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Published: August 8th 2008
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that water is so amazing OK! here is the email that apparently no one got last week. I have a new one coming as well either tonight or tomorrow...
Hello everyone! So I guess this is a long tidbit...but only part of the story! I am alive and doing ok (I have had an infected finger, but it is getting better!) and loving life on Misali! We have been here for over two weeks now, and have 5 more days to bask in the sun. My research is going well, but I have had to put it on hold for the past week due to the fact that my finger was in serious pain, but I hope to be able to do at least 5 more transects in the next few days to even out the data. The water has been perfectly clear all the time…so clear that you can see straight to the bottom of the reef without a mask! It is incredible. We were lucky enough to see a green turtle laying eggs on the beach one night, and that was pretty cool. Mary (my snorkel buddy) and I have been having a fun time dealing with interesting currents and a really pesky
remora (the fish that likes to attach to sharks). One found us while we were doing transects and decided to attach itself to Mary’s stomach. I was not sure how to deal with the situation, and without much thinking asked “hey Mary, is there a fish attached to your stomach?” That was affirmed by both of us screeching and flying out of the water as fast as we could, slates and fins flying. The fishermen on the beach must have thought we were nuts! We were scared to go back, but needed to get out transects done, so we attempted again. This time it found us and attached to my leg. Flying fins occurred again. Ok, so big deal right:? a fish that attaches to you. Why all the fuss? Well, it is kinda creepy to have it happen. They look like little upsidown sharks with big suckers as a mouth, and you just do not want that on you, even if you know it will not harm you. Our third attempt to finish was attempted with us armed with a net and bucket to try to catch this thing, but we did not see it again. Thank goodness!
We have started sleeping on the beach because our tents are too hot and rats keep chewing their way in. We were not sleeping well at all. Now we take out camping pads out and curl up on chairs or tables under the ranger shelter and sleep under the stars and huge bright moon listening to the waves. It is wonderful. We are also closer to the solider guards and rangers, so we feel totally safe.
We are all getting really tan…to the point that we are having to stay out of the sun more! Two of us started to get tiny sun blisters on our legs, so we have been in the shade and covered up. Our hair is all bleaching out.
For thanksgiving, we cooked the rangers a huge feast. We made mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, a onion/tomato/lime salad, rice and beans, and mango cobbler. The rangers supplied fish curry and we had a feast! It was a lot of fun.
Today I have had a whirlwind expedition to Chake Chake. I first went to visit this woman I met on misali. She invited me to her home for lunch, and we had a wonderful
time even though we can hardly communicate. She speaks no English. Then I went “home” to visit my Pemba homestay family, and that was so good. I am going to really miss them a lot. I then went to the market, to buy cell minutes, to check out boat tickets, and then now finally am at the internet. We leave Misali on Wednesday the 5th to head back to Zanzibar. We have a few days to write our final papers and then present, explore town a little more, go out in the evenings and swap ISP stories, and then we are off to home on the 15th. I am so ready to come home. I love it here, but I am ready to come home and see my friends and family. Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving, and has a great start to December. Love to all!!!
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