Hey everyone! Hope you are all doing well!
Our first day and night in Pingtung were busy ones. We started off the day by going to a small cafeteria that is in the back of one of the research buildings on the campus we are staying on. The ladies working were very nice and made some of us omelets, even though they weren't on the menu. I had onion, mushrooms, cheese, bacon, and tomato on mine. It was a good omelet, but it definitely wasn't one of Grams omelets.
After breakfast we went to see Dr Huang give a presentation on some of the research he is working on. This was interesting because most of the students that know about his research are familiar with his projects on heart failure recovery. However, this presentation was on his research on caffeine toxicity in zebrafish embryos, and on his research into compounds to assist with skin whitening, a growing industry in parts of Asia and Africa.
Following Dr Huang's presentation, we went to tour the research and husbandry centers on campus. They had some sea turtles which they are helping to rehab. Those are some magnificent creatures that astonish me with how easily they move through the water when they are so large and not very flexible. They also had coal farms k and off chose many different sized fish, since we are on a marine research campus. We then had lunch in the same cafeteria we had breakfast in. The chicken I was given was very spicy so I hardly ate any of my lunch. Good thing I had snacks to eat to help hold me over until dinner.
We then headed to the aquarium on campus for a sleepover program they run. While the program gave the opportunity to experience something I normally would never have the opportunity to experience, I don't think it's something I will be running out and doing again anytime soon. We arrived and saw an introduction video that was in Chinese, so none of us knew what was going on. Following the video, we went to tour the coral reef section of the aquarium. There were some typical species of fish that were in the tanks, but the setup of some of the tanks were cool. They had tunnels through the tanks, and some were set up as if it were a ship wreck. When we finished the tour we were able to eat dinner, which had a lot of traditional Asian foods. After we finished dinner we were released to get into pajamas, and had the opportunity to make little clay photo holders. When our group reconvened, we took a tour of behind the scenes, and had the chance to feed some fish, see the baby fish, and pet cute, seemingly non threatening baby sharks. When we finished this part of the tour we then retoured the coral reef exhibit to see the difference between the day activity and lack of life and activity at night. By this time we were all exhausted and so we went to set up our beds. Our group was assigned to sleep in the tunnels, and a different group was assigned to sleep in the tunnels by the beluga whales. Thank goodness there was lots of tunnel space because there were some incredibly young kids in the group we were in, so we ended up in a different tunnel than them. We discovered just how loud Dr Huang's snoring was that we had all been told about. Even with music or earplugs in, with your head under your pillow, everyone remarked on being woken up at least once by his snoring, even with him far away.
We got up early this morning for breakfast, which for me was a disaster. Someone took my breakfast card, stop then when we went they weren't sure if I would be able to eat. Them when they said I could get breakfast they discovered they gave someone what I had ordered, so I had to take something else. Then they said I couldn't have the juice I had ordered, even though the other person took the milk tea they were supposed to have. And then when they accidentally spilled my milk tea I had no desire to drink, they filled another milk tea rather than filling a cup of juice from the machine like I requested. By this point I was so frustrated and done I walked out of breakfast. Kayla was nice enough to share her cereal she brought with with me so I could have something for breakfast. As she and I were sitting, waiting for everyone else, Dr Huang, Beth, Courtney, and Erich went outside by the big fountain/wading pool. We all rolled up our pants, took off our shoes, and waded on in. The water felt amazing, and it was so much fun!
We had to go back inside for a fish feeding show in the Waters of Taiwan exhibit. This was kinda cool, but the guide kept talking but none of us knew what she was saying. Following the feeding show, we went outside to walk around the intertidal zone to see what we could all find. The ocean air was very refreshing after having been inside for such a long time. We had to go inside a little while later for the beluga whale show. This was lots of fun, and the beluga were very well behaved. There are two at the aquarium. This was the last thing that was a part of the program.
Kayla REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to go see the penguins, since she is absolutely obsessed with them. They were very active and playful, coming right up to the tank Wall, which was all plexiglass. We arrived in time to also see some of the feeding slow. The penguins are such funny little creatures, especially the way they enter and exit the water.
The aquarium program ended, and as much as we would all have loved to get some sleep, we still had a full day ahead of us.
Pictures- sea turtle in rehab; baby sharks; the extent of my craft ability photo holder; intertidal zone; Beluga show; Kayla and her penguin
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