Students soak up many wonders of Great Salt Lake
By Wendy Leonard, Deseret News
Published: April 19, 2008

The salty and sometimes stinky Great Salt Lake became umpteen times more interesting to a couple dozen North Star Elementary School students and about 13 Westminster College graduate students who just completed experiments on one of the state's wonders.
"It's an incredible and unique ecosystem out there that is so unappreciated in the state," said Carolyn Jenkins, professor of Westminster's Elementary Science Methods course. "Most people only know it smells."
As part of a continued collaborative effort by Westminster College, more than a dozen graduate students, all hoping to become teachers, worked with 29 fourth-graders to answer some innovative questions concerning the Great Salt Lake, "to help them gain an appreciation for that wonderful body of water," Jenkins said.
Using scientific experimentation, students answered questions concerning the life-span of brine shrimp, salt water and sand temperatures, salinity, rocks and sand that form from waste, salt crystallization and much more. For most of the students, their favorite part was not visiting the lake in early March but working through the questions and determining how their hypotheses affect everyday life.
"It would take 10 years for the Great Salt Lake to freeze, and the temperature would have to be below freezing for a long time," said Owen Lopez, 9. He said human sweat also contains salt, which helps regulate body temperature. He said learning the hands-on way is "way better than reading a book."
The semesterlong project included two field trips to the Great Salt Lake to provide the Title I school kids experience dealing with practical science and high-tech scientific equipment, property of Westminster. The grad students gained experience in working directly with youths, "learning how they learn," said Brittany Donaldson, originally from Texas.
"They were very into what we were doing," she said. "It was neat seeing them connect it to their lives and building upon what we already knew." The direct focus and individualized attention is unusual for a public school setting.
"We don't have that at our school," said North Star fourth-grade teacher Terry Olsen. "I couldn't keep them in their seats as we started crossing the causeway." The individual attention Westminster's students gave the fourth-graders and the engaging equipment, he said, "changed the way they look at science and the Great Salt Lake."
The massive body of salty water, Olsen said, fits directly into North Star's social studies curriculum, in addition to the scientific study of Utah's forestry, desert and wetlands.
"We went into the water with boots. It wasn't blue, it was all white," said 10-year-old Easter Simbe. She discovered that the water and salt evaporates into the air, making it cooler very quickly. "It's a lot of fun to learn about new stuff," she said.
"Now we know not to live on the shores of the Great Salt Lake," said Jodi Anderson, a Westminster grad student who assisted Simbe and science partner Aylin Gutierrez.
The myriad discoveries were presented via student-made posters that lined the hallway at Westminster's Malouf Hall on Wednesday.
"They don't know it but we had as much fun as they did" learning about the Great Salt Lake, Anderson said. "It's a huge part of our state, and people take it for granted."
E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com

March 24, 2008

Today was out departure out of Salt Lake City. We headed out about 7:15 am to Phoenix. From Phoenix we flew into Mexico City. From the plane, Mexico City looked a lot like Southern California. It is a huge city and I never realized it. It was very green and certainly nice to see trees again. The airport was interesting. It was really big and busy with a lot of people running around to get where they needed to go. I felt confused and slightly out of place not knowing how to speak Spanish. McDonalds threw me for a loop. I was a total Gringo and didn’t get something local. I am kicking myself for it now. The car ride to Cemal was bumpy and maybe a little nauseating but all the while it was scenic and incredible. The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect. It was great to sit in a car and open the windows and not get hot. The driving out here is a little different then it is back home. There are not very many stop lights and everyone is a tad bit assertive when it comes to getting to where you need to go. I had to hold on a couple times and I felt nervous that we would hit someone. We sure did come close a couple times. It appears that a lot of people walk around. I see a lot of people on the street and it is nice to see that. You don’t see that very much in the US. I haven’t seen one fat person here. Maybe it is all the walking. The center here in Cuernevacca is a lot nicer then I thought it would be and everyone seems so friendly. Dinner tonight was fantastic and it was fun to sit down with everyone and talk. I am certainly exhausted and I am ready for bed now.

