tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74806724315783464852024-03-05T03:41:23.043-08:00TangstarScienceTangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-65432834937122962252014-12-11T14:01:00.002-08:002014-12-28T05:37:45.657-08:00T'was The Daze Before Christmas - A Holiday Letter to My Colleagues.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Inspired by Erica Colon's (Knitty Gritty Science) <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Twas-the-DAZE-Before-Christmas-Poem-1603373" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Daze Before Christmas TPT Freebie</span></a>, I decided to write my own for my colleagues, with my school specific references.<br />
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* <b>Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta </b>is one of the longest Indian names. We have many South Asian students in our school with challenging names to memorize. Many are quite beautiful sounding once you get the knack for it. I'm still working on this one though.<br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-55574624097254030142014-12-11T10:32:00.000-08:002014-12-28T05:38:11.843-08:00TPT Sellers Giving Back for the Holidays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm a very lucky person, as my husband reminds me of all the time. Just because I live where I do, I am a part of the 99% of the richest people in the world. I don't have to worry about my next meal, where I will lay down my head at night, my physical safety or having any of my needs met. Heck, I also have most of my wants met to boot. Sometimes it's difficult to keep this in perspective when we're constantly bombarded with messages that tell us to strive for more and more stuff or that we don't have enough yet.<br />
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I want to hold on to this perspective that I am in this lucky 99% majority. This December I would like to give back to those not as fortunate. One of the student led groups at my school called VON (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/VONatSatec?fref=nf" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Volunteer Now</span></a>) has been raising money to build a school in Sierra Leone.<br />
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This is their Free the Children's <a href="http://www.freethechildren.com/get-involved/toolkits/brick-by-brick/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Brick by Brick Campaign</span></a>. It will take $10 000 to build the school house. As access to education is an issue near and dear to me, and I would love to support the students at my school, I'm going to try to put a dent in that figure and I would invite you to help me.<br />
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On Sunday December 14th, <span style="color: blue;"><b>100% of the earnings I make on TPT will be going to Free the Children's Brick by Brick campaign</b>.</span> Every dollar you spend in my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tangstar-Science" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">TPT store</span></a> on this day will go to this cause. Why not get some useful educational resources and help build a school overseas at the same time? Sunday is usually my best sales day so I am very excited for VON and their Brick by Brick Campaign.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzG1sQN5l4Qutzl64HbB3rRJ9yn6ukUo1safV56m616YWm3aX-6YBp-l5S9VIh5HyJW9ySQ9yGWdOv-nF63na3JFgu4QlFzyOaRrhzNZLk5Uhy16ErIzB8jQqhNPM4OwX1amp1BBkWcyQ/s1600/school+-+deltet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzG1sQN5l4Qutzl64HbB3rRJ9yn6ukUo1safV56m616YWm3aX-6YBp-l5S9VIh5HyJW9ySQ9yGWdOv-nF63na3JFgu4QlFzyOaRrhzNZLk5Uhy16ErIzB8jQqhNPM4OwX1amp1BBkWcyQ/s1600/school+-+deltet.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Other teacher authors on TPT have also decided to make December 14th their day for giving back and I invite you to happily purchase products from these talented teachers as well.</span></b> Each has their own charity they would like to give back to. Please check them out.<br />
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I would like to give special thanks to Erica Colon (<a href="http://nittygrittyscience.blogspot.ca/2014/12/tpt-sellers-are-giving-back.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Nitty Gritty Science</span></a>) for being the kind mastermind behind this idea and rounding all of us up for this Great Day of Giving Back.<br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-27998680785961084492014-10-26T13:26:00.000-07:002014-10-27T21:34:11.422-07:00Teaching Science Using Zombies!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Who doesn't love a good zombie? Over the last decade, a slew of successful movies and now AMCs t.v. series, <i>The Walking Dead</i>, have cemented the zombie as everyone's favourite monster. The zombie apocalypse has become the backdrop on which every human story can be told. In this nightmarish zombie dystopia, the human condition can be eviscerated and bared to the bone. There are endless opportunites for humans to sink into depravity, connect with the primal, attain glory and seek redemption. Riveting stuff.<br />
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I love the zombie trope, and so do many of my students who have been initiated into fandom through <i>The Walking Dead</i>.<br />
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I decided to celebrate zombies by making an activity that uses the idea of zombies to teach scientific concepts. This is especially fitting because it's now October which means that:<br />
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<li>The new season of <i>The Walking Dead</i> has started.</li>
<li>All Hallow's Eve is almost upon us and kids are primed to respond to all things creepy, scary and blood encrusted.</li>
<li>Yesterday, thousands of zombies descended on Toronto. I'm not even joking!</li>
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Toronto loves a good zombie, even our infamous mayor, Rob Ford. Here is Ford partaking of a choice bite at one of the Annual Toronto Zombie Walks.<br />
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To celebrate Halloween and my love of zombies, I created an activity called <i>The Science of Zombies</i> that uses zombies to teach several different scientific concepts: transmission of contagion, rabies, prion diseases, brain damage, congenital insensitivity to pain, hyperthyroidism and tapeworms. I've never had so much fun making a resource before. My love of zombies, plus my love of creating engaging student resources, were perfectly married in this endeavour.<br />
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I couldn't help myself, I used this product in my own classrooms last week. I couldn't wait until Halloween! I gave it to my Gr.12 Biology Class, as well as left it as a sub plan for my Gr.9 Science Class. Both classes were very engaged and learned a lot of science!<br />
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<b>THE SCIENCE OF ZOMBIES product includes:</b><br />
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(1) 6 page article (with diagrams)<br />
(2) 2 page question worksheet with answer key {editable}<br />
(3) 1 page zombie apocalypse survival guide {editable}<br />
(4) 1 page crossword {editable}<br />
(5) 1 page quick mark quiz {editable}<br />
(6) 2 page lesson implementation guide<br />
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I always put my science articles in Duotang booklets to save paper and photocopying costs. After printing them out and inserting them to Duotangs, I had a whole class set. The prepared Duotangs were perfect when I had to use the article for an emergency sub plan since all the supply teacher had to do was photocopy the worksheets that accompanied the article.<br />
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Below is a link to the full product if you want to take a gander.<br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-76170175317804041402014-06-11T20:11:00.003-07:002014-06-12T14:02:29.292-07:00Get Your Teaching Blog Designed by a Professional<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Need a teaching blog professionally done? Try these designers!</span></b></td></tr>
