Hiatus. . .

Things really aren't slowing down much here, especially when Marshall and I look at all the deadlines that are rapidly approaching. I'm still taking trips to the field to collect herps, and I took my first test on Monday for the Biology of Reptiles class. Can't say it went too well, but I know I did learn a lot of reptile families!! But I did find out in class that our 10-day field trip will be on the beach in Joao Pessoa, on the furthest tip of eastern Brazil. However, this would include a 40-some hour bus ride, too. . .

Marshall began teaching his own lessons last week in Mr. Meklin's geometry classes, after four weeks of observations, and is also earning 'brownie points' with his second teacher, Mr. Woolverton, by substitute teaching for him a lot recently. Hopefully this means he'll be able to take a week off and head to the largest wetland in the world, the Pantanal! We're also trying to plan our December travels, probably starting in Rio and heading all the way up the coast, then taking a boat down the Amazon River, before flying back to Rio for Revellion, the big New Year's Eve party reminiscent of Carnival.

I still have a lot of pictures to post (such as our 'fun' Brazilian Independence Day parade and my encounter with a ROUS--think Princess Bride, fireswamp. . .) but will head to bed tonight and put it off for another day!