Sunday, March 31, 2013

Arts & Sciences: Botany of Oaxaca (Week One)


This week marked the beginning of our Oaxacan botany course with our professor, Michael Sundue, an expert on plants. We learned all about the different parts of plants, and the two types of flowers (monocots and dicots) and how to tell them apart. We went on several scavenger hunts throughout the city of Oaxaca to find examples of different flowers, fruits, seeds, fibers, etc. The photo to the right is a variety of sweet potato and is a root. The course consists of one three-hour lecture in the morning and one three-hour lab in the afternoon every weekday. This coming week will bring an adventure starting in the mountainous village of Capulalpam and ending several hours to the northeast examining plants that exist in different climates and elevations.


Although we had an intense work load this week, it did not stop people from enjoying one of the busiest times of year in Oaxaca, Semana Santa, or Easter Week! Unlike most people's Easters back home, Semana Santa is a weeklong celebration from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Thousands of tourists came to visit the city during this week, which made it very enjoyable. There were new people to meet and activities ranging from baseball games to parades (like the one on the left). We also had a group meeting on Thursday night at Mary Lou's house to check in and see how everyone was feeling about the trip winding down. Emotions ranged from "I will do anything to stay in Oaxaca longer" to "I'm counting down the days till April 15th". Though no one is wishing away our last few weeks, people are definitely excited to be returning home soon!

Some of us took the opportunity to attend one of the Oaxaca Guerreros games and for a little more than a dollar we got to see some professional baseball (right). Another popular activity was a huge parade that went all over the city on Good Friday. As a city full of Catholics, the parade was more of a mourning funeral procession as that was the day Jesus was crucified. As the weekend approached a small group of girls returned to Puerto Escondido, where most of us went during our break, for some fun in the sun and ocean. The rest of the group that stayed in the city enjoyed the usual activities like going out to dinner, getting work down at a cafe, walking the stairs up to the Guelaguetza, and going to bars with friends.
With some new acquired knowledge of plants, flowers, fruits, and fibers, we are looking forward to our weeklong trip in the woods. Warning to the families and parents: no Internet for this group from Monday to Monday this week, so we're not just ignoring you don't worry!

Besos y Abrazos, 
Kathleen y Brittany

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