Axel's Page

My name is Axel( International Student ) and I was one of the students in Leaf School Anthropology with Thomas W Murphy. L.E.A.F school was really great, it has good method to study which is learn and experience it. I am sure that you will improve your identifying skill and also become smarter than before because we must use our minds to work out our field notes. I learned so many things about plants, organizations in United States and also interesting history. My classmates and I enjoyed this class pretty much. We learned how to cooperate with community partners and organizations. This class is really different from the other class because it is more relax ,but you also learn more about many things.

Now, I know that there are so many organizations in United States that are helping the environment. I remember Justin in Stilly Snohomish Fisheries Task Force and he helped me to identify plants. He was the ex-student of Leaf School and he is really glad to have his job now. We went to many places around Washington and met people from organizations that we worked with. We helped people by conserve, restoring and enhance the environment.

My time in Orcas Island was really great. It was physically challenging for me. We carried lumbers up and down the mountain and I was so exhausted. We worked very hard, including rangers who helped us to build two small bridges and fence. The first night was the best night ever, we cooked smoked sockeye salmon. That was my first camping experience and it was great. I love to play hacky sack when we had a break with my classmates.

I also remember when Tom, Dawson, Giti, and I were in the River Festival in Arlington. We saw a traditional wood art artist. He made a wooden bird from huge Western Red Cedar wood. It was really cool. We also watched Pow Wow Festival, performed by the Stillaguamish Indian tribe.

L.E.A.F school helped me to think about my firm major. I am really glad that I took this class because this class had helped me so much. I learned about many interesting things in Washington area. I learned how to love and care the environment. The biggest thing that I learned was to protect animals from extinction. For example: We caught female salmons not to kill and eat them ,but to help the salmon to breed in the summer. There are 4000 – 7000 eggs in the female salmon and only 80% from it will survive. We also helped plants to grow smoothly. We pulled weeds and all the invasive plants around the native plants. There is one invasive plant that I love so much, it is blackberry. It is nice to cut them and it is also nice to eat the berries, healthy and delicious. I would like to join this class again if I have a chance to join because I had so much fun and I learned so many useful things. Now, I would love to teach all my friend and family to love the environment and to live in sustainability manner.