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I recently played around with the idea of getting my teaching blog professionally designed by a designer who has experience designing teaching blogs (i.e. knows what a teacher blog needs and who a teaching blog appeals to, and can make a great blog on a teacher's budget).<br />
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I went to the TPT forum to ask teachers who designed their teaching blogs. I got a list of blog designers who all have happy customers and I thought I'd post the list here in case any teacher is looking for a pro to make their blog. I've looked at all of their websites and there's tonnes of talent here. Some of them ares also sellers on TPT so they will know quite well, what TPT seller will need to promote their blog. I'm sure you'll find a designer to meet your needs from the ones below. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><u>A List of 9 Recommended Blog Designers</u></span></b><br />
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<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://templatesbytenille.blogspot.ca/p/recent-design-portfolio.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Templates by Tenille</span></a></td>
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<br /></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://the3amteacher.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The 3am Teacher</span></a></td>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctxw5aXJedvMPgDUMkBVtzEohowsPWd26_K6g8LLOZ0dRl5V9OvnMNJCXuiJSJMzhksbsDgUpnCecmuC2siUtwW1xeWg8ON1pJ8UOiVhasclBsesETu6ctJQNJ813w7jWuzmiSvhyphenhyphenypk/s1600/A+Bird+in+the+Hand+Designs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctxw5aXJedvMPgDUMkBVtzEohowsPWd26_K6g8LLOZ0dRl5V9OvnMNJCXuiJSJMzhksbsDgUpnCecmuC2siUtwW1xeWg8ON1pJ8UOiVhasclBsesETu6ctJQNJ813w7jWuzmiSvhyphenhyphenypk/s1600/A+Bird+in+the+Hand+Designs.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://www.abirdinhanddesigns.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">A Bird in the Hand Designs</span></a></td>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5RBRZP8B9gNvd0SlCd7PmZ7SffgI0VdRrssFAVCeXsqyqP2aQzogp95Nt7IKyDcfKOZeMwFXdk0WxowMXR7B9wU6MrM4jHJKRiYnkPLvH-9xjEunKSdPT3GwlGnsgaCeuJik9Bh8Hk0/s1600/Designs+by+Cassie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5RBRZP8B9gNvd0SlCd7PmZ7SffgI0VdRrssFAVCeXsqyqP2aQzogp95Nt7IKyDcfKOZeMwFXdk0WxowMXR7B9wU6MrM4jHJKRiYnkPLvH-9xjEunKSdPT3GwlGnsgaCeuJik9Bh8Hk0/s1600/Designs+by+Cassie.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://designsbykassie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Designs by Kassie</span></a></td>
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<br /></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://blogsfitforaqueen.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Blogs Fit for a Queen</span></a></td>
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<br /></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://crayonboxlearning.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Crayonbox Learning</span></a></td>
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<br /></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The Cutest Blog on the Block</span></a></td>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshNFozvyHtQ9oTwlOOP6FHMVFOA-vvvS_cgq-QYjWI5Eht3mmXZle0t2j7_m75Ptv0pr5m5OzzBlT6JubOgSKiraBuFzKfunVWzgre1DJJVDKof1ApspcpRz2r7D-H3QF8HjBZgX1erc/s1600/Designs+by+Christi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshNFozvyHtQ9oTwlOOP6FHMVFOA-vvvS_cgq-QYjWI5Eht3mmXZle0t2j7_m75Ptv0pr5m5OzzBlT6JubOgSKiraBuFzKfunVWzgre1DJJVDKof1ApspcpRz2r7D-H3QF8HjBZgX1erc/s1600/Designs+by+Christi.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></td>
<td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://www.designbychristi.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Designs by Christi</span></a></td>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69BsLDfWmW-Ja5lVZc-MIEtzHZJhfhDIJoeZ8ojRWxNc0Pv_OFyI4cp6K5floUhbXoP9s6WHbVkFEh0HhcgiUjuqz2rnAzxn1eF1EwT3KT8FSFAiDAYiaLrvEywDvUix0VtvZ_LliTMg/s1600/Digital+Doodle+Designs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69BsLDfWmW-Ja5lVZc-MIEtzHZJhfhDIJoeZ8ojRWxNc0Pv_OFyI4cp6K5floUhbXoP9s6WHbVkFEh0HhcgiUjuqz2rnAzxn1eF1EwT3KT8FSFAiDAYiaLrvEywDvUix0VtvZ_LliTMg/s1600/Digital+Doodle+Designs.jpg" height="272" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<td valign="top" width="70%"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><a href="http://digitaldoodledesigns.blogspot.ca/p/home.html" target="_blank">Digital Doodle Designs</a></span></td></tr>
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-50644440458202162492014-06-04T14:30:00.001-07:002014-06-09T20:59:33.985-07:00How to Make Larger and More Effective Pins for Pinterest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Most pinners pin their product directly from their TPT store, TN store or their own blog. My suggestion is to custom make your own Pins for every product before you pin it on Pinterest.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Why make pins larger? </span></b><br />
1) They get noticed more if they are larger, leading to more repins.<br />
2) You can customize what information is on the Pin. You are not limited to only what images are available on your website.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-NmUidIgVs3QLIN8hYZCEUekmdsk5QeGNy7PKZL1fqA6ts4iDwvbT7OlBDV5ffWATBnIv1b0RveNwWCTPM1z95HwlrglYn7ZrgIfp_tChonqD7nRjSxq-eqeyOOEQQq4ajyQr1-bhlI/s1600/17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-NmUidIgVs3QLIN8hYZCEUekmdsk5QeGNy7PKZL1fqA6ts4iDwvbT7OlBDV5ffWATBnIv1b0RveNwWCTPM1z95HwlrglYn7ZrgIfp_tChonqD7nRjSxq-eqeyOOEQQq4ajyQr1-bhlI/s1600/17.png" height="800" width="432" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><u>How to make pins larger</u>.</span></b><br />
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<a name='more'></a>1) You should use whatever program you use to make covers for your products. Photoshop or PowerPoint seem to be the most common. Below are instructions for PowerPoint as this program is what I use.</div>
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2) Make a Pin that is as long as you want it to be. For people using PowerPoint, you can change your slide size by clicking on: "Design" > "Page Setup". A field will open up where you can change your slide orientation to landscape and resize the canvas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu0VSIfuGOCTREtpST7OvxA0RcVrjSerk3pJklmFXmsuYk5gQYK2Ig_T0mAfqufKc6MBd9HnobtK7x7WOmLxAmJUiNtD7m6dIuD4wkqgiDsbnhmHM6HpAkh93L5NF83UwTQWaeANw6mw/s1600/PowerPoint+with+Numbered+Step+to+Change+Slide+Size.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu0VSIfuGOCTREtpST7OvxA0RcVrjSerk3pJklmFXmsuYk5gQYK2Ig_T0mAfqufKc6MBd9HnobtK7x7WOmLxAmJUiNtD7m6dIuD4wkqgiDsbnhmHM6HpAkh93L5NF83UwTQWaeANw6mw/s1600/PowerPoint+with+Numbered+Step+to+Change+Slide+Size.png" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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3) Your slide should now be larger and you can make your design.<br />
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4) When you are finished making your custom Pin, you click "Save As" and choose PNG (an image form). Note where you have saved the file!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8WJID-8rLDqYknB5Ms7_9cUD5FhphAJR0s9O8nKsDS-SmTw74AZm5LjzIzVdc4KH9dwiq0T0aIcwI_9Olr3OrqW-CD7_E1RZ0yrWBmQh9jc_Tt5WuTPL2ay8MDGisvVKY7JNvjPiDDA/s1600/15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8WJID-8rLDqYknB5Ms7_9cUD5FhphAJR0s9O8nKsDS-SmTw74AZm5LjzIzVdc4KH9dwiq0T0aIcwI_9Olr3OrqW-CD7_E1RZ0yrWBmQh9jc_Tt5WuTPL2ay8MDGisvVKY7JNvjPiDDA/s1600/15.png" height="361" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><u>How to upload your image on Pinterest</u>.</span></b><br />
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1) Go to your Pinterest account.</div>
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2) When you click on your Pins, the "Create a board' box turns into the "Add a Pin" box. Click onto that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQI4DxXNnVsD-5ucIDkoVL4F2e4BWDGEftJcbxYo-J0Uhp2dYgBn8OusSsoyEaKO0ygzzxI4m6l2osHFcg2Ue7hHcLHTgIVfnrOlFMoSMIAiPB-mWAXTMjMMDbSC_gSvgF0JASCiNtBU/s1600/21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQI4DxXNnVsD-5ucIDkoVL4F2e4BWDGEftJcbxYo-J0Uhp2dYgBn8OusSsoyEaKO0ygzzxI4m6l2osHFcg2Ue7hHcLHTgIVfnrOlFMoSMIAiPB-mWAXTMjMMDbSC_gSvgF0JASCiNtBU/s1600/21.png" height="379" width="640" /></a></div>
