- Expedition: Mar 25-30, 2001
- Carlos
- Divisadero Middle School and Sunnyside and Redwood High Schools
- Hite's Cove
"I learn[ed] that working with other people gets your farther in life"
My background...
In my family, there are eight people. I have a mom, dad, one brother, and four sisters. I love all of my family members.
My parents were born in Mexico in a town called Oxajaca. I was born in California, so I'm a Chicano. When I go to school, I try to put 100% of all my effort and get good grades. I like school because everyday you learn different stuff. My goal in life is to have a job that deals with crime and I think I want to be an (FBI).
I don't like to show off of things people can't do, but I know I can do what they can't. When people show off, it make[s] me not like that person.
On the weekends, when there's no school, I go help my parents pick in the fields. My parents pick: oranges, grapes, strawberries, olives, lemon, and other stuff too, but it [is] hard work and that['s] why my parents encourage me to put a lot of effort in school and I do. I come from a family that none has gone to college, or even school, except my brother and sisters. My brother and my oldest sister go to college. I['m] plan[n]ing to go to UCLA, maybe that's why I'm in this program. All I have to say is you only live once, so enjoy it.
Nary, Carlos, and Andrew dramatically prepare to throw the make-shift "bucket" into the South Fork of the Merced River to collect a water sample.
Yosemite Valley...
Today my group and I went to Yosemite Valley. First we got into pairs, but you had to have a partner that you didn't know. I got this young lady. She was a good partner to have. After this, we had to go up by ourselves to this place called Lower Yosemite Falls, but guiding us was this rock trail. When we were to get in our group meetings and I saw a deer, at first I though I was imagining, but when I put on my glasses it was a deer. I told my group and everyone just looked at the deer. Then as each of us were going up to the Lower Yosemite Falls, we had to be separated so we had to go by ourselves. As I was walking up the trail, I saw cards that said something in them so I stopped and read all of them. Also, I heard the water getting louder and louder when I got closer. Finally, all my group got to the top and took pictures. Then a lady came and told us a little bit about "what was wild". After that, we had to [go] back to our cabins.
The first full day at Hite's Cove....
As I opened my eye I saw the trees, I heard the river, and I thought to myself, "I think this is going to be a great day.["] Then we ate breakfast, then Nicole and Perrine explained to us where the bees get pollen from different flowers. It was cool. After that we did this kind of test on water and it turned out great. After that everybody was having a good time playing with the water. After all today was a great day for me.