WAKA WAKA

Hello!

So I now have just over one month until I leave for study abroad!  I've watched some of my friends leave already, and this is just making me more excited!  And with the juniors leaving, it's left me with the start of the ABROAD BLOGS!  My favorite procrastination technique during the fall is starting, and I still can't believe that it's starting now - it's only mid July!

Really the only thing I'm NOT looking forward to is the flight there.  I love to travel, to see new places, meet new people, and try new things, but I detest the actual traveling part of traveling.  Sitting down for a long period of time is like my own personal torture, and combining that with airports, sitting next to people I don't know, and feeling gross from not showering makes traveling the actual worst.  My longest flight is from Washington DC to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a trip of about 14 hours.  And that doesn't count the flight from Boston to DC, Ethiopia to Zanzibar, and layovers.  I leave at 6am on August 21st and get in to Zanzibar at 4pm on August 22nd, local time.  But I know it will all be worth it when I land and see that crystal clear ocean!

With that, since I get asked so often both "Why Zanzibar?", and "Where's Zanzibar?", I thought I'd break down some simple demographics of the island.  This is one of the struggles of studying abroad in Africa - nobody seems to know where exactly you're going (and to be honest, I had never heard of Zanzibar until I applied for the program there).

Probably the biggest reason I continually am asked questions about Zanzibar is that no one from the University of Denver has ever studied abroad there.  Being the first DU student to go on my program is so amazing, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to pave the way for other students to study there in the future.  But why Zanzibar in particular?  I've done the Europe thing, I've done the Australia thing, and I've done the Central America thing.  Each trip was life-changing (and I mean that literally, I came back a different person than when I left) and breathtaking and I learned so much, but I wanted to travel someplace completely off the map, someplace I knew I would probably never have a chance to visit again.  And the places I've visited have not been very different than what I've grown up knowing.  Since my first tour at DU, I knew I wanted to study abroad in Africa.  I wanted to live somewhere with a completely different culture than my own, and also somewhere I could study marine biology, which has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl.  When the official packing list for my program stated that I was REQUIRED to have my own mask, snorkel, and fins because I would be in the water EVERY. SINGLE. DAY., I knew I found the place for me!

First question: Where is Zanzibar?

Second Question: Is it even a country?

Not quite - In 1964, the island of Zanzibar joined with the nation of Tanganyika to form what we now know as Tanzania.  So no, it's not its own country, but Zanzibar does have its own flag, much like the US states have their own flags!  Below is the flag, and then my copy of it I painted onto my sorority letters (of course!).  The Zanzibar flag, while it is for the island, incorporates the flag of Tanzania in the upper left-hand corner to show their merge with Tanzania. 

Third Question: How big is it?

Zanzibar is only 1,023 square miles.  That number means nothing to me, so I looked it up in comparison to what I do know - US states!  To put it in perspective, Rhode Island, the smallest US state, is 1,212 square miles.  So in conclusion, the island is TINY.  Which is going to be awesome, because that should mean a constant sea breeze, right? 

Fourth Question: (I've actually been asked this) Is that where they speak the clicky language?

While I am traveling to a third-world country, it doesn't mean that there is no development.  Although the population of Zanzibar is more than 99% Muslim, the three main languages are Kiswahili, English, and Arabic.  What's Kiswahili?  It's the same as what we call Swahili, but the word Swahili encompasses the entire culture, not just the language.  However, the indigenous music is this awesome combination of African and Arabic influences, and I'm excited to listen to it live - but for now I have to settle for YouTube:

Fifth Question: Do you have to wear one of those things that covers your head?

There is a large amount of Arabic influence on the island, and is reflective in the people and the architecture around Zanzibar.  Native women can choose to cover themselves fully if they wish, but it is not required of visitors.  However, visitors are strongly recommended to be more covered than what Americans are used to.  This basically eliminates my entire summer wardrobe: sundresses, shorts, and tank tops.  But it has given me a great opportunity to buy some new clothes!  So I subsequently went out and bought a few maxi skirts, loose-fitting shirts, and the coolest pair of pants I have ever owned and probably ever will own.  See below.  But to be honest, I'm kind of jealous of the women who wear hijabs or burkas, because they never have to worry about a bad hair day - especially because no one wants to see my hair in high humidity.   

Sixth Question: Anything interesting ever happen there?