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3) A field will pop up like the one below. Choose to add a Pin from "Your Computer".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe9vpuEW3jw0aL8dSBdyMJrJTJ-IHYiRPdQ4EG-C4wl4vFKk3rOYPnbt_Q7iXGvIlLub-gqjWZeNFeNxqDw69iG-DVi35b5kHySby4JiN2YxzWPGxEgvsy9CqlZc2n31_OSXnrHd7gMQ/s1600/12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe9vpuEW3jw0aL8dSBdyMJrJTJ-IHYiRPdQ4EG-C4wl4vFKk3rOYPnbt_Q7iXGvIlLub-gqjWZeNFeNxqDw69iG-DVi35b5kHySby4JiN2YxzWPGxEgvsy9CqlZc2n31_OSXnrHd7gMQ/s1600/12.png" height="364" width="640" /></a></div>
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4) Choose the PNG image file you just made of your customized Pin. Pick the board you want to add it to then press the "Pin It!" button. Your Pin should now be pinned to that board. <b>But you're not done yet!</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">IMPORTANT:</span></b> Because you did not pin from a website, Pinterest has no idea what site your Pin should link to. You have to connect your Pin to the to the URL (http://yourwebsite.com) that you would like your Pin linked with. <br />
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5) You do this by clicking on the pin itself which will enlarge the pin. Look to the bottom of the Pin and you will find a "pencil" icon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS7G15W3SWvfWN4ofF4dKEHq6UPAffKlCHF8naiN5b5J5iEPt8YqNx7iCRW-kwpVi7TM4yjZwLXt5j2ACeiraJ-wme5nyNlGYzC7XG58oq5xZ61zfcPWCJUa09z9ISGLFLw1GhnjYJT0/s1600/13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHS7G15W3SWvfWN4ofF4dKEHq6UPAffKlCHF8naiN5b5J5iEPt8YqNx7iCRW-kwpVi7TM4yjZwLXt5j2ACeiraJ-wme5nyNlGYzC7XG58oq5xZ61zfcPWCJUa09z9ISGLFLw1GhnjYJT0/s1600/13.png" height="224" width="640" /></a></div>
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6) Clicking onto the pencil will produce a new field where you can insert your URL into the area titled "Source". Once you do that, your custom Pin is linked to your website. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKVB448hcgbgq73lYUbJH8uuxmYsnOO3gpyNq1NWaTX66PiS_efgMcx22XWXhVBt_bulFNOfztesm7iBWmGViooyGMeGl5_1sgn5N4RGVaaNFwIn7i0HVCchCjCYDz3aOkqIWEFwe7YQ/s1600/11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKVB448hcgbgq73lYUbJH8uuxmYsnOO3gpyNq1NWaTX66PiS_efgMcx22XWXhVBt_bulFNOfztesm7iBWmGViooyGMeGl5_1sgn5N4RGVaaNFwIn7i0HVCchCjCYDz3aOkqIWEFwe7YQ/s1600/11.png" height="316" width="640" /></a></div>
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7) Double check to ensure that the Pin links to the correct URL by clicking onto the Pin and seeing if you are launched onto the correct site.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Try This Out!</span></b></div>
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-39926738757191326952014-03-01T09:13:00.000-08:002014-06-04T19:51:27.005-07:00Doing Teacher Burpees on Machu Picchu!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<u style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE EXPERIENCE</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">What does a biology teacher do on her year off to travel the world in 2013? BURPEES! As well as meeting the challenges of a low oxygen environment.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IqrLsp9FzAA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">These celebrational burpees were done after 5 days of high altitude hiking to the amazing ruins of Machu Picchu. Our little group was one of the first up the mountain to arrive at the ruins that last morning - start the climb at 5am! It was worth it. As you can see, the place looks deserted and it's like we have it to ourselves...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Though the air was thin, I still managed the burpees! My form is a bit off....I give myself a 3.5 out of 5 for burpees stylin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">(Psst!...don't be alarmed at my lack of a bum....it's just the way it is. Turns out you can do burpees without one.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">We didn't do the "Classic" Inca Trail because it was way too touristy. We decided to take the Salkantay Inca Trail because it didn't require a licence and it was much less traveled. It was also a much harder trek because we went to higher altitudes (I thought I was going to pass out on the day up to the alpine glacier). But the higher you go...the more beautiful your vistas. Totally worth it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFOKyoA9YeOdhkfQRIqiuGYjZAoYZ6rmypo5rm5b928JV9S8OIaX8kfzoJTe4rqJCYxc8ne79xo1PRhtHcUg71knca1j_XyxR2uDrOrVioI-YnpqIRXooM-yW2TOWwL_IaF0t-rh1Eh0/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFOKyoA9YeOdhkfQRIqiuGYjZAoYZ6rmypo5rm5b928JV9S8OIaX8kfzoJTe4rqJCYxc8ne79xo1PRhtHcUg71knca1j_XyxR2uDrOrVioI-YnpqIRXooM-yW2TOWwL_IaF0t-rh1Eh0/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This final summit was optional - I was so tired, but I wanted to see Machu Picchu from above. It was worth it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinukGR4_-RFma1-rY9nqoYNu8h9NeosE9_YkPg49O9Vup_aGhshX2wdU7MnHYdMObAO3Np7FMYY91M4p8pm4aE5zVvorYko3600MYQX5LQ6pcNGCkzV0nXvueVCalPvFBRzbL8O4BPqkY/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinukGR4_-RFma1-rY9nqoYNu8h9NeosE9_YkPg49O9Vup_aGhshX2wdU7MnHYdMObAO3Np7FMYY91M4p8pm4aE5zVvorYko3600MYQX5LQ6pcNGCkzV0nXvueVCalPvFBRzbL8O4BPqkY/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking through alpine glaciers to get to Machu Picchu.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRZsmxrmDAFky6GdyB7wY1VT0vsBnJ4r3au-sySHU1hlkKPlj9i0qAuu5Z_ZjypJVKoeCHccrVMSDUy3UNSWaRjivm-zVMKVbRIsv2QuBatKyr8PwoF8dwYIvkC1UzDB3Q4fQu8-5P2Y/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRZsmxrmDAFky6GdyB7wY1VT0vsBnJ4r3au-sySHU1hlkKPlj9i0qAuu5Z_ZjypJVKoeCHccrVMSDUy3UNSWaRjivm-zVMKVbRIsv2QuBatKyr8PwoF8dwYIvkC1UzDB3Q4fQu8-5P2Y/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took a detour to a different peak along our hike and found a glacial lagoon! So beautiful.</td></tr>
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The day before we started our trek, we were told by our guide that one of the other trekkers had dropped out due to serious altitude sickness. He started to develop water in his lungs several days before (high altitude pulmonary edema) and they had to fly him out to get treated. He would have died otherwise.<br />
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Calvin and I had already known that high altitude was a factor on this trek. In Toronto, we live at a measly 105 m above sea level. At the highest part of our trek we'd be reaching over 4600 m. Whoa! It is highly recommended that you spend several days acclimatizing at a higher altitude than you are used to before embarking on this trek. So we stayed in Cusco for several days (the city where most people get their Inca trail tour) which is located at 3400 m. Breathing seemed fairly normal in Cusco until you tried to exert yourself in any way...then it was difficult. Oh boy. Luckily for us, we'd been travelling around in high altitudes for several weeks...around 2000 m + so the effect of 3400 m wasn't as severe on us as it would have been on others. I didn't know what the effect of even higher altitude would be on us so I was a little worried.<br />
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If you look closely, you can see us hitting the different altitude markers on our trek. There was a bit of gasping at 3800m, but way more at 4600m.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpCGTObHmrqWZzXFWL1DFM30lTK5VFVpexbAeuIeof8aHjSpovSojA4ivji8egxAJ-5K3HDmMJrHCV0IUjs5zQhpGD54Jqbk8lWySmRgv377kdsd0UC8ut6DKhyphenhyphenUfu-Q26TtpE_T0jVs/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpCGTObHmrqWZzXFWL1DFM30lTK5VFVpexbAeuIeof8aHjSpovSojA4ivji8egxAJ-5K3HDmMJrHCV0IUjs5zQhpGD54Jqbk8lWySmRgv377kdsd0UC8ut6DKhyphenhyphenUfu-Q26TtpE_T0jVs/s320/IMG_0794.JPG" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkP6aMWcyXuo0cePNxDY6Yu87X2B-siIehvIP3MzLjR_xppUy7YeBIxhU-byX6BKJg2MoTHhdnUq8Inn9_hMXH-DDh-2GrKjXUk_XSPvw3LhX3cOYgMGrT4kUfBtpbtsrNmJpJtw9KM8/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkP6aMWcyXuo0cePNxDY6Yu87X2B-siIehvIP3MzLjR_xppUy7YeBIxhU-byX6BKJg2MoTHhdnUq8Inn9_hMXH-DDh-2GrKjXUk_XSPvw3LhX3cOYgMGrT4kUfBtpbtsrNmJpJtw9KM8/s320/IMG_0814.JPG" /></a><br />
