Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Images

Here I am posing in the courtyard with the entire class doing the Ahimsa by one of the beautiful trees.
Again, in another location, I am posing with the rest of the class doing the Ahimsa by an equally attractive tree.

The girls in the class and I pose by the statue of the hardworking female student.
Can you spot the Arctic Fox in this picture of some of girls from class surrounding the Freedom Mare statue.

The class and I pose for a picture following my speech about the Generations statue. I remember being scared about jumping down from my position on the Generations statue...Apparently Arctic Foxes are afraid of heights. 

I seem anxious and slightly confused before my long awaited rebirth as the Arctic Fox, luckily my classmates were supportive and helped me to realize I was BOOOORN FREEEE!!!!
This is a candid photo of the Arctic Fox, Sloth, and Dolphin watching Snapping Turtle give an inspiring speech. (Blue Jay and Bengal Tiger watch also...)
Another form of my Arctic Fox spirit guide gets a ride from the always generous White Tiger.
2 Arctic Foxes doing the Ahimsa posing happily near Waller Creek.
I am doing my best imitation of the legendary Arctic Fox howl.
And finally...One of my proudest moments in the UGS302 course. Here I am posing with Professor Bump after winning the hammer. This will be one of my most treasured memories. Before you argue the validity of this photo my height fluctuates and I love lacrosse. I did win right?



Videos

Below is the link to the clip of my rebirth. I am becoming the Arctic Fox.
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/30213/movies/Gabriela%20becomes%20Artic%20Fox.mov

During White Tiger's presentation, Miss America (AKA Arctic Fox) makes an appearance at 3:10
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/30213/movies/WhiteTigerPT.mov


