. He talked about biodiversity--how animals and plants adapt to surroundings. Remember the various types of mockingbirds and finches. The finches have different styles of beaks, designed for gathering different types of available foods. Later,we went to the recycling center. They have to be creative because it´s difficult to get resources, such as big machines here by boat, to crush glass and shred plastic. Recycling started here in 1995, when a group of students decided to send some recyclables back to Ecuador. They recycled paper, like we started at Conrad Ball. Now there´s a recycling center, thanks to the sponsorship of Toyota, and others. It´s amazing what education and energetic students can do to make a difference! See you soon. Ms. Perna
12-3-08 Dear Anonymous: Wow, snow!!! That will be interesting getting off the plane in these shorts!! I am glad you are getting along well with the substitute. Actually I am working very hard, but they are feeding me quite well, and the fresh fish is most excellent. ahi-ahi, octopus, squid, and shrimp are my favorites. See you all very soon.
12-3 Dear Erika, I miss you, too. I see each and every one of you, as I visit these schools. The students wear stylish, brown uniforms, though. I have been to a secondary school and an elementary. I can see right off that more resources go into the the elementaries, at least from my observations. Hmmmm! I know that you are working hard and asking the substitute to answer any questions you may have, Erika. Until next week... Mrs. P.
12-3-08 Dear Jackie, You don´t have to wonder about the pictures--I think I have taken over 500, by now!I hope we´ll be able to try and upload some of them onto this website. I miss you very much, and hope that all is well. Please say hello to Oscar and Miguel for me. Mrs. Perna
02 December 2008
12-2 Update: We´ve been having a great time. We got off the boat, and I have been walking around like Popeye the sailor--wobbling for a few days. They call that ¨sea legs.¨We went to the Charles Darwin Research Center today, and we had an intense lecture on sustainability. They actually eradicated thousands of goats. Remember how we learned about the introduced species and how they can really ruin a place. I was sorry to learn of the drastic measures, but when I saw the before an after pictures I understood that it had to be done. There was a picture of a goat atop a tortoise´s shell eating the last tidbits of foliage. Competition is tough, and the managers want only the indigenous species to have the best chance. This includes much discussion about the impact humans are having, as visitors too. I think it won´t always be easy to come here, as a tourist. They may start to put a limit on that. One more reason why I am thankful to be here today. Mrs. Perna
Dear Pete and Vicki, Thanks for checking! Photos will be up when I can get the process straightened out! I´ve taken over 500 pictures. Tell Mom I´ll be back Sat., December 6th. Betsy
01 December 2008
12-4 Dear Beatris and Adilene, I just realized I never got back to you two. So, I´m excited about my baby seal pictures, which I hope you will like, as well. They are so interesting, in that they play like little puppies. There´s a seal here on Santa Cruz, that works his begging spot, right next to the fishermen´s market. He sits under the cutting block and sticks his whiskered nose up right next to the man´s hand. The man slips him a snack from the cuttings, and it reminds me so much of our dachshund, ¨Windows 95.¨ They warned us not to try and touch that seal. Only the man who feeds him could touch him without toothed consequences. See you soon. Mrs. P.
Dear Jacob, You bet I am having fun, but we´re working too. Yesterday we presented to a large group in an assembly hall. The water pipes broke, and the lights went out in the middle of my presentation. I carried on like a champ. Guess what I miss you guys too. There will be lots of pictures to see. I finally saw Lonesome George the tortoise today. He´s very slow and sleepy--but pretty good for 120 years old! -Mrs. P.
12-2 Dear Nancy, I hope you are well. You would like this place because there are so many animals. The animals are not afraid of you. The huge tortoises do hiss when you get too close. I saw a seal and some pelicans begging for tuna at the fish market to day. We got to the Charles Darwin Research Center today, and that´s the one you guys are looking at that switches to Spanish, if you like. Mrs. P.
12-1-08 Star date December 1st: Last day on the cruise. Some are relieved by this--the ones that forgot to take dramamine, a medicine for seasickness. Our next stop is the Hotel Red Booby. Instead of blue feet, these birds have red ones! Yesterday, I did indeed try "deep water snorkeling," and I had a great time. Lesson: Do not be afraid to try new things, even if it is completely out of your comfort zone! Once in the water, and a layer of water filtered in between me and my wet suit, it was warm. Thankfully, my snorkeling partner (Kathleen from Hawaii--ace pro surfer)did not tell me about the shark beneath us, until after we finished. So, once I let go of the power-vice grip I had on Kathleen´s index and middle fingers, I began to explore. I could hear my breathing slow down to a deep, Darth Vader tone. I worked my yoga breath! Remember: getting comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. A sea turtle floated by, and I followed it. Believe me there's a major difference between watching this on Discovery and living it, under water. Many schools of small, colorful fishes, some "golden rays," and much plankton-type, smaller animals. That was great because that means there is lots of food for the Galapagos marine life. Until later, BP
30 November 2008
11-30 We have just returned from Fernandina Island, where saw large marine iguanas fighting, baby ones attacking lunch--seaweed on the rocks. One of the best sights was a pair of flightless cormorants performing a mating ritual. Soon there will be eggs. I never tire of baby sea lions. They are real tricksters--chasing swimming iguanas, lava lizards, and eachother. I finally decided to try snorkeling today. I will let you know how that goes. We are working on our group project, with Zoila, an elementary teacher working on the islands, Floreana I think. Among other things, including ELA, she teaches environmental conservation.
There is a photo of me slogging through the Florida Everglades slough, under the Galapagos Blog.