First two days at the El Paso Zoo!

 

Drive by picture of the entrance sign. 

Well I am now an Education Specialist at the El Paso Zoo!  My first two days on the job were full of meeting lots of employees and trying to remember names and keep everyone straight.  Not only meeting lots of people but also meeting lots of animals.  There is so much to learn and I am excited about filling my brain with it all, although I am definitely going to need some time.  I am also a huge fan of learning things together with kids and visitors to the zoo.  Nobody is going to remember or know everything and learning is half the fun.  I have a quote over my bathroom mirror that I read everyday, "Everyday you don't learn, means there is more you don't know."  So be inspired and be curious and go find out the answers!

And now for some more pictures:  I ran into one of the keepers of the Malayan Tigers at their outdoor exhibit who just so happened to have interned at Turpentine Creek in Northwest Arkansas where I drove by everyday on my way to work.   Small world.   Anyway, the tigers have only recently been introduced to each other in the hope that they will reproduce.  The male, Wzui, is six years old and his chosen mate is Seri, only three years old.  Today was an extremely hot day and Wzui enjoyed much of his day swimming in his pond playing with a plastic container and splashing in the water.

The female, Seri stalks her boyfriend Wzui. 

Malayan tigers are Endangered and recent counts showed there are 600–800 Malayan tigers in the wild.  The Malayan tiger is found only in the Malay Peninsula, southern tip of Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.  Until 2004, it was not considered a subspecies in its own right.  To find out more about the Malayan tiger visit the El Paso Zoo Malayan tiger fact sheet here.  To find out ways you can help support tigers in the wild and protect their environment, like become a Tiger School or Holiday gift wrap for tigers click here.

I also peeked into the Asian indoor exhibits and snuck up on someone that was sleeping:

A cute sand cat was awakened by an annoying picture taker, me.

The sand cat is distributed over arid deserts in Africa and Asia.  Apparently they are even found in Tunisia!  For those of you who do not know, my dad is from Tunisia and I recently visited with him in May 2010.  Sand cats inhabit the most arid regions on Earth and can survive months on only the water in their food.  They retreat into burrows to survive conditions from 23 degrees F to 126 degrees F!  And I thought 110 was hot here in El Paso.  Sand cats are considered Near Threatened due mainly to hunting.  Support the Sahara Conservation Fund which works to protect wildlife of the Sahara and surrounding grasslands. 

I have so much more to chat about!

But for now you can also "like" the El Paso Zoo Facebook Page. 

Learn.

Moving is Exhausting especially in 110 degree heat.

I am so glad it worked out that we had to unload our Uhaul on one of the hottest days of the year (note extreme sarcasm).  At one point while we were moving the truck thermostat said 118 degrees F.  Honestly it was not too bad and was over pretty quick.  All of our stuff was out of the Uhaul and the two vehicles in less than four hours with two people working at it. We definitely missed all the help we had packing the Uhaul!

Some Uhaul/moving tips: In most cities they have take a box/leave a box outside their stores so you can re-use boxes and also recycle them there.  Roadside assistance was great, just be knowledgeable that it is there in the first place.  No need to flip out over a flat tire, just call for help and they have to be there within 60 minutes, it is their policy.

 

Yes - we are on the second floor. 

 If only the boxes did have legs!

The day was ended with a glorious and surprisingly refreshing dip in the pool overlooking the mountains of New Mexico.  It takes some time to recognize the mountains and distinguish if they are on Texas, Mexico, or New Mexico soil.  

The apartment pool... amazing.

I was up early on Saturday although still feeling under the weather, and ready to head to the flea markets downtown.  Most people here no matter what ethnicity seems to be bilingual.  It is very impressive and I am super jealous.  I need to dive into my Rosetta Stone and then start practicing.  The flea market was a bit too hot for us today, but I did manage to find a nice sun hat for 6 bucks.  I also received my first parking ticket... I did pay but it turns out we put our money in the wrong parking slot.  Lesson learned the $25 ticket way.  The market mostly had clothes, but anyone in the market for costume wear (all my friends in Eureka Springs) this is the place to be. 

On June 1, El Paso broke its 118 day dry spell in the form of a Bit of rain but none has fallen since.  There have been reports of animals (mountain lions, bobcats) coming down from the mountains, probably in search of water.   As I sit watching a grackle (bird) wipe its beak across the drops of water a car air conditioner has left behind, I think to myself... instead of putting out a bird feeder, I am going to put out a bird bath.  Maybe this bird bath will become an oasis of sorts and all kinds of animals will come to my porch!  Can not wait.  Starting off with a small bowl of water until I figure something else out.

The view from our balcony.  Oasis location TBD.

As for tonight... sitting in the air conditioning and watching a movie on the couchless floor = heaven. Oh and a bit of organizing:

 Boxes, boxes everywhere.

Exhaustion.

Exploring El Paso, Texas

El Paso is right on the border of Mexico and New Mexico.  At first, while navigating the city I was afraid I would make a wrong turn and end up in Juarez, Mexico.  I am fully aware that you would have to pass through border patrol before entering Mexico but after hearing, "Do NOT go to Mexico" more than a few times it got me on my toes.  It is not a worry at all though!  And the Rio Grande... not very Grande in El Paso in June.

After exploring a few neighborhoods we settled on living on the West side of town which is a nice area with shops and restaurants.  It is easy access to downtown and to the zoo which is located in the south central part of the city.  The city is fairly spread out but you can quickly get from one side to the other via I-10 in maybe 30 minutes.

 A view of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico from the scenic drive up the Franklin Mountains.

The cost of apartments are fairly priced for a medium sized city.  We found a two bedroom, two full bath for $800.  We are excited about the two bedroom and the hard to find, washer and dryer hook ups yet it is still a small space.  Oh and did I mention there is a pool and work out room!

Our first meal in El Paso was a random place called Carousel.  It ended up having great Mexican food and a half an avocado on my plate... YES please.  I will be back.

The Mexican plate at Carousel. 

Explore. 

Night numero uno.

I have had a fantastic last couple of weeks in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas.  For the past three years I explored the well kept secret of the beauty of the region.  In the weeks leading up to the move I was able to make time for some amazing friends, enjoy one last kayak trip on the Kings River, try sport climbing at Horseshoe Canyon followed by a refreshing dip in the nearby Buffalo River and soak in the sun at Beaver Lake.  How amazing!

In three years I met some amazing, unselfish, and caring people.  I am fortunate to have crossed paths with so many great people and appreciate all of their help while I was in Arkansas and beyond.

The journey en route to El Paso was long, twenty hours long.  It had its moments of all the usual road trip emotions including, delirium, life is a highway, exhaustion, panic, thoughtful, and on and on.  South Texas has a lot of high fences in which you must look for exotic animals.  I kept my eyes peeled for "crazy" animals that I have seen in the past but this trip around didn't see any.  Next time you drive through Texas make sure to check the high fences!

 

A beautiful sunset on a deserted I-10 headed west in Texas.

Let me recommend some music.  My stereo was pumping out Mumford and Sons and the Kris Lager Band!  I am sure most people have heard of Mumford and Sons, but if not download their latest CD today.  The Kris Lager Band played in Eureka Springs, AR where I heard them live and picked up a CD.   They are a blues band from Nebraska.  Best part is their drummer freestyle raps during their live shows!

Late Tuesday night (June 21, 2011) we arrived in El Paso, Texas.  We are staying in the La Quinta until we find a place to live.  Tomorrow exploring the city to find out where we will live!

Excited.