In my perusing of the internet for fun facts about Zanzibar, I came across this little tidbit: Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar.  Um, yeah, THE Freddie Mercury.  Having been a Queen fan for as long as I've been a music fan, I'm extremely excited to study in the birthplace of such an amazing person and someone who was part of a generation of music that I sincerely wish I was alive to see.  

Seventh Question: Is it safe for Americans to be there?

Now this is the question I've gotten from every parent I've talked to about studying abroad in Zanzibar.  I always reassure them that my university would not send me to somewhere that wasn't safe.  The worst thing I have to worry about is pick-pocketing.  One of my biggest fears, though, is offending the culture of the natives. A big point my program made was that the two biggest complaints they get about their American students is that they dress inappropriately and drink too much.  The absolute last thing I want to do is offend someone, and have that be the lasting impression of all Americans.  And being a white person, I will be a minority (something I have never experienced), and I don't need to draw negative attention to myself.  I have traveled twice as a student ambassador with People to People International with the goal of changing viewpoints of Americans.  I hope I succeeded then, and I hope to succeed during my four months in Africa.  

I had such a fun time compiling all this info and I learned so much, so I hope you did to!

Thanks for reading!

Kim

Works Cited

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html

http://www.africaguide.com/country/zanzibar/culture.htm

SCIENCE of the Mantis Shrimp

Hello All,

So some of you may have seen the following infographic from The Oatmeal about the amazing eyesight of the Mantis Shrimp.  This infographic subsequently made the Mantis Shrimp my spirit animal.

Upon reading this infographic, I immediately wasted hours on the internet seeing how much of this was true.  Actually, there is a lot we don't know about mantis shrimps, mostly because they are solitary and spend most of their lives in crevasses, but there are about 400 species of them currently described.  And the name "Mantis" came from their similarities in hunting to the praying mantis insect.  And now I'm breaking down this infographic into myth and reality.

1. The Mantis Shrimp has SIXTEEN color-receptive cones (Humans have three), so they must see an amazing spectrum of colors that we can't even imagine.  

Yes, their biology shows that they do in fact have 16 receptors, this hasn't been shown to translate into extremely precise color distinction.  A study done at the University of Queensland in Australia trained a species of mantis shrimp to recognize a particular color.  They were then given the opportunity to choose between a burrow of that color and a color similar to it on the spectrum.  When the colors were different (think teal versus turquoise), the mantis shrimp were able to discern the color, but when the colors got closer and closer in similarity, the shrimp did no better than just making random guesses.  Humans can distinguish between as small as 1 nanometer of color, but the mantis shrimp wasn't able to accurately discern between 15 nanometers.  However, they can see ultraviolet (UV) light, something we will never see.  So basically, they can see a wider spectrum of color, but not each color individually.  But wait, UV light should be damaging, right?  Not for mantis shrimp!  They have a biological sunscreen that both allows them to see UV light and protects their eyes and the rest of their body.  They are also the only animals that can detect circularly polarized light (light waves that form a spiral pattern.  I don't know what it is either).  But check out its eye movements!

     

2. They're actually super colorful.

I'll let you decide (hint: if you think no, then you're wrong)

3. The mantis shrimp is an undersea nightmare.  

Actually, they spend most of their lives by themselves.  They are very smart animals, able to recognize their neighbors and display defense mechanisms against those neighbors.  They can go through over 20 breeding episodes, and both sexes take care of the eggs.  In some species, the shrimps mate for life, and can stay with their partner for over 20 years (mantis shrimp have a very long lifespan).  So I would say that they make good parents, only kill for food, and are smart enough to stay away from predators, so I would give this a rating of "myth".  

4. Its front appendages can accelerate at the same velocity as a rifle.  This makes the water boil at several thousand Kelvins.  

There are two hunting techniques of mantis shrimps depending on the species: smashing and spearing.  Smashing involves using their clubs to crack the shells of their prey and eat the insides, while spearing involves using barbs to stab soft animals like fish and allow the shrimp to cut their meat.  The hit of the smashers may reach the power of a .22 bullet.  They are called "thumb splitters" because they can inflict deep cuts into fingers when handled.  No concrete evidence as to the water boiling, temperatures that high, or sparking water.  And there are plenty of videos and articles to show this (lack of) evidence.