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Some of us had altitude sickness pills but our guide Silvario (a local guide) told us not to take them. He said if we began getting mild symptoms of altitude sickness (headaches being one of the first signs) that we should just tell him and he would give us a natural remedy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SZKYgVfFzxMYq9jMwSEyWsmCokcW2VcndWtAPuR-fpDkdDamKM8v7p_VXqb6D2mgSn2YTuvbVlJKrOz749OvZaJe3J1K5iAUwdjshh2HpGi7plj-SLPp6BjuHDnmrv9nObOEsH-MWhQ/s1600/6a01348803faab970c014e86ec4d24970d-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SZKYgVfFzxMYq9jMwSEyWsmCokcW2VcndWtAPuR-fpDkdDamKM8v7p_VXqb6D2mgSn2YTuvbVlJKrOz749OvZaJe3J1K5iAUwdjshh2HpGi7plj-SLPp6BjuHDnmrv9nObOEsH-MWhQ/s1600/6a01348803faab970c014e86ec4d24970d-800wi.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
As a prophylatic against high altitude sickness he gave us coca leaf tea (coca leaves...yup...the stuff you make cocaine with)...to drink every morning. He would wake us every morning with a "knock" on our tent, unzip the flap and hand us a cup of the tea before we were even half awake. (I wanted to buy some of the tea to take back home but people said I might have a bit of trouble getting it through customs...even the coca candy I had been sucking on for days might be a hard sell.)<br />
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One day while trekking alongside Silvario, I asked him what his "natural remedy" for high altitude sickness was. He said he didn't want to tell me in case he had to use it on me. After saying that...what was he expecting me to do? Leave it at that? Of course not...I HAD to know. I kept on pressing him and he told me this story of another trek he had led several months ago. One of his trekkers had begun to experience constant and extreme headaches. It was getting worse despite taking altitude sickness pills. He was saying he wanted to go back. So Silvario gave him a "natural remedy" to drink before bed. The trekker experienced a miraculous recovery and finished the trek while taking the "natural remedy" for the next two days. What was it?!!!! I wanted to know. He said it was urine mixed in with the coca tea. His own urine. I am not even kidding you. This is what he said. After that I drank the coca tea he gave me every morning very reluctantly. I never developed even one headache. Hmmm....<br />
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On a slightly different note. I had to give props to Silvario. He was an awesome guide. He picked up over 50 plastic bottles that we found strewn along our trek (probably thrown there by other tourists) crushed them and then carried them all the way to our destination where he was able to dispose of them. He loved his country and the natural landscape and was really saddened to see such a beautiful place treated like a garbage heap. <br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>ABOUT HIGH ALTITUDE AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMANS</u></b></span><br />
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At sea level, there is roughly 21% oxygen in the air (the rest is mostly nitrogen gas which has no effect on us). Oxygen is at its most abundant at sea level (mostly because the effect of gravity is the greatest here and pulls all the gas particles of air towards the earth - the higher the altitude, the weaker the effects of gravity). As you increase altitude, the air, and hence oxygen, gets thinner.<br />
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At around 1500 m, people start being affected by altitude.<br />
At around 2400 m, people can start feeling symptoms of altitude sickness like:<br />
- headaches<br />
- loss of appetite<br />
- nausea, vomiting<br />
- water in the lungs (high altitude pulmonary edema)<br />
- water in the brain (high altitude cerebral edema)<br />
No one has lived over 5000 m for more than 2 years.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">How do you Adapt to Lower Levels of Oxygen?</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://scienceofcycling.org/training/high-altitude-training-live-low-train-high/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQSUwf5B4C2BAlVhZkoNSK43LUSua-J5P7XnzF_mInuyKUcQ9qcl1iDZdbiS_XjnuAl67rRKhD8GlO3nliJmRSthaLu958R9UKEBOJaV2rNcjkSb4qJPC7XIk8EKVNMT0YcD1CqkBBvA/s1600/cyclist-training-in-mountains.jpg" height="121" width="200" /></a></div>
The common idea that most people have is that when you live in higher elevations, you compensate for the decrease in oxygen by developing more hemoglobin and red blood cells. It is true that almost all people living in lower elevations will develop more red blood cells if they move on up. This is the basis of a lot of high altitude training for athletes. However, for people who have evolved in high altitudes for thousands of years, the effects vary depending on the ethnic group, habitat and the occurrence of mutations in the population. These differences are a great way of demonstrating natural selection in humans.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Tibetan Highlanders - High Altitude Mutants!</span></u></b></div>
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They hold the record for living permanently in the highest altitudes. There are over half a million Tibetan people living at over 4500 m in the Chantong-Qingnan area of the Tibetan Plateau (also called the "Roof of the World"). Here there is only 60% of the oxygen that is available at sea level. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100513-science-genes-dna-evolution-tibet-blood-high-altitude/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVkzGUKgkRzMat0oFmLPDI1pEoki0T-UdXpqlCaKWM1EXUX4FaXk7cxUFgPWfJ8V9sNupA-WWh0DV0fP6A_BMq1vN238H2mFZjTdE_4BtBaEPFgykxd-J1l0UGCY0ZKo4aj96EYWn_pQ/s1600/mountains-oxygen-air-breathing-tibetan-genetic-differences_20241_600x450.jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tibetan Highlanders</td></tr>
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<b>Tibetan Highlander Adaptations:</b><br />
- no elevated hemoglobin (this is quite remarkable)<br />
- they have higher lung capacity (larger lungs) and more rapid ventilation<br />
- better oxygen circulation at birth<br />
- better sustained cerebral blood flow throughout life<br />
- better capacity for exercise<br />
- over double the amount of nitric oxide in their blood which sustains vasodilation and increased blood flow throughout their body<br />
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Notice they don't have the typical altitude response that even I or you would have. No elevated hemoglobin?! <br />
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The Tibetans genetically broke away from the Mainland Chinese Han population less than 3000 years ago. Recently there has been a study to determine the differences in the genetics of these two groups in regards to their response to high altitude. The findings show the fastest observable (to date) example of natural selection in humans. In less than 3000 years, a 78% frequency difference in one of the alleles (a variation of a gene) that contributes to coping with low oxygen environments has divided the two populations. This is extremely fast evolutionary change. The mutant allele popped up in the Tibetan population around the time of the split between the Han and the Tibetans and it was extremely adaptive and spread like wild fire throughout the population. The gene is called EPAS-1, also known as a type of "Super Athlete Gene". Here's the kicker....the mutant gene codes for a decrease in hemoglobin concentrations!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJhC9PfTkF9Jp-vBdNk1pceLkCArvtTMyHso3yBJ4ABJFaRIyh2Tn675HPgEc0s6nf5iuUzUGEQumePqdl6a9ykwMSM1rp_LEvRpDY6GYHf47aKjXEDlSJgYHbWIHoiFa9o4g3MReoBE/s1600/Peeled-Garlic-Cloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJhC9PfTkF9Jp-vBdNk1pceLkCArvtTMyHso3yBJ4ABJFaRIyh2Tn675HPgEc0s6nf5iuUzUGEQumePqdl6a9ykwMSM1rp_LEvRpDY6GYHf47aKjXEDlSJgYHbWIHoiFa9o4g3MReoBE/s1600/Peeled-Garlic-Cloves.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking with Hemoglobin</td></tr>
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What are we to make of this? This is my speculation. They can't produce as much hemoglobin as even lowlanders, so when living in high altitudes, they had to develop different methods of coping with decrease oxygen content, and perhaps these methods are better than the body's knee jerk reaction of increasing hemoglobin when there is a decrease in oxygen content.<br />