Watch carefully for an Arctic Fox sighting at 2:25

Arctic Fox "yipping"(because Arctic foxes don't laugh...they yip) at 1:05

P1


 The Arctic Fox In My Life

I charge through the heavy snow, my white fur concealing me from predators and shielding me from the bitter cold. The force of my run and the chill wind pins down my small ears. My mind is at rest, focusing only on my pumping legs, but always aware of the treacherous landscape before me. This winter in the tundra has been exceptionally brutal, making food scarce. Hopeful, I return to my usual haunts in search of food, recalling the different berries and plants I had buried there when food was more plentiful. I use my fur encased paws, which block the cold from encompassing me, to dig at the ground beneath me. I jump up and down aggressively, plowing my front paws deep into the white snow.  I find nothing.                                             
Desperate for sustenance, I venture further north, the stench of a polar bear not far away. I wait patiently, taking refuge behind a bulky rock. As I squint into the distance, I spy the large bear tearing at the flesh of an unlucky seal near the ice. After eating most of the seal, the polar bear trudges along in the opposite direction. I watch the massive bear leave its meal and decide to move from my position behind the boulder and take my only chance for food. Stealthily, I scamper in the direction of the seal. I carefully navigate the icy terrain and finally make it to the carcass. Using my teeth in conjunction with my rapid moving paws, I manage to drag the almost frozen meat to the surface. I clamp my mouth hard around the scraps, doing my best to prevent it from slipping back into the freezing earth. I cut at the leftover kill with my canines, swallowing the protein heartily. I feel the meat hit my empty stomach, hunger pangs slowly abating.
Suddenly, before I can eat my fill, I hear several loud pops in the distance. My ears prick up at the familiar sound. Fearful, I snag what food I can fit into my mouth and dart back toward my den, hidden in the vast tundra. The aggressive pops continue, but sound further away as I rush back to my family. I pounce inside one of our hidden tunnels and continue my trek back home. Once approaching the den, I can hear my clan. I push my way up through a small opening and after surveying the surroundings, sprint toward another hidden opening closer to the edge of the forest. I burrow inside the hole. My mate and under-nourished pups are huddled together awaiting food. I push the limited seal meat close to them and watch as they tear at the remaining meat.
The arctic fox, or Alopex lagopus, possesses an overwhelming number of traits that can both hinder and assist their species in being dependable leaders. All species of fox are notorious for being nimble, cunning, and sly, but I consider the arctic fox to be particularly adept. Through its unwavering ability to adapt, the arctic fox has proven itself to be a great leader. Despite the many challenges that the foxes face, whether it be the constant threat of predators or the elements, the Arctic Fox has ultimately persevered.
To increase her chances of survival, my spirit animal's fur changes colors depending on the season. Her coat evolves from a burnt gray in the summer months to a brilliant white in the winter. This change in color illustrates the arctic fox's ability to adapt to different situations. As my spirit guide, an arctic fox supports me in a variety of different situations, whether it be in my education, social and professional engagements, or other life endeavors. Like her changing coat, my spirit animal inspires me to stay flexible and be prepared to immerse myself in new experiences or opportunities. 
Due to the dangerous habitat that my spirit animal lives in, she must constantly be in the moment. If she is distracted, or ignores her basic instincts, she faces the risk of losing her life. Although my spirit animal is strong and vigilant, she too has many predators.
An interesting factor that sets apart arctic foxes from other animals living in the piercing cold tundra is that they do not hibernate during the winter. The arctic fox’s compact size and thick fur serves as fantastic insulation, allowing the arctic fox to conserve their heat, which makes living in such a cold environment possible. The arctic fox is known for having the warmest coat of any mammal in the world. However, the coat that makes this fox so impermeable to the cold and allows for her to live in such freezing temperatures is also what makes her species so desirable to hunters. While for hundreds of years many indigenous people living in the tundra have relied on this fox and their coat to stay warm in the treacherous winter months, over time there has been a dramatic increase in the demand for the fur of arctic foxes for much more shallow and superficial reasons. Thousands of arctic foxes are killed each year for their fur and although the arctic fox in particular is not considered to be an endangered species, the brutal slaughter of poor defenseless arctic foxes by armed human beings disrupts the circle of life. To kill any animal in the name of fashion is selfish and disrespectful, the freedom of majestic animals being carelessly thrown away. Humans take these foxes captive and farm them for their fur. As a result, fur trade has increased drastically in the areas that arctic foxes inhabit and selling their pelts has become incredibly important to native people's economy. This coat serves as a barrier to the blistering elements common of the arctic fox's environment. Symbolically, I myself build figurative walls to protect myself from outside pressures. While I'd like to think of myself as having a thick skin, I've come to realize that I am much more sensitive than I initially believed and by keeping parts of my life a secret from the people I care about, I too am protecting myself from potential hurt. Some Native American tribes share stories of men who discover their wives are actually foxes, these tales symbolize the idea that "unless a male can recognize the magic of the feminine-in himself or others-and learn to use it to shape-shift his own life, it will ultimately lead to destruction.”[3] I believe that the stressed importance of embracing femininity and sensitivity symbolic in foxes emphasizes the significance of being honest with ones emotions and makes the sensation of the calm before the storm possible.
        Another species of fox, the red fox, is expanding more and more every year into the habitats of the arctic fox. This competition can prove fatal for the smaller arctic fox because a red fox desperate for food will kill and eat an arctic fox if given the chance. Also, with the decline of bears and wolves, arctic foxes are losing a major source of food−the carcasses left behind by the larger predators. My spirit animal is quick on her feet and elusive, making her difficult to catch. One could learn from an arctic fox to always be prepared and to listen to their instincts. The arctic fox uses it's plethora of impressive traits to survive against all odds.
In addition to its camouflaging coat, the arctic fox is also highly adaptive in a variety of other ways. For example, the arctic fox will eat practically anything. They plan ahead and save food for later, hiding unfinished meals very well around places they frequent. An arctic fox's den usually has "4–250 entrances and a system of tunnels covering about 30 square meters. Some dens have been used for centuries by generations of foxes.”[4] Both male and female arctic foxes share the duties of collecting food for their young, but it is the male foxes duty to guard the dens from other possible predators. Arctic foxes form lifetime monogamous bonds with each other and their family units typically consist of an adult male, a mother to the pups, another female who helps intermittently, and the offspring. The importance of loyalty and a strong family dynamic is another trait that factors into what makes the arctic fox such a wonderful leader.
I've learned from my spirit animal that it is best to stay out of trouble.  In the example of the relationship between polar bears and arctic foxes, the arctic fox does not endanger itself by taking down large prey, but waits for the polar bear to do so, while still reaping the benefits. Like the arctic fox waiting for the polar bear to make the kill, rather than meddle in other people's business, I should stay on the sidelines. I interpret this lesson as a sign to steer clear from involving myself in other people's arguments unless I feel threatened or directly attacked. Though usually successful, this method can leave the arctic fox dependent on other animals skills for food, preventing the fox from reaching it's full leadership potential. Similarly, if I decide to keep to myself, more often than not I will miss out on opportunities to lead.
I believe full-heartedly that the arctic fox is unmistakably a leader; nevertheless "no animal is better or worse than any other. Every animal's medicine is unique," meaning that every person has the potential to be leader, but in order to actualize this potential it is important to listen to one's spirit animal and keep an open mind for one "will find [their] greatest success in the animal that comes to [them]."[6]

