Shout Outs and Responses

Okay. I am doing my best right now to respond to everyone's comments from yesterday when you were all in the computer lab. But, of course, I can't get to some of the comments.

A big shout out goes to my fourth block!!! I am sorry that I haven't been able to speak with you all and miss you much. For those of you that came early to school to the teleconference thank you. It's nice to know you were there.

Mrs. Everhart and fellow teachers: Thank you for your support. This would not be possible without you!!!

Mrs. K: YOU ROCK!!! I know that the students are in good hands and you guidance and teaching throughout all this has made it a valuable experience for my students and I thank you for that.


Seth Reid: Anh is just here to assist Lien. Lien is the guy who set up his research for the butterflies up here in Tam Dao. As of now I don't believe that he has enough data to convince the government not to continue with the road and build the new town. It will take a lot of help from outside environmental groups to help also. As I have stated before, this is a very poor country and they government wants to bring more money. So maybe saving the butterflies is not high on their list of priorities. I miss you too. :)

Matt Fisher: It's illegal to take the orchids from the forest because they are a protected species of plant. It doesn't seem to be of much concern to the government though. That is a leftover tree branch that Mrs. Peters is holding. It is hard to get the orchids to bloom up here and they grow high up in the trees. I have a picture of an orchid house and a man building pots for them so that he can sell them to the tourists. I will post them when I get to Hanoi tomorrow night. I do not know what insect pollinates them though. Also, we visited one of Lien's friends in another village yesterday. He is a beetle guy but had many beautiful orchids in bloom at his home there are some photos. I will post them as well.

Ryan Horne: The peacock is a butterfly from the papillion family. Aside from the fog the trip is going well. As Ahn says, "We belong to the weather." We are actually leaving Tam Dao a day early and going to stay in Hanoi tomorrow where we will tour the city and go to the museum of entomology, and perhaps the water puppet show.

Addison Folcher: We just had our wrap up session this afternoon. On the trip we observed a grand total of 37 different species of butterflies. Very low as compared to the same time the year before. The weather was the limiting factor for this round of data. Maybe it's because we are studying weather in the classroom. The town's are very different and still have some French influence. Yes, it is pretty unsanitary in some parts. I will describe more when I see you again. Will not forget peanuts you all have ingrained it into my brain. In fact, I think I dreamt about 3rd block and peanuts last night. Viet's favorite subject is...ENGLISH!!! and that is what he teaches his students. They are currently on summer break so they aren't studying anything right now. They are working with their families mainly in the rice fields.

Andrew Chappell: Most of the houses are very small and mostly consist of one room. Some of the people that have money either from working for the government or selling their land have two story houses quite pretty. I hope that they don't build the new town and yes it would affect the forest species of butterflies but not the ones that are in abundance around the villages (like the cabbage).
We found the moth catapillar high up in the new road transect walkin' up a tree.

Lexie Armini, Drew Hicks, Patrick Hayes, and Mascucci: Those are red strings on Ahn's hat and I don't know what they mean I will ask him tonight at dinner. The plant he is looking at is cinnamon. Yes, I have tasted it and so have you. Yesterday, I had cinnamon flavored water, it was delicious!!! I want to know how they make it so I can make some for all of you. The plant is in abundance up here. On that particular plant, they found some catapillars of a very rare forest butterfly and took them back to raise them and release when they become butterflies.

We are going to spend Saturday and Sunday in Hanoi. There is a much better Internet connection there so if you get a chance over the weekend have a look at some new pictures. I will fly into Raleigh late Monday night if all goes well. Perhaps will try to videoconference from New York if I get a chance.

I posted a gabcast that lasted about 6 minutes and am not seeing it here on this end. Can you all listen to it back home? Please let me know.