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This would be my analogy. Cooking with garlic makes a dish delicious. Garlic is a cheap and easy fix. But if you remove the ability to use garlic (panic time) you have to use other more complicated ingredients and methods of cooking to make your cooking taste better, but in the end, maybe the dish will be even better than the garlic laden one.<br />
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So the Tibetans can't make more, hemoglobin in response to decreased oxygen. What do they do then? Basically everything else in the book to make up for it, and it seems as if everything in the book is better than garlic...er...I mean hemoglobin.<br />
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(The other two great highlander populations of the world are the Andean peoples and the Ethiopian highlanders. Neither populations exhibit this gene variation. Their main response to low oxygen levels is to increase hemoglobin and in some cases lung capacity. In other words...they use plenty of garlic.)<br />
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Wishing I was a high altitude mutant,<br />
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p.s. Note to self - next trip...Tibet!<br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-80408499861668972392014-02-08T19:57:00.000-08:002014-06-07T12:16:33.729-07:00Genetics BINGO Activity - This will hook the students on genetics!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Genetics-Bingo-Activity-1104477" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty6ER0sjC-g2THrBeSVatfnAA_Tx5kCKoX4Pg2xC_6amijlWqHDz4OxqBsql3_J18My1cyUubukpUiYcIW7PuvCYVKll_CVVXcxlkR7oBGmrBn5rEzmp_u_QyygxqrdCyxtizlMw1EMI/s1600/pinterest+cover.png" height="640" width="360" /></a><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Are your students sticking out their tongues, pulling on their ears, jacking up their thumbs and making (or trying to make) the Vulcan hand sign? YES!!! At least they will with this fun genetic traits activity which gets students to discover traits about themselves and their classmates they never knew they had!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">A fun activity for both students and teachers. Playing this game is a great way to get students interested in genetics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">May you live long and prosper, whether or not you can roll your tongue. ;)</span><br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-46920529598998261542014-01-18T23:02:00.001-08:002014-06-09T21:31:03.518-07:00Textbook Task Cards - Start Off your Science or Biology Course with Some Textbook Confidence!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Textbook-Task-Cards-A-great-opener-for-your-Science-course-1066782" target="_blank">Get them to use their textbook without prompting!</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i_wgGRodQN216LGSAppYABktQbCg2GeX8NpuQdsPF6uy4I8mWG23Lq5Nhyc-ZGx0To1M_C3-a5m7LOezoUE22Ck7-5mA33tdz15OxkCeWCTD8QouebpKk9Cskpg6-GYyutaSNTbNVh8/s1600/00+-+coverpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i_wgGRodQN216LGSAppYABktQbCg2GeX8NpuQdsPF6uy4I8mWG23Lq5Nhyc-ZGx0To1M_C3-a5m7LOezoUE22Ck7-5mA33tdz15OxkCeWCTD8QouebpKk9Cskpg6-GYyutaSNTbNVh8/s320/00+-+coverpage.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Biology-Textbook-Task-Cards-A-great-opener-for-your-Bio-course-1066012" target="_blank">They will realize how useful their textbook is.</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Often students do not get the most out of their science textbook because they either feel intimidated by it or they don't know how useful it can be. Starting off your science course with an activity that familiarizes the students with their textbook is a very handy way to ensure that they will use their textbooks more often, more effectively and without as much need for prompting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>TEXTBOOK TASK CARDS</b></span> to the rescue!</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I have designed a set of textbook task cards for both my science course as well as my biology course. They have been great and effective additions to my courses. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b>After this activity, students:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1) Are more comfortable using their textbook.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">2) Know what the the textbook has to offer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">3) Know where to find the information they need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">4) Are more likely to use the textbook more often and with less prompting. Self-sufficiency!</span><br />
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Take a look at these examples:</b><br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-16583005704789569952013-11-24T21:17:00.005-08:002014-06-07T12:17:43.284-07:00Healthy Blueberry Nut Bars for the Hungry Teacher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">I swear, there aren't that many chocolate chips!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b>"No Bake" healthy high protein snacks. Let's make them!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The Background: </span></b>I am a part of a staff fitness group (5 dedicated members) at school. We generally alternate between high intensity training, weights and core strengthening every morning (M-F) from 7:30am til 8:00am before classes. We all have different goals and mine in September was to gain 4lb-6lb of muscle by the end of the school year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I told my workout colleagues (I'm the only biology teacher) about the protein window and asked them if they wanted to take advantage of it by making some some healthy high protein snacks (the store bought ones are full sugar and unwanted additives).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I suggested to my colleagues that we start a protein snack exchange and that we could take turns (each teacher is responsible for one week) for making healthy protein snacks for the group so that everyone could take advantage of their protein window. 6 weeks and 6 yummy and healthy different high protein snacks later, it is my turn again.</span></div>
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I found a recipe for some blueberry nut bars. I think the work out crew will be very happy! They worked out perfectly - no cooking or need for a food processor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">(</span><b style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">A Little Science!</b><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Protein Window Theory: </span></b><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Up to 1 hour after working out there is a critical window when protein (and carbs) is most efficiently used by the muscles for repair - this helps the muscle grow bigger. This is pretty much a universally accepted theory in most exercise science camps - and yes, I am aware of the detractors to this idea...but hey...even if it isn't completely true...it's an excuse to have a healthy snack! Competing theories say that a protein window exists, but it is before the workout, and that the amino acids from the protein should be already in your system and ready for anabolic use by the time the workout is over. Eating after is too late.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The recipe below will fill one baking pan (can be cut into 16 bars) and I doubled the recipe to make enough for the crew and for my husband as well. They turned out awesome!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Fitness of Working out and Increased Protein Consumption:</span></b> No one in the staff workout crew takes exercise supplements, but we have all noticed an observable increase in lean muscle as well as performance over the last 2.5 months of working out together - we think that the protein snacks may be helping out, but the workout is the key. It's pretty exciting - my triceps are visible when I pick up a piece of chalk! I have triceps!