5. The mantis shrimp primarily kills via dismemberment.  

Watch this cool video that shows how a mantis shrimp attacks a crab to find out!  After the initial few strikes, you can skip forward to 2:00 to watch more.  And while it's definitely not the diabolical soul-crushing death that was described in the infographic, but still cool to watch.

6. Their armor is a template for building new body armor.  

Recently, a material based on the exoskeleton structure of mantis shrimp has been created, and it's stronger than what is currently used in airplane frames!  What's so cool about its armor?  It is of particular interest because it can withstand thousands of intense impacts (the appendages of death).  The structure of the cells of the exoskeleton is a new design, and the special stacking of the cells that is seen in the armor is what is being copied.  Who knows?  We already ride in planes modeled after sharks, maybe we'll soon fly in planes made of mantis shrimp armor.

7. They break glass in aquariums.  

While mantis shrimp seem to have the power to do so, they don't seem to want to.  They are held in aquariums often, and even sold as pets.  Mantis shrimp seem to only use their appendages of death when directly threatened, by someone poking at it with a stick or when there is food present.  They don't just attack, as what it seems like in the infographic.  A simple YouTube search can find that mantis shrimp are kept in aquariums all around the world with no issue.  

So that's my breakdown of The Oatmeal's infographic.  They definitely hit on the amazing things about the mantis shrimp, but there are some areas where they should have done their research first before posting.

Also, you can buy mantis shrimp plushies!  I don't have $40 to buy one, but maybe for Christmas?

So although the mantis shrimp isn't all it was cracked up to be by The Oatmeal, it's still my favorite animal, and I hope you enjoyed reading!

Kim

Works Cited

http://life-sea.blogspot.com/2012/06/life-of-mantis-shrimp.html

http://wildthings.sarahzielinski.com/blog/what-the-oatmeal-might-have-gotten-wrong-about-mantis-shrimp/

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/mantis-shrimp-use-natures-sunscreen-tune-uv-vision

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/mantis-shrimp-inspired-material-stronger-airplanes

Happy Freedom!

Happy Independence Day Weekend Everyone!

So this weekend was just about the most patriotic that most Americans ever get.  It's great to live in a country where the citizens celebrate the day we declared our independence with the most American themed things we can think of - BBQs, burgers, coleslaw, and apple pie!  While I love the pride and patriotism I see on the 4th, I wish that we as Americans could be in a similar mindset every day of the year.  I understand that sometimes it's really hard to love America all the time - we definitely have things we need to work on from our elected officials to destroying stereotypes to our school system - but there are so many things to love.  I love our "don't-take-no-shit" attitude, our ability to express what we strongly believe in, our genuine want to help people, even if we don't always go about it in the best ways.  And if you were on Tumblr at all during the 4th, you've definitely seen the extreme patriotism displayed on the website.  Highlights are below (in conclusion, Colbert is the best human being):

It's relatively well-known that I love America and truly appreciate the opportunities this country has given me.  I am very lucky to have been born in the USA and to have grown up here.  Trying to remind myself why I love my country so much isn't too hard - great education, beautiful landscapes, big cities, phenomenal food (food that we put our own twist on) but there are plenty of things we still need to make up for.  Not everyone in America has always been free.  

For example: you have your classic slavery examples, but does anyone remember the end of the Chinese Exclusion Act in the early 1880s?  How about the fact that women were not allowed to vote in this country until 1916?  The end of legal segregation in 1952?  Or more recently, outlawing the discrimination against Muslims in 2002?  Yes, this country has been "free" since 1776, but not all its citizens.  And this is still something we're working on - when are we going to make education accessible for all?  Or pay men and women the same amount for the same work?  There are so many ways in which citizens of the United States are not free, and while we are working our way there, total freedom isn't able to be celebrated yet.

On another note, according to Motovo Real Estate, I call the most patriotic state in the country home.   It's rather interesting that ranked #1 was South Carolina, which was the first state to secede, and driving around home, I definitely see more Confederate flags than United States ones.  But maybe it's the sincere sense of pride so common in being from the Southeastern US.  Maybe it's because I'm there now?

So to sum it all up:
1. I love America (NOT 'Murica, the US of A, or the Best Goddam Country on the Planet)
7.. I'm proud to be an American (not just because of the Lee Greenwood song, which is now one of the most downloaded songs on iTunes this weekend)
7. We need to remember that while we are celebrating our freedom from being owned by another country, we are still not completely "free".
6. Keep the patriotism up all year long, not just during the 4th, the World Cup, and the Olympics!

