Last night (June 3rd) most of our students arrived, and we shared some dinner (takeout from Yano's) across the street from the Melekeok Statehouse. For most of the students, it was the first time they'd tasted taro (a staple starch in many tropical Pacific island cultures), and for some it was the first time they'd been near the Pacific Ocean.
Melekeok is about half way up the east coast of Babeldaob (the largest island in the Palau archipelago), is the official seat of the Palau national government, and is home to a number of beautiful and unique habitats, include Ngardok Lake (where we'll go participate in a bioblitz on 6 June). It's also home to lots of great Palauan people, who we're very thankful for, especially all the great folks at the Melekeok State Office, and the Ngardok Nature Reserve.
In the picture above, the Pacific Ocean is about 4m beyond (to the East of) the students. Melekeok is about 7.5 degrees north of the Equator, which means that it's pretty much all ocean to the east of the students for almost 2,000 km until you get to Chuuk, and then another 2,000km beyond that before you get to Ailinglaplap atoll (Marshall Islands).
Then it's pretty much just ocean for more than 10,000km until you get to Isla de Coiba, just of the coast of Panamá.
Below, you can see the students practicing snorkeling with guest instructor Anuschka Faucci (from Leeward Community College) in the ocean they only heard last night. For the rest of the day, the students will spend time getting comfortable in their new surroundings, and making observations of the nature in and around the village we're staying at.
Melekeok is about half way up the east coast of Babeldaob (the largest island in the Palau archipelago), is the official seat of the Palau national government, and is home to a number of beautiful and unique habitats, include Ngardok Lake (where we'll go participate in a bioblitz on 6 June). It's also home to lots of great Palauan people, who we're very thankful for, especially all the great folks at the Melekeok State Office, and the Ngardok Nature Reserve.
In the picture above, the Pacific Ocean is about 4m beyond (to the East of) the students. Melekeok is about 7.5 degrees north of the Equator, which means that it's pretty much all ocean to the east of the students for almost 2,000 km until you get to Chuuk, and then another 2,000km beyond that before you get to Ailinglaplap atoll (Marshall Islands).
Then it's pretty much just ocean for more than 10,000km until you get to Isla de Coiba, just of the coast of Panamá.
Below, you can see the students practicing snorkeling with guest instructor Anuschka Faucci (from Leeward Community College) in the ocean they only heard last night. For the rest of the day, the students will spend time getting comfortable in their new surroundings, and making observations of the nature in and around the village we're staying at.
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