</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">These are <b>vegan (if you don't use the honey)</b>, <b>gluten free</b>, and <b>refined sugar free</b> (if you don't use the dark chocolate chips.) No baking! Also, no additives and extra sugar like you'd find in store-bought power/energy bars. All my ingredients are organic, but if you don't buy organic, the bars should still turn out the same.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) Mix together these DRY ingredients:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1.5 cups of raw rolled oats *</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of dried blueberries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">3/4 cup of whole raw almonds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/2 cup of raw pistachios (unsalted) **</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/3 cup ground flaxseed/flaxseed meal (I used meal) **</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/3 cup raw walnuts (I broke mine apart roughly with a rolling pin to get smaller pieces)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/4 cup sesame seeds (I lightly toasted mine for a huge boost of flavour)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (These weren't in the original recipe but I couldn't help myself.)</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) Mix together these WET ingredients:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/3 cup of maple syrup or honey - I'm Canadian so you know which one I used - ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">1 cup of almond butter</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">3) Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">4) On a pan lined with parchment paper, spread out the mixture roughly to all parts of the pan.</span> </b> Put another piece of parchment paper on top of your mixture and press down firmly to spread and pack down the ingredients evenly. This works like a charm - quick and easy with no messy fingers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">5) Place the entire pan in the freezer for 1.5 hour then take it out and cut into the desired number of pieces.</span></b> I found that cutting 16 bars per pan is the best for a good healthy but filling snack size. Note: Cut them and pack them up fast so they stay hard and don't break apart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b style="color: blue;">6) Cut and place parchment paper dividers between each bar and store in sealed container in the freezer. </b>Can keep for weeks, but it will be a challenge to not eat them all in a few days!</span></div>
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* Pure oats contain no gluten. However, oats are usually processed in the same facilities that process wheat causing gluten contamination. This is not a problem for most people unless they have a severe gluten allergy or have <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/celiac-disease/DS00319">celiac disease</a>. For people with either of these conditions, oats that are labelled "uncontaminated" will be necessary to ensure gluten free oats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">** It is best if you have a supplier that keeps these stored in a refrigerated area when you go to purchase them. If they aren't, these ingredients in particular, lose a lot of their nutritional value quickly. (Same thing is true if you are ever purchasing wheat germ - it should never be bought in an unrefrigerated bulk area or unrefrigerated shelf.)</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>PHOTOS</u></span></b> <span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">- This isn't food network quality, but it will do.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Press down firmly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the batch you'll get from the recipe - 16 bars - sized just like the ones at the health food store.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use parchment paper to prevent sticking.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Original recipe from...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.inspirededibles.ca/2013/05/blueberry-bliss-breakfast-bars-raw.html"><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">http://www.inspirededibles.ca/2013/05/blueberry-bliss-breakfast-bars-raw.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The modifications I made to this recipe were: 1) I used sesame seeds instead of sunflower seeds 2) I added those delicious dark chocolate chips and 3) I used parchment paper to pack down the mixture. Otherwise, everything else was followed to a tee.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Try this out!</b></span></div>
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-68891658182029839342011-08-08T10:42:00.000-07:002014-06-03T09:59:01.175-07:00Befriending Camels at the Pyramids of Egypt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>ABOUT THE CAMEL</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">There are two types of Camels. One-humped camels are native to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa and the two-humped type (the Bactrian camel) is native to Central Asia. Contrary to popular belief, these humps are not sloshing around with water, but are instead filled with fat reserves for energy storage. This is a great adaptation that concentrates the fat away from the rest of the body so that camels do not contain much fat in other areas which would cause too much thermal insulation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Height:</b> </span>7 feet tall at the hump for adults</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Weight:</span></b><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"> 900 - 2200 lbs</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Life Expectancy:</span> </b><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"> 40-50 years</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Population:</b> </span>14 million, the vast majority of which are domesticated. They are used to make dairy products, used for meat and used for transport. The largest herds are in Ethiopia. The only truly wild camels left are the Bactrian Camels of the Gobi desert in China and Mongolia, with a population of less than 1000, they are endangered in the wild. The wild camels of North America went extinct 10,000 to 12,000 years ago with the expansion of humans on the continent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Special Adaptations: </span></b> They can live in a huge range of temperature and water conditions that would kill most animals. For example, they can withstand a 25% loss in body weight due to water loss. Most organisms will go into cardiac arrest before even losing 12% of their body weight in water. If water is available, they can drink 150 litres (40 gallons) of water in one sitting. They don't even begin to sweat until it reaches 41 degrees Celsius.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Beauty or Beast:</span></b><span style="color: #990000;"> </span> The word camel comes from an Arabic word meaning "beauty". I will leave it up to you to judge in the pictures below.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><u><b>THE EXPERIENCE</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">If you're in Egypt, you "have to" see the pyramids. However, I was told by people who had visited there before that the experience would be a let down because it would be crazy touristy. There would be no way to even get a picture of the pyramids without hordes of people in the background. However, being the opportunistic disaster tourists that we are, we decided to benefit from the lack of tourism in Egypt due to the aftermath of the Arab Spring. So off we flew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Take a gander at this photo. Unheard of sandy emptiness. It's like we rented the pyramids for ourselves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Yes, yes, the pyramids were pretty cool, but it was the camel, our one super mean and super ugly camel, that brought all the drama. I did not chose the camel even though I knew full well that I and my chosen little horse would look pretty wimpy next to the camel and Calvin. I think my horse even looks a bit demoralized.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo8qt7dboM9NvgfG_2gohJJM7r40y2PWiqoJmg7AxSI8YNqHQGttpNDuRB8ABUDtmb2MZEMs9c3IBaHS7x8K2gwEOkXFflPvZi3In0pE56g7GdIVrDyMplh24YyKn_vUa-vPNbkp2-Ug/s1600/DSC03408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyo8qt7dboM9NvgfG_2gohJJM7r40y2PWiqoJmg7AxSI8YNqHQGttpNDuRB8ABUDtmb2MZEMs9c3IBaHS7x8K2gwEOkXFflPvZi3In0pE56g7GdIVrDyMplh24YyKn_vUa-vPNbkp2-Ug/s640/DSC03408.