March 25, 2008

Very exciting and exhausting day. We started out at the ruins and I was truly amazed at the beauty and grandeur of the place. It was fascinating hearing about the various cultural types of the inhabitants. So much history that we often don’t realize or acknowledge. I was astounded by how advanced this civilization was. I really enjoyed learning about the sacredness of the site and learning about the rituals that were performed there. I was especially impressed with how the Mayan and Aztecs came up with a precise calendar. I loved learning about the hieroglyphics of they site. Out tour guide Lisanne told us that the people always made records of the here and now so it was interesting to see this particular recorded event frozen in time. When we got back we went to the home of Maxamillion who was appointed emperor of Mexico, but he wasn’t a Mexican an Austrian. I thought that was a little bizarre but it may be worth doing some research. I know that he was asasinated. The grounds were beautiful and very well kept. I took a lot of great pictures of the gardens and fountains on the premises. It is interesting how the homes are all locked up from the front and does not look as inviting, but once you open the door to the front of the house, you notice that it is really quite beautiful. It is kind of like a fortress out here and the front door is the opening of the fortress. Once inside, there are beautiful flowers and sitting areas as well as small plants and gardens. It is very unique. When we left Maximillion’s home, the city was bustling with excitement. There were lots of people on the move and lots of vendors selling unique stuff. I was taken back by how many children were on the streets selling things and I was later informed that some of the children were orphaned and needed to make a living. It broke my heart to hear that and felt the urgency to want to do something to help. We went to the Palace de Cortez and I saw Diego Rivera’s famous mural of Mexican History. The mural started with the arrival of the Spaniards and it depicted a not so pleasant history of events following their arrival It was moving.. Diego Rivera was Frida Kholo’s husband who is also a famous female, Mexican artist. Following the palace, we went to this awesome 15th century Cathedral that is still used for worship today. I was consumed by it. Walking in, you really get a strong sense of devotion. The chapel was simple, and beautiful, and not overly ornate. There was no music only the utterance of prayers. It felt like a step outside the world and into the sacred. I loved seeing the people worship and felt the need to quietly sit down and take it all in. Somber silence is so powerful. What we say without words!!! After the Cathedral we went into the plaza were the local people congregate. Much festivity was taken place around me. Marisella said that around 5:00 to 5:30 people gather in the plaza and rest. They talk about their day and visit with each other. It is a time for community bonding. How wonderful would it be if we in the United States took that time too. Maybe if we were more in touch with our communities here, we would better appreciate each other and be more empathetic to others. I don’t know. Wow! Amazing day. I saw a lot, experienced a lot, and now I am ready for bed.

March 26, 2008

Time is flying. Today we did a fun activity called the market basket activity. It was our first real taste of what life is like for local Mexicans in Curenevacca. We divided into teams and were given a certain amount of money and a list of items to purchase at the market place. This activity was a lot of fun because we really got to get a taste of what the city was like on our own. The amount of pesos we received was 100.00. This is how much an average Mexican worker brings home on a daily basis. With that money, we were told to be frugal and use the barter system because a little bit needed to go a long way. Going to the market was a unique experience. It has never seen anything like it before. The vendors at the market typically have there own shops and they are run by the family. To have your own shop in Mexico is considered high status. The market was broken up into divisions. You had people selling clothes, shoes and electronics in one portion, others were selling artwork, pottery and dishes. Fruit stands, diary products, and meat were another part of the market as well as dry supplies. I was amazed at how big the market was. I smelled lots of delicious foods cooking and was really excited about trying it. In a few moments, we will have a guest speaker come and talk to us about the current economical situation in Mexico. Fun day.

March 27, 2008

Today we went and met with the ladies organization at their church and listened to all their wonderful stories about how they got the group started and what they did to help the people of Cuernevacca. Each of their stories was unique and special. I was really blown away by their programs and how they teach people about nutrition, art, current events and religion. I was especially impressed by the nutritional part. I must admit that I was starving and it was difficult to stay focused while smelling all that wonderful food. The meal that was prepared for us was probably the best that I have had on the trip, but I was mostly amazed by the amount of love and preparation was put into making it. The people of Cuernevacca are lovely and polite as well as hospitable. I am always touched by the kindness that is shown to me here by the people. Smiling is not hard for them. Affection adorns the streets every where I go. It is either a simple greeting with a kiss or a romantic moment shared by young lovers. I love that! In the US we are so self involved. We don’t take time to kiss the ones we love or show hospitality to complete strangers. I wish we would. Following the lunch, we went back to Cemal and met with the artisans of the surrounding regions. Each of their stories was unique and their cultural differences were manifest in what they were selling to us. We heard about why their work was so important to the economy and to their family’s survival. Can you imagine what the must be like? The poverty out here saddens me a great deal. This place is so beautiful and to see what so many are suffering or living without has opened my eyes to a new perspective. It especially saddens me to see the children working on the streets to help keep their families alive. I couldn’t imagine a childhood like this. In fact, there is nothing childlike about it. These children have to grow up quickly and adopt a work ethic of an adult. They don’t have time to play with their friends or watch TV or play video games. They don’t get to go to school and get an education because it isn’t practical to their survival. I think about my boys and all the things that they have that these children do not. I wish that I could give these children what they deserve.

