Changing views

First off, major credit for writing two blogs in one week, I'm getting better. This one will also be quick but we have wireless internet right now, so I had to post something. We have been on the Hess oil company compound the last few days. We gave them presentation about our program and it went really well. I have been able to talk to some very knowledgeable people about the petrol industry and its affects on EG...and I have learned a lot. There are a lot of stereotypes about oil companies that I definitely had coming into the program and those stereotypes have proved to be very inaccurate. Hess is really doing some amazing development projects on the island and the impact on the country is really amazing. Yesterday we drove east toward the heart of the country and explored along the way, eating very strange food and getting amazing pictures. Today we went to survey for bushmeat in the local markets. Unfortunately we ran into an unexpected holiday: International Woman's Day. It's a huge deal and all the city celebrates. Thus, the markets were pretty closed. We did find some bushmeat, some turtles on their backs to keep them from getting away but to keep them alive and fresh. Some turtles without shells (these are forest turtles). Some Hornbills, Duikers, and luckily no monkeys, though one of the ladies working said they had already been sold. We got yelled at for taking pictures, ate some more crazy food, and got a hint of the celebrations. We fly back to Malabo Monday morning at 5 am in order to get back for class at 10 (though I doubt anyone will be able to stay awake through it). School is winding down and work is becoming majorly overwhelming. But by my next blog, it will all be wrapped up and the next phase will be coming fast. As always with trips like this, its amazing how fast it goes: Jan 8th: Fly to EG, Feb 8th: Research at Moka, March 8th: International Woman's Day in Bata...April 8th: ???