ANIMAL COMMUNICATION, BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY & ICHTHYOLOGY

 

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CICHAZ policies, guidelines, and survival guides

1. We operate the field station out of a rural residence in a remote area of rural Mexico. Keep in mind that there is only a minimal first-aid clinic in Calnali, and only marginally better care in Zacualtipan and Huejutla, each over an hour away. The nearest good hospitals are in Pachuca and Tampico, 3 1/2 and 4 hours away, respectively. Make sure you have appropriate medication/training for any conditions or allergies you have. The facilities we operate do not conform to U.S. or any institutional safety standards. By working, visiting, or volunteering at CICHAZ, you assume any and all risks and responsibilities and release the owners and users of CICHAZ, as well as their employers and affiliated institutions, from any liability.

The neighborhood, Aguazarca:

2. We strive to be an integral part of the local community. We are fortunate to have great neighbors who help keep CICHAZ secure and running smoothly. Patronize local businesses as much as possible. Neighborhood kids will often come into the living/dining area after school and on weekends to play. There is a small, growing library of children's books; each kid can take one book home at a time and has to bring it back before taking another. Contribute Spanish or Spanish/English kids' books if you can, and feel free to leave grown-up books/magazines behind if you're done reading them.

3. Clemente and Irma Hernandez, and their children Ricardo, Osvaldo, Heriberto, and Yesica, are the primary caretakers of CICHAZ. They live across the street directly in front of the Taller de Vidrios next door. Ask them for help with anything you need. At the end of your stay, please give Irma at least $150 pesos to clean the house and launder sheets/towels for the next occupant.

4. Carla and Rey and their children Diego, Miriam, Mariana and Yasmin, next door at the Taller de Vidrios and Abarrotes San Antonio, sell dry goods, milk, fruits and vegetables, fresh tortilla dough, beer, and occasionally marinated meat. For ultimate convenience, call out to Carla from the kitchen window and she will bring you what you need. Rey can do any metal or glass work you might require. Ernestina is the older lady next door on the other side of the house.

5. Try to balance beer purchases between Carla and the woman across the street (Miscelanea Nelly). In either case, you will have to pay a deposit on the bottles, which you'll get back upon returning them.

6. About 100m down the street towards Calnali, there are excellent tacos al pastor most evenings on the right hand side.

The house: 

7. Common sense applies. If you break something, use something, or get something dirty, please fix it, replace it, or clean it up.

8. Upon arrival at CICHAZ, go up to the roof and open the valve to the natural gas tank, then light the pilot on the hot water heater. If you're keeping aquatic creatures, turn on the water to the dechlorinated water reservoir and treat with 35 ml Amquel once it's full.  When you leave, be sure to turn off hot water heater, gas tank, and water to reservoir.

9. Fuse box is on front of the house and breaker may have to be turned on to get power. Extra fuses are in kitchen, please replace with identical fuses from hardware store in town. Power is "dirty" and fails occasionally, so bring voltage regulators if working with delicate equipment. A headlamp is a great accessory to have.

10. Tap water is chlorinated and fine for brushing teeth, but don't drink it. Carla sells 40-L canisters of drinking water for 12 pesos plus deposit. White PVC taps in fishroom and interior lab room produce dechlorinated fish water from the rooftop reservoir. Please conserve water as much as possible. Supply can be intermittent. The black plastic reservoir on top of the roof is filled intermittently, and we have gone up to 48 hours without running water.

11. Try to urinate in the garden rather than in toilets. Put toilet paper and other sanitaries in trashcans rather than down the toilet.

12. Turn gas off to stove when not in use.

13. Wash clothes in washing machine, then hang on second floor terrace to dry.

14. Make sure Clemente and Irma know about any perishables you leave in the fridge on departure.

15. Leave all lab and fishroom areas as you found them on arrival.

16. Sheets, towels, and blankets are on second floor landing. When you leave, pile sheets and towels in washing machine and, if necessary, pay Irma to do extra loads/hang up clothes.

17. Check shoes and drawers for tarantulas and scorpions.

18. For details on research equipment, see Facilities.

The garden:

19. There is a nest of Africanized honeybees about halfway to the river and on the left. Don't bother them.

20. Introduced fire ants are a pest here just like in Texas. They are merely annoying unless you are allergic.

21. There is an abrupt dropoff to the river, exercise caution with young children or impaired adults.

22. Help yourself to firewood, fruits, and vegetables. We have countless citrus trees as well as mangos, avocados, and bananas. Be sure to try the pomarosa (rose-flavored fruits in season in May/June) near the path to the river.

23. Don't remove any fish from this stretch of river, as this is our long term study population.

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