March 28, 2008

Today has been the best day of the trip. This morning we went and saw the water system that is being implemented to help save the Barrackas de San Antone. With all the economic change that has occurred throughout the years, there has been so much damage to the water out here. Citizens of Cuernevaca have been using the river out here to dump waste and sewage. Predominantly, it has been the wealthy people who absent mindedly do it. A lot of the poor people who live by the river (because it stinks, and is dirty) have to suffer the consequences of what the rich people on the hill do. What I saw today angered me and made me feel sad. I hate how the rich exploit the poor. I hated seeing and smelling that water and thinking about all the children who have to grow up living by it. There have been reports of disease and illness of those who must live their lives near the river. There is also a big social stigma placed on those who “must live in sh**.” I don’t understand why people are forced to through their waste into a river! This government infuriates me. I hated not seeing a fish or turtle or plant in the water. Only garbage and brown, mucky, water. There were no children playing near it, no women cleaning clothes, no men fishing. It frightened me a little bit how such an important natural resource has been damaged extensively to the point that it would take years to undo the damage that has been done. What is even more depressing is that the rivers were once pristine and full of life. Marisella was telling us that when she was a child, she used to in the river and it was safe and refreshing. That is so upsetting to me. Right now, I am sitting in bed at the “casa de bonita” of Guadalupe the hostess of our home stay. We got to Huitzelac as about 3:30 today. This is a small rural town that is 20 or so miles from Cuernevacca and is quietly nestled in the mountains. I was so delighted to meet Lupe and she is truly an angelita. Her spirit is warm and kind, and I am amazed by her. I feel like there is so much she could teach me. She is 77 and she is very healthy. She walks everywhere she goes. She is probably healthier then me. She is quite the cook and hostess. I felt a connection to her from the moment that I saw her and I am grateful to be here. I trust here completely. Listening to the stories about immigration to the United States has been informative and sad. Something must be done and closing the borders is not it! We are America and we have the potential as well as the means and capabilities to assist. Besides, we need each other. I am going to see if I can do anything to help. I love this country and these beautiful, wonderful, people. They are so rich in other ways that we couldn’t believe or come close to understanding! We Americans can be so arrogant and ignorant at times. Why don’t we appreciate what we have like these people do? Why are we constantly needing and wanting more? Why do we ingest harmful things into our bodies? Have we become the epitome of gluttony? Disgusting! Why are so quick to judge others and only look out for ourselves? Why does everything have to be so damn competitive? I have known Lupe for six hours and all ready she has changed me! She has made me want to become a better person. The language barrier has been tough and I am doing everything I can to try to communicate with her. I have a whole new appreciation and understanding for what Spanish speakers who come to the U.S. and don’t know English must deal with. I am feeling inspired to help.

March 29, 2008

(Elevator statement at the Hostile in Mexico) Marisella had us do an exercise called an “elevator statement.” This is were one has the opportunity to talk about their home stay to another person who wasn’t there in Mexico with you. The idea is that you capture the essence of the visit and condense it down to just one minute of conversation. Here is mine and it sums up my experience so it will be my entry for the day: Life changing experience! Have you ever barely known someone and yet you feel a strong bond with them? This is how Guadalupe made me feel. We encountered so many obstacles, language, cultural differences, backgrounds, but something universal and transcendent was spoken that we could both understand and that was LOVE. People are not that different from each other. We can speak the same language with a smile, laugh, tear… The only thing that separates us is the thoughts that we create about each other in our own heads. What I have learned is you must let your guard down. You need to step away from what you know in order to be taught. Ignorance is fear, step away from it and breathe life!!!

March 30, 2008

This is a short one today. I have so much to do and such little time. This is our last full day in Mexico, and I am sooo sad. This has been an amazing experience for me. I am so coming back here with my husband. I have had the time of my life and I feel as if I have truly immersed myself into this experience. Right now, I am staying at this gorgeous hostile and things are just great. Today, we went and worked in the fields. I must admit that this was the part that I have been dreading the most but it was really pleasant. I had some time to think about all the places I had been ,the people that I have met, and all the things that I have learned. Not only that, but I felt like I had the opportunity to give something back and to be of assistance. It was a nice day to work out in the fields and I am really tired. We had a nice breeze and a little rain, so that helped us cool off. I am amazed at how hard these people work!

March 31, 2008

So sad. On the plane, Coming home! It has been an exciting adventure and I have taken away so much. I feel as if I am changed for the better and I can’t wait to get home and see my children and tell them everything that I have learned. I feel the need to say a big “thank you” for this wonderful program at Westminster College. What a truly unique experience. I feel fortunate to have been apart of MAT and I am going to miss all the wonderful people that I have met. I feel as if they have been a big part of my life for this past year and I am going to wish them all the luck. Getting to spend time with David and Tim was a lot of fun. It was neat getting to know them and they have taught me a lot. I aspire to be great teachers like they are and I feel like I have been learning from the best during this entire program.