^see what I did there with the numbers?

And enjoy this awesome GoPro video of inside fireworks!

Happy Freedom Everyone!  Go out and rock your best America gear and celebrate your freedom every day of the year!

Kim

Dude, SCIENCE.

Hello All,

So this past week, I stumbled across a really powerful advertisement.  It was for Verizon Wireless, and was entitled "Inspire Her Mind".  According to the advertisement, 66% of female 4th graders say that they like science and math, while only 18% of college engineering majors are female.  While I'm not an engineer, I am a female in science, and these numbers speak to me as well.  The advertisement shows a young girl growing up to be of high school age, all while being told that she shouldn't do things are are not particularly considered "female".  She is told not to play with dirt, not to continue a science project, not to handle tools, all things that are encouraged in males.  She is told these negative things by who we can assume to be her parents (we don't actually see a parental figure in the advertisement, just hear their voices), so by the time she reaches high school, she is much more concerned with her looks than with the science she used to love.  Below is the advertisement:

I sincerely relate to Samantha.  I've always lived very close to the ocean, and my love for science started there.  Playing in the waves, observing the tide pools, and even collecting a few specimens of my own were some of my fondest memories as a little girl.  However, those moments are not captured in photographs.  The photographs I have from being a child are all from when I looked particularly cute or had a favorite dress on.  While I do look adorable in those pictures (just sayin'), I don't remember any of those experiences.  But if you look back and try to tell me the story of my life based on pictures, I should be this princess who loves glitter and thankfully plays sports (there are plenty of pictures of me from when I first started to play softball and ski).

^glitter face paint - those of you who know me now know that I would never let glitter get this close to me

Of the many times I'm sure this has happened to me, there is one that I remember quite distinctly.  I remember being probably around 8 or 9, when I found a dead fish in the lake I always hung out at in New Hampshire, and my first thought was to dissect it - I had never seen the insides of a fish before, and I had seen plenty of diagrams in books so I figured I should be able to do it no problem.  The first issue after I announced my intentions to my parents and their friends was that they weren't going to let me use a real knife - I had to use a plastic one.  And that I understand, I was young, but I could have just had some supervision.  After using my 8-year-old muscles to try to saw through this fish, I spilled some of the guts on the sand, and was then reprimanded for getting some fish blood on the beach.  Soon after that, before I even had the chance to look inside, I was made to throw it back into the lake.  I never wanted to dissect anything again until college.  I would be willing to bet that if I were a boy, I would have been allowed to cut the fish open.  

In the society we have grown up in, it has been the man's job to love sports, fix cars, play with computers, grill, build things, and partake in science (all of which I do, except for the fixing cars - but I do know how an internal combustion engine works and that has to count for something, right?).  This was mentioned in my sociology class, and it is a challenge I ask you to extend to every little girl you meet: When you first meet a little girl, refrain from letting the first words out of your mouth be "Well, isn't she pretty!".  We would never say this to a little boy, it would be something more along the lines of what he likes to do, or what sports he's playing.  Telling little girls they are pretty just extenuates the social idea that "pretty" is all girls need to strive to be.  Try telling that little girl that she is smart instead.  Even now, when my parents show their friends a picture of me, the person will comment on how grown-up I look, or how pretty I became, but not about what my college major is or what I plan to do as a career - my parents have to offer that information in addition to "Isn't she pretty?".  

^thankfully, I was signed up to play sports - and I learned quickly how to be the only female in a group (only girl on my team - also the only one smart enough to wear sunglasses in direct sunlight)

Basically, to be a woman in science, I feel like I have beaten the odds, which is not what it should feel like.  I shouldn't feel out of place when I am the only woman working in a genetics lab, or the one who has to help my male friends with chemistry.  I've grown tired of getting strange looks when I tell them what I want to do with my life, and the only comment they say is that "That's impressive for being a woman".  The biggest thing is, this doesn't just apply to the sciences, this applies to almost all the major types of work.  I had a friend who just graduated (graduated and employed) who was afraid to wear her favorite pink pants at work since she was working in a male-dominated field.  No woman should be afraid to express her femininity at work for fear of being scrutinized.  I hope she wears her pink pants often.  And in conclusion, please consider taking up that challenge I offered earlier that was offered to me in my sociology class: don't tell little girls that they are pretty.

Thanks for reading, as always,
Kim