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Published: October 18th 2008
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"Titration Station"
Our dashing lab assistant and the "Titration Station" at a Can Tho University soils laboratory. Well, this is my last weekend staying with my homestay family. It's bittersweet. I am really going to miss my sisters, mom, and dad here, but I'm very excited about travelling first to Cambodia and then to Hanoi. And then, I start my ISP (Independent Study Project), which will involve doing research in Tram Chim National Park, and then the rest of the time will be spent in Can Tho.
So, despite having spent these past two weeks here in Can Tho, I've managed to have a pretty fun time, and of course, learned some things along the way. hehe. Teen life here is pretty interesting. We went to this coffee shop/smoothie place where a lot of teens hang out; the walls were black, white, and red all over, with comics. All the tables were low, so we sat on pillows or mattresses on the floors. It was really neat. They also had games, so we played Jenga a number of times. The atmosphere was really noisy, though, because all those aforementioned teens and preteens were screaming and squealing and giggling really loudly, and then was the normal loud music that is played pretty much everywhere. It was fun, though,
Lab Space
The soils lab in Can Tho University. The hood for chemicals, and other slightly random machines all in the same room. and I'd be willing to go again.
I also learned how to make banh seo with my mom here, and that was really fun! I am not a pro at pouring the batter or flipping it over, but I am pretty good at putting in the fillings and eating it 😊
Last weekend, most of us went to this American Fulbright scholar's house, and had a little party there, before going to a club, and then spending the night out. It was really interesting to find this little enclave of Western foreigners- we were there, a Brit, a Frenchman, and some Vietnamese. That might not sound like a lot, but it was, relatively. We're getting more used to being stared at whereever we go, but it's always nice to be with other foreigners. We imbibed some beer in a bag, which is much classier than wine in a box in the US. Pretty much whenever you want a drink to go, they put it in a little plastic baggie, tied up with a rubber band. (Whoever introduces them to Ziplock will make a fortune). I've had Bay-Up (7UP) in a bag, Coke in a bag, and now, part
Typical Lab/Chemical Storage
This is at the Mekong Rice and Development Research Center. A lot of the labs I've seen both at Can Tho and here just have open access, lots of chemicals stored mixed together and randomly, and not sufficient space to work safely (at least that's how it seems to me). It's a very interesting comparison to labs in the US. of a giant bag o'beer. It was slilghtly gross though- lukewarm cheap nasty beer. Then we went to the same silly western themed club we've been to before, but this time, they had the mechanical bull up and running, so most of us rode that! Flashback to Austin College. It was pretty fun. We also met some more Frenchmen there.
We had to leave before 11 pm, though, because of the curfew of the girl with whom we were spending the night. It's so interesting how people here who are graduated from college, still live with their parents and have curfews and are still subject to all their parents' rules. It's such a different culture. I guess once you're married, you can move out. I had a great time though, and it was really fun to have a giant sleepover!
And a few weeks ago, we analyzed some of our samples from Tram Chim. I like science, so I volunteered to help look at the samples. The labs that I've seen here are all very different from the ones in the US. They might have some of the same equipment, but everything is mumbly jumbly placed together, so
"Net House"
It's so hot in Vietnam, you don't need a green house. All you need is a net house. At the Mekong Rice and Development Research Center. it doesn't really make sense why what's where. Also, I wish I had taken a picture of the chemical storage lab, where we also mixed up some solutions- it was very interesting. There was no method to what chemical was beside what, and many chemicals were just sitting out, when they probably should have been under lock and key. The picture of the lab at the Rice and Development Research Center can give you a little idea of what it's like. And of course, some of the equipment is outdated, and they don't have nearly enough glassware to do even simple things like what we were doing. We kept having to wash the flasks partway through. I suppose I've been spoiled, even in the labs at Austin College, but it was pretty interesting working for two mornings in a lab here. Our assistant studied in Belgium, I think, and deplores the labs at Can Tho. Also, we were using some strong acids and everyone, even the people who worked in the lab full time, were wearing sandals, shorts, and sometimes, we didn't have gloves. Then, if we spilled anything, we didn't clean it up or do anything about it. I
Confinement Studies
Raising "hoppers," an invasive rice pest, in the net house to find out what methods of control are successful. was rather surprised and a bit nervous about that. My lab partners from classes at AC can attest, I suppose, to my not being absolutely perfectly reliable when dealing with chemicals (that is to say, I've spilled some, sometimes.... oops). Anyway, the pressure was much higher with these acids and little protection. Overall, we managed to be pretty safe. Oh, as far as cleaning the glassware, they didn't seem as scrupulous as we, when we wash anywhere from five to ten times, and then rinse first in sink water ten times, and then with De-ionized water another ten times (Daphnia summer research.... we washed so much glassware....). It, like everything else that I've done here in Vietnam, was quite an experience.
And of course, the interesting eating adventure continues.... for those of you who like baby animals, STOP READING!
I ate boiled duck egg with the duckling still in it.... and visibly a duckling. I didn't exactly want to eat it, so I was dilly dallying, and taking a long time to break open the shell, and then putting a little pepper and these greens on it, and I was asking what to do, and my mom here
Playful Puppies!
They've opened their eyes! And are so much cuter now. got impatient and I had a bit on my spoon, and she said "Now put it in your mouth!" so I did. It was such a command- I had no choice! but it was really funny and we all laughed for a while about that. And it actually tasted kind of nice. better than I thought it'd taste.... as long as I didn't look at the baby duck.... so, that was my dessert. that and dragon fruit... But, in case you're wondering, I didn't eat the duckling (as in, the immature feathers, little beak, legs, and body. I only ate the yellow yolk? part around it.)Apparently it's very high in protien and pregnant women here eat it. I think my family eats it around once a month, because "it's very good for your health". So, that was one thing I did not anticipate having to eat while I was here, and I probably won't eat it again, if I have a choice in the matter, but it wasn't that bad. Except for the poor baby duck.
And on a happier note, the puppies are all doing well, and are playful. My homestay mom brought home another puppy, actually yesterday, from her "university dog" who also had a little of puppies. (They really should spay and neuter animals here- I've seen so many puppies!). Anyway, he's the cutest puppy of all of them. He's a little bigger, and brown, and has the sweetest face. I think his name is Lola... so now, there's Lulac, Biscuit/Beefsteak, Booboo (formerly Omlet?) Coca, Lula, and now Lola. Interesting.
On Monday we leave for Cambodia for 9 days, and then another 12 days in Hanoi! I'm really excited about those two trips! It'll be great to be all together again in the evenings, with no curfew. hehe. But before that, I have to finish my ISP (Independent Study Project) Proposal. I will be studying the impacts of the Golden Apple Snail (Pomecea Canaliculata) in Tram Chim National Park. Apparently, it's not been well-studied there, so they'd like to know about the potential negative effects on biodiversity and habitat transformation, amoung other things. I'm looking forward to it.
Oh, and for those of you who are curious, I did get my absentee ballot, and I did vote, and I did send it in. So yay!
'Til after Cambodia, then.
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