Word count including quotes: 1601 Word count without quotes: 1526


[1] Rosling, Norbert. "A White Arctic Fox Alopex Lagopus Jumps." fineartamerica.com.2011. 24 Feb. 2013 <http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/a-white-arctic-fox-alopex-lagopus-jumps-norbert-rosing.jpg>
[2] Morehouse, Keith. "Alopex Lagopus Coiled Up in Snow." wildnernessclassroom.com. 2002. 24 Feb. 2013 <http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/polarbear/images/800px-Alopex_lagopus_coiled_up_in_snow.jpg>
[3] Ted Andrews, Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1993), 272.
[4] Tannerfeldt, Magnus. "The Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus" (On-line), Accessed February 24, 2013 at www.zoologi.su.se/research/alopex/the_arctic_fox.htm
[5] Edwards, Jim. jimedwardsphotography.com. 24 Feb. 2013 <http://www.jimedwardswildlifephotography.com/Polar_Bear_Notes_files/IMG_2305BearFox.jpg>
[6] Ted Andrews, Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1993), 10.
[7] thatcutesite.com. 2010. 24 Feb. 2013 <http://www.thatcutesite.com/arctic-fox-does-a-divebomb.html>

P2


P2 - Belle Star

The animals that have been and will be saved by the volunteers at Austin Pets Alive are incredibly lucky. There is an estimated 70 million cats that roam the streets as strays in the United States alone. Of these cats, only a small percentage of them are rehabilitated and adopted. Like many of the cats and dogs that have been rescued by Austin Pets Alive, it is impossible to know exactly how Belle Star's journey led her to the Town Lake Animal Center. Belle Star has the potential to fill a void in someone's life and through using sympathetic imagination I will appeal to her future owner by depicting what her life may have been like before being saved.     
I don't remember very much from before I was rescued and taken to Austin Pets Alive, but I do recall some happy moments as a kitten. I have memories of rolling in the lush green grass while I tussled with my brothers and sisters. I didn't know it then, but my family was homeless. My mother struggled to nurture us; she was too weak and feeble to care for so many kittens. As a result, two of my sisters died very young. Not long after their deaths, my mother disappeared from our lives completely, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. Following the dispersal of my family, my life consisted of aimless wandering and struggling to find food. I was found hidden beside a dumpster, cold, malnourished, and alone. I sensed that the person who had discovered me had no idea how to handle me. The large man snagged me by the skin on the back of my neck and held me at arms length. I blinked curiously at him as he scrunched his nose and gave me a pathetic look. I could only imagine what he saw: a mangy cat with matted fur covering an emaciated body. He must have taken pity on me, because unlike the humans who had ignored me in the past, he took me to the Town Lake Animal Center.
Were it not for the volunteers at Austin Pets Alive I would have been doomed. Every day, the wonderful volunteers feed me and take care of my basic needs, but I dream of being the perfect addition to a budding family outside of this adoption center. I imagine myself roaming freely and enjoying the outdoors, knowing that I have a family to come home to. I would observe the birds flying in the rich blue sky or watch the leaves fall from the trees, begging me to catch them. I'd come pawing at my owner's door, signaling to them I was ready to be cuddled. I would spend hours in the laps of my loved ones, thanking them for my new lease on life. They will see the love beaming from my eyes whenever I peer up at them. I would never stray. But until then I will be here, caged and hopeless. My gaze “has turned into a vacant stare which nothing holds.”[1] Today I amble in circles, itching to work out my muscles though it’s impossible in the small space to which I am confined. I observe people watching me, hoping with all my heart that they realize that I am the one for them. Can they see me? Do they know how much potential I have? They walk on by.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice a girl walk in. She is inquiring about me. I can hear her words clearly, "Can you tell me where I can find Belle Star?" she asks the volunteer sitting behind the desk. I jump down from my spot on the perch to get a closer look as the volunteer motions to me. Am I being saved? Has the time come for me to leave this place and start a new life? The girl kneels down and peers at me. I've been at the shelter long enough to know that if I want to be adopted I have to be active. This could be my only chance to make an impression. I adjust my posture and begin to show off.
I prance around the kennel, stretching my long legs as I go. I decide to impress her by showcasing my jumping skills. I leap for my perch and stick the landing. I glance back at the girl who is still crouched beside my cage. She must be interested because I notice her take out a camera and begin filming me. As she continues to record me, a million thoughts run through my head. Will my forever family find me by watching this? Will I finally be chosen? I am not destined to live out the rest of my life behind bars. I must be adopted. I deserve the chance to love and be loved. I beg her with my eyes to understand.
  I was gazing into Belle Star’s expressive eyes and could feel she was trying to communicate something to me. She was asking me to pick her up and show her how humans are meant to care for their animals. Her desperate stare reminded me “we sympathize with what we see rather than what we hear.”[2] The second I walked up to where she was being kept she jumped gracefully down from her perch to watch me herself. I read from her chart that she was only 10 months old and I instantly wondered how long she had been at the shelter. She was very well mannered and didn't seem to be afraid of interacting with humans so I doubt she had spent much time outside these walls. If she had a family before being brought here, how could they have abandoned her so easily? The reason why I choose to believe that Belle Star has never had a home to call her own is because the thought of someone teasing her by caring for her only when it was convenient for them sickens me to my core. Her eyes look so innocent peeking up at me from behind the metal bars. I take my time studying her. She walks in circles around her kennel, alternating her speeds. Occasionally, she surprises me by hopping up on her favorite perch, giving me a fleeting look before springing back to her previous spot on the floor. I laugh when she proves to me that she is litter box trained. It's almost as if she is trying to show me all that she is capable of doing before I can make the decision to walk away. I wonder if Belle Star knows why I am watching her.
I tried to mentally place myself in her position, but it was harder than I expected. It's difficult to imagine how anyone would react to being caged. When extending my sympathetic imagination to Belle Star I chose to illustrate her intelligence and comprehension. The way she closely observed everything going on around her showed me she understood how life worked living in the shelter. I included the part about her showing off to me because that is how I characterized her behavior. Unlike the other cats I had noticed, Belle Star was almost always moving about, but only when someone would pass by her kennel. We, as humans, are conscious of the fact that organizations like Austin Pets Alive are doing what is in the best interest of the animals, but do the animals know that? They are aware that the volunteers feed and care for them, but it is impossible to know how they actually perceive their time at the shelter. I know that they are better off kept at the Town Lake Animal Center until they are adopted because professionals who can assess and monitor their condition are close at hand, but would Belle Star rather be roaming free as a stray? I considered this when writing from her point of view. She desperately wanted to escape the confines of her cage, but living life as a stray would be so much worse for her. As a stray, Belle Star would be exposed to a variety of illnesses and have no access to medical treatment. Every scenario that I went over in my head seemed misguided. No matter where she is being kept or how she made it to the shelter, until Belle Star is adopted she won't be receiving the unconditional love and attention every cat deserves.
I didn't imagine that during my visit to the Town Lake Animal Center I would make a genuine connection with the cat I had chosen. I've been strictly a dog person all my life and rarely have I come across a cat that has mesmerized me like Belle Star has. Before the experience of extending my sympathetic imagination to her, I may have been able to at the very least half connect with a human being were I to attempt to extend my sympathetic imagination to them. In my opinion, although humans can speak and communicate their feelings, it is much easier to characterize how a dog or cat perceives life. Because I am human, I realize that there are a variety of emotions that people feel and keep hidden, but I don't think animals interact the same way. I believe that animals are more transparent than people, meaning they have no reason to lie about how they feel mentally or physically. Whether the animal is wild or domesticated factors in to how well I could extend my sympathetic imagination to them. For instance, while I wonder if a domesticated cat wants to be held, I know a lion would not appreciate being carried in the same manner. This double standard for the way humans perceive animals, both wild and domesticated, carries many implications. It’s easy to group all animals together, but the truth is, like in humans, every animal perceives and characterizes actions differently, therefore the ability to extend one’s sympathetic imagination is useful in forging a connection with any living creature, whether they be human or animal.


