Some Answers - Wed. 2/14

A couple of things...
Sitting here in 90 degree weather, it's hard to imagine enough snow to cancel school! I hope you are enjoying your snow day!
You may now post responses right here on the blog.
Please go to the photo gallery for pics. The internet connection is too slow for us to post too many pics in our individual blogs.
Here are some answers to questions from 7Z students:
Matt H: There are lots of insects in the Pantanal! Yesterday we stepped over mine fields of ant hills. We also recorded cutter ants hauling leaf pieces 10 times their size around the forest floor.
Brian P.: One big difference between American life and life here on the farm is the schedule. We have a long lunch break each day. (Lunch is the largest meal of the day.) We have about three hours to eat, relax, socialize. (Mrs. O, Ms. F., and Mr. B., can you imagine that?) We work until about 7:00 p.m. though.
Ariel: There are many, many, many mosquitos here! We wouldn't think of going into the jungle without insect repellant!
Katie: It hasn't rained since we arrived. It's been sunny, hot and humid.
Michelle: It is hard to tell you exactly how much the Pantanal has flooded. However, yesterday our guide showed us areas where river banks have completely disappeared due to flooding. Some of the amphibian/reptile traps (which are dug into the forest floor) have also been flooded out.
Mike I: The Pantanal is not very populated at all. Most of the human activity in the Pantanal is related to ranching.
Julia R.: I've heard that roasted pineapple is a Brazilian favorite!
Jovani: I'm getting used to paying for meals and buying things with the B razilian Reais. One dollar is roughly equal to two Reais. (See, all that math that you are learning from Ms. Flecca comes in handy!)
Kevin F.: I have to say that I love the tropical climate here! It is great to be warm and wearing shorts again. :)
Julia C. : The other food shown on the plate pic is lamb, sausage, papaya, a rice dish and a potato dish.
Jenae: I think I will miss living in such a natural place when I leave. The farm where we are living at is very comfortable, but it is fun and exciting to go to the water and see Caiman or drive to the jungle and see a toucan flying overhead!
Nishitha: The anteater is a great example of a Pantanl animal with an adaptation. To deal with the floods that happen each year, it migrates to higher ground. Anteaters in other areas don't migrate the same way.
Saad: There was a snake caught in one of the farm buildings yesterday. I'm not sure if it is endangered. It is young and its markings aren't fully developed yet. Ellen, a researcher, wasn't sure which species it is. I'll keep you posted if we see more.
Nicole: Many of the birds in the Pantanal are endangered. We've taken pictures but need to research their names.
Sean N.: Tomorrow I'll be looking for otters. It is harder to see them now, in the rainy season, because they migrate to other areas in the Pantanal. We will be looking for their shelters and latrines, though!