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Us and our rides.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">But in all seriousness, the camel kept on baring his teeth at me (which was all covered in green vegetable slime bits) and flapping his lips every time I got near.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">It`s hard to make friends in the desert.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">He spat at me shortly after the shot above. Luckily only a bit of the green goo got on my sleeve. Still really gross.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I guess I was pushing my luck.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Trying to fight fire with fire.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Eventually I was convinced by Calvin and my guide that if I didn't try riding the camel I would be deemed a wimp forever. They seem easy enough to mount, until they pop up suddenly before you've even got your balance. I think though they are domesticated, they seem stubborn and independent minded in the end. I guess I wouldn't want to carry people on my back all day in 40 degree heat either.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Not close enough to see his yellow teeth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">That's the money shot. We look fearless and the camel even looks regal.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">It is hard to see in these photos, but this camel was covered in what seemed like tattoos, or inked brands on his skin that made him look like a decorative plate. You can see the star on his cheek.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The pyramids were a 8.5 out of 10.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The camel gets a 3 out of 10. At least this one does.</span><br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-49902532178389899482011-07-27T10:45:00.000-07:002014-06-03T03:29:51.277-07:00Trekking for Gorillas in Uganda<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN GORILLA</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Like much of the world's mega fauna, Highland (Mountain) Gorillas are endangered. Their range is in the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda (the green areas in the map.) My trek was in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (What a cool name, but it is obviously a misnomer.)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Home Range of the Mountain Gorilla</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The Scientific Name:</span><span style="color: #fce5cd;"> </span> </b>Gorilla Berengei Berengei</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Mass:</span><span style="color: #fce5cd;"> </span></b>200 kg - 230 kg (400 lb - 500 lb)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Height:</b></span><span style="color: cyan;"> </span>1.5 m - 1.8 m (5 ft - 6 ft)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Life Span:</b></span><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> </span>35-50 years</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Conservation Status:</span> </b>Critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Behaviour: </span></b> Social in groups of 5-30 with a mix of males and females. The silverback male (alpha male) rules and defends the group with a reign of roughly 5 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Predators:</span></b> Humans and leopards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Food Source:</b> </span> Leaves and seeds.</span><br />
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<u style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE EXPERIENCE</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I was told that there were only 650 of them left. I really wanted to see them (before they might go extinct). I was told that some of the hefty sum of the permit I was paying to see them would go to conservation. I had to justify the cost somehow!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Since we were tracking wild gorillas, there was no guarantee as to when we would find them or if we would find them at all. If we did, we would only get 1 hour with them to minimize the stress on the gorilla group. We could not get closer than 6 feet, and were under no circumstance to try to touch them due to the interspecies transmission of disease that could harm them. We can give them the flu!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The trackers would only take us to groups that were habitualized to seeing humans. Non-habitualized gorilla groups would pose a danger to us and themselves if they came into contact with humans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><u><b><br /></b></u>The first thing I remember when our tracker led us closer to the gorillas was his question "Do you smell them?" I paused and sniffed the air. I was searching for some foul smell, but all I could smell was something spicy. I said "I smell cinnamon". The tracker smiled and said, "Yes. That is them."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">We trekked for another 10 minutes before we saw our first gorilla, and to this day I shake my head at my ignorance. I had expected to burst through the thick forest into a clearing and see a group of gorillas sitting in a ring engaged in some social grooming. Yes, there's a lot of television's influence there. Instead we came upon a male gorilla obscured in the dense underbrush. There was nothing but dense underbrush for miles and miles around. No mediation circle of gorillas for me.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZGSm8_bplE8ilQ8w5x1IBKIlJHFmHbxP6p812oPc9gF_KQVGOBVtUReup9p-1app_3AV3lgQT_ZmQ3w2-DAQ9YAG0chbUL-R_YpmYjhy4aJQOFshv2LsJ-e93KV0qw5r3ibMOR9XpVI/s1600/Image00001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZGSm8_bplE8ilQ8w5x1IBKIlJHFmHbxP6p812oPc9gF_KQVGOBVtUReup9p-1app_3AV3lgQT_ZmQ3w2-DAQ9YAG0chbUL-R_YpmYjhy4aJQOFshv2LsJ-e93KV0qw5r3ibMOR9XpVI/s640/Image00001.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">My first ever sighting of a wild mountain gorilla.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">This big guy tolerated our stares and non-flash cameras for a while. Then he climbed over his log and then unexpectedly made a mini-rush at us. It was just two steps, but the speed of it was shocking after such a long period of slow grazing on the foliage. We were told that they might bolt towards us, but that the last thing we should do was run. (Here's a party trick. Try to hold back feelings of mortal fear and keep your feet planted at the same time!) We were told that the charging (or mock charging) was just a display to warn us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">He then stopped, stared at us for a bit before dismissing us to delicately choose choice leaves for his afternoon tea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">We bushwacked just a bit further into the forest and came upon a couple of juvenile gorillas. They were hanging just a couple of metres up in the trees. They, like their elder group member, were just chomping away slowly on leaves.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Juvenile Female Enjoys Her Time in the Trees.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">If you can't tell that this one is a juvenile, just notice that the small branches around her can actually still hold her weight. Again, she tolerated our delighted presence until she tried to move on. She climbed slowly across her branch until something funny and odd happened. In slow motion, I saw the branch bend more and more under her weight until she was hanging just a couple of feet from the forest floor. The branch then snapped and she tumbled down and did a couple of slow forward rolls down the slight decline of the forest before stopping to knuckle-walk away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The more I observed these creatures the more I marveled at how clumsy they seemed. Not majestic, but simply neat, clumsy and funny. Kinda like us humans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">This impression was cemented later when we ended up finding the silverback male of the group who proceeded to turn his back on us, release a near never-ending stream of urine and emit a couple of well aimed farts in our direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">At the time I went, there were less than 60 permits available a day for tourists to trek for Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi. The permits get sold out months in advance. I am never that well planned in advanced...but I lucked out due to someone's last minute cancellation and due to the fact that my partner is friends with a Gorilla Trek tour operator in Uganda. Thanks Wim! The regular operators offer packages that vary in price (mainly due to accommodations and transportation), but the going rate for most tour operators is between $800 - $1200 USD for one day of trekking. Save your pennies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Was it worth it? YES!