Word count with quotes: 1694
Word count without quotes: 1673

Blog URL: https://courses.utexas.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp

 APENDEX
-All images in paper taken by Gabriela Guerrero
*The APA! website has yet to update Belle Star’s page.




P2A:
Meet Belle Star, your future kitty! Belle Star is a ten-month-old kitten that enjoys going on adventures and playing. She is inquisitive and eager to be loved by you! While she absolutely adores cuddling, she does so on her own terms. Belle Star was rescued and given a second chance at life by Austin Pets Alive. Were you to adopt her, this sassy cat would make herself right at home and be grateful that you gave her the freedom she so desperately craves. Not only is Belle Star great with other cats, she is striking to look at also! Her gorgeous black and white tuxedo style coat compliments her bright yellow eyes. Those curious gleaming eyes of hers will captivate you. Belle Star, a total sweetheart, would make the perfect companion and addition to a family. Like her name, “Beautiful Star,” she possesses a cheery energy that can brighten any one's day! Belle Star is the perfect kitty to greet you when you come home.
She is litter box trained and is very good-natured. The youthful sway in her step is hypnotizing; you won't be able to look away! While she is clearly an independent cat she will catch your attention with her agile movements and calculated leaps. An intelligent cat like Belle Star should be spending her days exploring and not in a shelter. Being so young, Belle Star has many years ahead of her, years she could be spending by your side! With so much potential, it is a shame that Belle Star hasn’t been adopted yet. Don’t miss your opportunity to watch Belle Star in action and head over to Austin Pets Alive today!
     




[1] Rainer Maria Rilke, “The Panther” in Leadership, Ethics, and Animals, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin, Texas: 2013), 818.
[2] “Sympathetic Imagination” in Leadership, Ethics, and Animals, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin, Texas: 2013), 565.