2005 Q & A

June 29–30, 2005

Q. Third graders from Pender County and New Hanover Counties ask, "What kind of animals are there? What kind of birds are there?"

A. We have seen an Ecuadorian Trogon, Blue Winged Mountain Tanagers, lots of hummingbirds, a Laughing Falcon, a roadside hawk, Leaf Cutter ants, squirrels, and lots of dogs, cows, alpacas, horses, chickens, pigs and goats.

Q. A 10th grader from Cary asks, "Have you seen any of the Otovalan Indians? They have white pants and shirts with Panama hats and sandals and have LONG black hair."

A. Yes, we went through Otavalo yesterday on the way to Cotacachi. The people were preparing for a festival. We saw lots of people in tall, pointy cowboy type hats but no white pants.

Q. A 10th grader from Cary asks, "Do you have translators traveling with you?"

A. We have several Spanish speakers traveling with us. Two are from the Heifer organization, two are Ecuadorian educators, and one is from our museum.

Q. A tenth grader from Cary asks. "Is it really hot right now in Equador?"

A. It was cooler than normal the first couple of days, with highs in the 50s and 60s. It even snowed on the top of one of the volcanos. Today it was very warm and humid.

Q. A high school teacher in Cleveland County asks, "What is the main source of protein and carbohydrates?"

A. People eat protein in the form of fish , chicken, beans, eggs and guinea pigs and carbohydrates come from potatoes, plantains, and yucca.

Q. A 9th grader from Orange County asks, "What diseases are common to the people who live in Ecuador? How do people get health care?"

A. Common diseases are AIDS, dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, typhoid and cancer. In the cities there are two kinds of public hospitals one you pay and one you don't. People still rely on folk remedies such as herbs.

Q. An elementary school teacher from Onslow county asks if you can be Myth Busters for her students. Her kids want to know if it is true that water and cyclonic action spin clockwise north of the Equator and counter-clockwise south of the Equator.

A. According to our resident physicist, Sam, this only holds true for major storms (hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones). North of the equator, a hurricane spins clockwise, while south of the equator a similar storm spins counter-clockwise. Some people think this phenomenon can also be observed in the drainage of bath or toilet water. Being good scientists, we've decided to put this belief to the test at bathroom stops north and south of the equator. So far, the data is inconclusive. We'll keep you posted!

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