</span><br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480672431578346485.post-52522106713520586102011-07-15T10:49:00.000-07:002014-06-02T20:59:12.085-07:00Ugandans Don't Need Gyms!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Don't judge my muscles next to him!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">North America has an obesity issue. I don't think it's deniable. We spend more money on weight loss: supplements, equipment, gym memberships and diet schemes than any other part of the world. Yet, we still remain fatter than most of it. There's no new information there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">But when you visit a place where the people are fit and yet eat nothing but carbs (yes....evil carbs) for all three meals, it brings home how different cultures treat their bodies in relation to their food and their level of activity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I asked to take a picture with one of the men helping to build the new kitchen at the Almond School (you can see the old kitchen in the back. It's just a shack.) I asked him if he ever went to the gym. A laugh was his response and then he shook his head for no.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I could've probably bounced a quarter off of his stomach, but I didn't want it to blind me when it ricocheted back into my eye.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I was slinging bricks and mortar myself, but I didn't look like the female equivalent of him.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Hefnaor6pnx0VYMk1L3n3ca2UEeXK9Qs28Ci5bZvQV5UR7lviwY_GxnvNgXO6b055jfDdKTXwbDppttCYd1kUjcLH-whPFxDsTJ-C9Xfzu_RQmTP7nhJ2NX2TLm-qfvvtCfpSpelybA/s1600/Image00043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Hefnaor6pnx0VYMk1L3n3ca2UEeXK9Qs28Ci5bZvQV5UR7lviwY_GxnvNgXO6b055jfDdKTXwbDppttCYd1kUjcLH-whPFxDsTJ-C9Xfzu_RQmTP7nhJ2NX2TLm-qfvvtCfpSpelybA/s640/Image00043.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Down and dirty.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">During my two week stay with the school I observed that the students ate almost nothing but unprocessed carbs: rice, posho (cornmeal), porridge and beans every day, since there was no money for meat, fruit or vegetables. They would be baffled by North America's obsession with the latest superfoods filled with antioxidants, the perfect protein levels, power bars, meal replacements, low carb diets and the proper daily portions of this, that and the other. Gluten free this, and lactose free that. They have never heard of peanut allergies. On the last day we were there we gave our students and kids at the elementary school slices of fresh pineapple and all of them saw it as a real treat.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGbpac8ChT7rPVtqf4M8UMDCe2Af-LcvVd23ThKGoksvUFO_GGfgWAP2TJeR7orSYqC8vt6y_KFyXIzILr4pczQNdW7bJ9nHRjsvwSAV9q1KEKLQ7SXHuL-Q8G4wt5632Sj1cjrEw5bw/s1600/DSCN4942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGbpac8ChT7rPVtqf4M8UMDCe2Af-LcvVd23ThKGoksvUFO_GGfgWAP2TJeR7orSYqC8vt6y_KFyXIzILr4pczQNdW7bJ9nHRjsvwSAV9q1KEKLQ7SXHuL-Q8G4wt5632Sj1cjrEw5bw/s640/DSCN4942.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sweet treats!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">They students pumped and carried litres of water everyday, played soccer and netball all the time (some of them even break-danced), and had no problems pitching in to help build the new kitchen and girls dormitory. And yes....it was hot.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj043bp7mRrqKZrnUPe0okvG-RTl6kur6IHnhxMCMZfZchacSPBVIx2UTc_R32Oox103FDQ8s2tJOwrci9daqDbB-8AtobJl8aSMZ0dfC5YGpaOesWBb2-YLMb_SJE0Ac_MsmHzqt-sZqM/s1600/DSCN4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj043bp7mRrqKZrnUPe0okvG-RTl6kur6IHnhxMCMZfZchacSPBVIx2UTc_R32Oox103FDQ8s2tJOwrci9daqDbB-8AtobJl8aSMZ0dfC5YGpaOesWBb2-YLMb_SJE0Ac_MsmHzqt-sZqM/s640/DSCN4931.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Imagine doing this everyday....and with a smile like this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtaD5jNRmF1LsoRwsSqD6-s7wuhW7nowhXt2fhGOApQKdMrkaA-SCMQ03XGCIDGsWpqCcY22H8WLUP1mjI4BKDPVcAIEmrzLpc7UJwb5m41aM87xRLzsIMMW0-xGnvzCvddpUbRQouBQ/s1600/Image00032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtaD5jNRmF1LsoRwsSqD6-s7wuhW7nowhXt2fhGOApQKdMrkaA-SCMQ03XGCIDGsWpqCcY22H8WLUP1mjI4BKDPVcAIEmrzLpc7UJwb5m41aM87xRLzsIMMW0-xGnvzCvddpUbRQouBQ/s640/Image00032.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Is she wearing a sweater!?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">They didn't have any computers, cell phones, televisions or anything that required too much sitting time. They walked everywhere slowly, and a few lucky ones had old beat up bikes to bike around in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I myself pay a lot of attention to nutrition. But this experience has taught me that it really is as simple as calories in (whether they be from proteins, carbs or fat) have to be balanced by calories out (physical activity). Oh yeah, and the calories have to be from non-processed foods.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">It was a great time with these kids.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9Uzt9wuf4r1BTw2MB6g5BjXGihyphenhyphenep-P80SjwTLXwPhZwZe7IhS1w1QR926Tgwp5qEcPvM8BQvtRSasNFQITXOs1Lkv5H01Om88DNdm1WotgougTDQ3g8BxFZh5zWifGgJlMBrfAY8IA/s1600/Image00035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9Uzt9wuf4r1BTw2MB6g5BjXGihyphenhyphenep-P80SjwTLXwPhZwZe7IhS1w1QR926Tgwp5qEcPvM8BQvtRSasNFQITXOs1Lkv5H01Om88DNdm1WotgougTDQ3g8BxFZh5zWifGgJlMBrfAY8IA/s640/Image00035.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Now that's student engagement!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">I want to thank Kirabo Canada for the opportunity to have such an amazing experience. They take Canadians and Americans in July to the northern part of Uganda to volunteer at the Almond School for disadvantaged youth. This is the part of Uganda that was hit hard by the LRA who was infamous for its use of child soldiers. Many of the students of the Almond school have had to watch their families massacred by the rebel forces and some were even taken prisoner themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">Check out Kirabo Canada</span><br />
<a href="http://www.kirabocanada.ca/"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.kirabocanada.ca/</span></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9vDjzVNPRSZSHMVOroTTC6fMns0gAalTySADYHaXX6dBCQ9cVkJUOkTyfigmCMMcZuib0ZJVlUyvNVH-dxPypiihDQVK9HpOuQwMkS6uzP_bMIlGCFET5-8XH-4f3aGXfA7_czANw7M/s1600/Image00038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9vDjzVNPRSZSHMVOroTTC6fMns0gAalTySADYHaXX6dBCQ9cVkJUOkTyfigmCMMcZuib0ZJVlUyvNVH-dxPypiihDQVK9HpOuQwMkS6uzP_bMIlGCFET5-8XH-4f3aGXfA7_czANw7M/s640/Image00038.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Kirabo Power!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">This was our awesome Kirabo volunteer group from left to right - Calvin, Sandy, Sarina, Lana, me, Dee, Lina, Bryanna, Dena and Sandy (five teachers, two school psychologists, one waitress/makeup artist, one fetish clothing maker and one insurance consultant - talk about a mixed group). In the photo is also Benedict on the right, the principal of the Almond School, and Charles Dickens (no joke) on the left, our guide and translator....he did other things too, but we never could figure out what.</span><br />
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Tangy Travelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604092578979732026noreply@blogger.com0