One week down!

It's really unbelievable that I've been in the rainforest for one week. In some ways, like not being afraid to walk around in the dark, it seems like I've been here for ages. In other ways, like starting into classwork, it seems like I got here yesterday. My classes are Tropical Rainforest Ecology, Natural Resources Management (like Forest Management, with a lot of plant biology), and Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values (mostly about local issues).

The three classes are squeezed into 2 months (the program is 3 months long) with classes Monday-Saturday. The Saturday classes haven't exactly been torture yet- this Saturday we're going to some waterfalls and a driving tour. The last month of the program we divide into small groups to work with professors on a research project- we decide which one later. Most of our classes are held in a classroom at the end of the main building. The common room is right next door, and the classroom is connected to two porches, one with our cubbies and rainjacket hooks and the other with the reach-in (snack) fridge, food serving, and eating areas. The classroom seems more like a giant porch itself though, with huge windows on three sides that can open for climbing out of.

The weather has been pretty nice in the past few days (I hope I don't jinx it by writing this). It is the wet season right now, so it is not suprising if the sun doesn't come out all day and the weather is either misty or rainy. Sometimes though, like now, it is beautiful weather- 80ish degrees and partially sunny with a breeze. My main problem with the weather is the humidity, which I am used to now, but my clothes and other cloth-materials like towels and sheets constantly feel damp. It takes some strategizing and laudry/dryer time to prevent mold.

As for food, one of our staff members is a cook named Les. He's really nice and well meaning, probably in his sixties. Think of a leathery Australian pirate-looking guy that is difficult to understand. When he cooks, Monday-Friday, the food is really good. We have pretty familar dishes since they know we're a bunch of Americans. On weekends we fend for ourselves and the kp (kitchen patrol-my day is Saturday) prepares something relatively simple.

A few of our recent activities have been exploring the Tablelands (this area), so I'll write a little about those. On the very East Coast of Australia there are the 'lowlands' which is where our nearest big city, Cairns, is located. To get up and into 'the Great Dividing [mountain] Range' we drive on a highway called the Gillies- the Centre is actually located just off the Gillies. One of only four ways to cross the mountains in Queensland, it is notorious for its bends and twists and we go from sea level-ish to 750 meters above sea level. There are several smaller towns on the Atherton Tablelands (we are basically on a plateau) all about 15-30 minutes from each other.

Origionally all rainforest, most of the flat land was cleared for farming up until the 1980's- by the way, Aussie say paddocks instead of fields. Most of the rainforest is now in the hillier areas, although some creeks and rivers are being revegetated. The national park that surrounds the center and most of the tablelands (because there are scattered rainforest tracts) was designated a World Heritage Site- like the Great Barrier Reef- in '88. The World Heritage land actually extends much farther than just the local area I'm in. Most of the small towns- the largest is 10,000 people are agricultral or tourism based. The people have all seemed very nice so far, we had to wander around towns for an assignment to ask questions of locals, and there are some great quirks in the towns. Like the 'Bite Me' pizza place and the Majestic movie theater, the longest running in Australia- I went to both last Saturday night. I have also shopped at the 'Big W' which is run by Woolworths and serves as a kind of Walmart equivalent in Atherton, a larger town.

I'd love to explain more about Australia, and I swear I'll write more about exactly what I'm doing in class, but for now I need to study. Things move quickly around here- I have bird calls to learn and a writing assignment to start. Bye!

Waterfall at Mount Hypipamae

On the CRS property-not dangerous, but you can't be too careful!