My last week has been very busy; since we want to finish the most things we could so I can see all the processes from the start to the end.  To mention the things we could finish so far, we calculated the chromium concentration by reacting the feces with nitric acid to eliminate organic matter and with perchloric acid to analyze the chromic oxide as chromium after digestion; also, we calculated the dry matter and ash, protein and lipid in feces.  In these two last days we are going to do the adequate statistics to determine digestibility coefficient of protein and lipid in a dry basis from the recovery percent of chromium in the feces.   

Housing

I had available the necessary things for a comfortable stay from kitchen utensils, bed sheets to a washer and a dryer.  I felt very comfortable with my apartment.  I didn’t need anything.  I had everything available and the family who owns it made me feels as if I was home and part of their family.

People

In general, the people from Stuttgart are traditional southern people.  The population is mostly white or African American people, and the populations of people from other countries are very small and basically are Mexicans or Asians.  In my first weeks, I was very scared and felt intimidated when I exposed myself to people.  Being an islander, I felt like a very small flower in this huge extensive field.  People in Stuttgart, being in a southern small town, are not used to new persons and I drew the attention in every place I went.  Although, I have met wonderful persons that have changed my perspectives I had about people from the south before having this experience.  I had the opportunity to meet and make friends in towns smaller than Stuttgart.  When I evaluate myself in this internship, I have to say I have grown personally.  Now I know I can’t judge people because their history or what others say about them.  To be honest, I couldn’t have finished my internship if it weren’t for them.   

Activities

Also, we got to go to the Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View, North Central Arkansas. 

We did the wild tour and went through the caves climbing, crawling on my belly and walking.  I have never been in caves before and Blanchard Springs Caverns are old caves, so I got to see impressive formations of stalactites and stalagmites.   

I did other things like go fishing, go to Memphis Zoo and passed over Graceland (Elvis Presley house), exercise with a group of lady three times a week and a lot of meditation about my plans, priorities and achievements.

SNARC

            I have learned valuable things about techniques, procedures, methods, pond and tank culture systems, and how to think critically and thoroughly to look forward for successful future projects.  My experiences in Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center are the ones that will influence more in my next stage of my life, my professional life.  I feel very glad that my internship was in Stuttgart, Arkansas, even though I felt it wasn’t a place for me before.  I have received much attention, kindness and direction from my supervisors.  For this reason, my most important achievement of my internship is that I have found directions for my career and I don’t feel so lost as I was before coming to Arkansas.

            I was very disappointed in some ways my internship went through, but in my last week I felt glad things went that way, because difficulties make the individual stronger and make him appreciate what he has lived.

Sylmar Santos Corujo
Internship at Department of Agriculture
From 1/13/2005 to 4/30/2005

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