pelf-ism is contagious

The Wetlands Institute is the primary experience for Asian scholars from the Asian Scholarship Program for in-situ Chelonian Conservation (ASPin-situCC). Since the inception of the Asian Scholarship Program in 2000, a total of 16 scholars have been brought to the Wetlands Institute to experience the hands-on terrapin conservation work (I am scholar #16).

The Wetlands Institute focuses on 2 major aspects of the conservation of the diamondback terrapins and other endangered animals in the area — Research and Education. Various research projects are being conducted by the researchers — assessment of the impact of human activities on diamondback terrapins and ways to reduce those impacts, the innovative use of dredged materials and disposal sites to reduce diamondback terrapin mortality, conservation of shorebirds and horseshoe crabs of Delaware Bay, incubation of least tern nests, etc.

On the other hand, members of the public who visit the Wetlands Institute will be taken on a guided tour of the marsh and the trail behind the institute. And before the summer began, school groups were also taken to the beach to learn about beach ecology (water temperature, wind speed, salinity) and to the trail to learn about salt marsh ecology.

There is also an Outreach component under Education, and the Educator basically takes students out on a boat and teaches them about the kinds of fish/organisms that they catch. The Educator is also solely in charge of exhibitions, touch tanks (for kids to touch the animals and learn about them) and any other outreach-related stuff.

This is a diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. It is believed to be the only turtle that survives in brackish water areas and it is named for the diamond pattern on its carapace. Adult females are usually bigger than the males because the females need to carry eggs in them. The females lay an average of 8 - 12 eggs in a clutch, and they typically lay only one nest in the 6-week-long nesting season, though some terrapins have been documented to lay more than once in the season.

From Southern California, I flew across the United States to Philadelphia where I was picked up and drove to the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, where I will be for the next 10 weeks. I took 2 days to do some grocery shopping, catch up on my sleep and to settle down before the internship began.

May 26th was Memorial Day, so together with 3 other interns from the Wetlands Institute, we walked to Stone Harbor to watch a Memorial Day parade. It wasn’t a very big parade in the sense that not many people participated in it but I would say that it was sufficient. I mean, the veterans participated in the parade, the police, the Fire Company, the local schools. In other words, those who were supposed to be there, were there

When the parade ended, we followed the crowd, and attended the “Memorial Day service” by the beach. The Star-Spangled Banner was raised and the national anthem was sung. The Borough of Stone Harbor and some other VIPs gave speeches and honour was also given to Sean, a young army who had just returned from Afghanistan after 15 months.

When the ceremony was over, everybody walked to the beach to watch the flower bouquets being placed into the Atlantic Ocean by the coast guards. It was a gesture to honour soldiers who have died in the wars.

Personally, I think Memorial Day is a very good day to honour all past armies (veterans) as well as current ones. I am not a US citizen, but I was touched by the ceremony. We may have a similar celebration (Hari Perajurit) to Memorial Day in Malaysia, but I am sure it is not very widely celebrated because I have never attended one before.

More pictures of the Memorial Day celebration here.

Up next: What’s at the Wetlands Institute?

Like Gnorb, I too, thought that I was “over” with playing tags or memes, whatever you call them. But I also figured that this would give you guys a break from reading about my journey so far (actually, I am the one who needed a break, LOL).

Yeah, so, 7 random facts? Easy-peasy

1. I always use grammatically-and-spelling correct sentences, either in emails, text messages or instant messages. I capitalize the first letter in my sentences. And I take a long time to read a text message if you used words that are too abbreviated.
2. I love anything-chocolate. Chocolate moist cake especially. Chocolate donuts. Chocolate milk. Chocolate cookies.
3. I will go to GREAT lengths to keep my promises.
4. I am not good at saying “No” whenever somebody asks for a favour. And at one point, I was living my life for other people instead of for myself. But I’m getting there..!
5. I always get up a few minutes before the alarm goes off. Which makes me wonder if I really needed an alarm clock in the first place.
6. I am a very patient person. I do not get irritated or annoyed easily, but that doesn’t mean that I can be taken for granted.
7. I am most productive and motivated in the mornings, and I get things done whenever I am motivated. I am usually passive at nights, and night times are usually spent reading blogs and chatting.

And now, I am supposed to tag 7 other bloggers, right? Hahhaha, here goes:

1. Kristarella
2. Plastron
3. yenjai.net
4. Franklin
5. Yvonne Foong
6. Mei Mei
7. YOU!