This and that ... a lot to tell

I think it's funny that I don't update this blog as much as I should. I am trying though, it's just hard to find a specific time to post good stuff in here. Well, I have some updates from the past week.
Work/internship:
I got an non-paid internship at the Utah Hogle Zoo. I am a part of their eco-explorer team. It will be fun to interact with kids and visitors telling them about conservation and ecology. Most of the time, we will conduct shows and interpretation for visitors on the biodiversity in the Zoo.
I also started my summer teaching job at BYU yesterday. I teach a cultural class (about Madagascar) in Malagasy. My students have lived in Madagascar for 2 years (they were LDS missionaries). It is a fun class and I am thrilled that I get to teach it again this year. What's funny is that my title is a part-time faculty ????? I am not sure about that but I'll take it anyway. It's a great opportunity.
A good friend's visit:
My good friend Thierry from Madagascar came to visit Utah for a few days. I showed him around he city as it's his first time being here. He has visited other states and Utah was his last destination for his trip. Of course we toured Temple Square, went to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir show (they were amazing!!! I am moved everytime I watch them), and did some shopping at the local malls.
We also went to Park City to the Olympic Park. It was my first time there. It is a fun place with lots of memorial monuments from the Olympics. They still have shows by famous athletes every day. For the record, Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Game. It was a success! Since then, Utah has been known as the place with "The greatest snow on earth".
Another fun part was to go to Snowbird (a Ski Resort that stays open until late June when there isn't snow anymore) This week-end was their official closure for the 2008 winter season. So, we took the tram up to 11,000 feet (hidden peak -- the highest at Snowbird). The scenic view from up there was spectacular! The snow hasn't melted completely which was a good treat for us. Luckily, it wasn't cold up there. I couldn't complain!

EURO 2008 -- Go ITALY

The sport we call 'football' or soccer is a big deal in my family. This time of the year, I would stay up late and watch the EURO game with my brothers. I haven't really been able to follow what's going on this year because I have no way to watch it. And guess what, I just learned that for the first time, this European Championship (held in Austria-Switzerland) is broadcast live in the U.S. Too bad, I don't have ESPN so I rely on the internet to keep track of the score and watch the highlights of the game.

This is the game schedule: http://www.worldcupblog.org/images/euro2008-chart.pdf

Go ITALY -- my favorite team. Azzuri beat France earlier today. Yahoo! They rock!Here is a link to the video of France packing their bag to go home. Shame!

http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/magazine/edition=720440/newsid=720440/videopopup.html

Pain in the pump ... unbelievable!

Who wouldn't want to talk about the gas price these days. I filled up my tank yesterday and I spent $43.24, that would make almost $4. 00 a gallon. I don't remember spending that much money on gas. I drive a Mitsibushi Lancer and I usually spend not more than $28.00 not too long ago. I talked to my roommate and another friend of mine who happened to fill up their tank too yesterday. We all said, "I almost cried." The price keeps going up and affects the price of food too. It' s scary!
I received these pictures from a friend. I thought they were funny! (I did a little translation for my family:)

Mangina fa aza velon-kira eo. Tsy hitan'ialahy angaha ny vidin'ny lasantsy midangana be io!

Tsy "en panne" akory ny fiarako fa mora kokoa ity noho ny maka lasantsy

Nisy mpangalatra!

Now, what can we do about this? I think the first thing would be to change our driving habit to reduce the demand. It will save us money and energy of course.

Rock climbing/L'escalade -- un nouvel aventure

Lors de mon week-end à Moab, j'ai essayé de faire l'escalade pour la premiere fois. C'etait formidable, je m'amusais beaucoup!
I did rock climbing for the first time. It was so much fun!

Wall Street -- un site très populaire pour faire l'escalade

Les chaussons -- semelle en gomme

Moi entrain de m'attacher par la corde

Moi entrain d'escalader

Moab -- the Arches National Park

J'étais à Moab pendant le week-end de "memorial day". Voici quelques photos des Arches. Moab est une petite ville au sud est d'Utah -- très populaire pour les westerns.
This was a trip to Moab on memorial day week-end. Here are a few pictures of the Arches.

Typical rock formation in the Arches


Balanced Rock
The Delicate Arch






The Windows from afar
Landscape Arch
Moi avec des amis