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Symbolic Migration

Symbolic Monarch Migration Update: October 30, 2001

Today's Update Includes:

Tipping the Scales
Each year at the Journey North office, Beth Allen works tirelessly to coordinate all aspects of the Symbolic Migration. With the rest of the Journey North staff, Beth works to ensure that all of your Symbolic Butterflies will have a chance for survival on their long travels to Mexico.

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Beth Allen Leading the Way!

"We like Mike!"
Student Mike Everett lifts, while Beth records the weight

After we unpack each envelope, we carefully place each butterfly into boxes for shipping. (And we do a "high five" for everyone who properly followed the Checklist. You should see how happy this makes Beth!)

Once all of the processing has been completed, each of the boxes must be weighed so that UPS knows just how big your precious cargo is. As you can see in these pictures, it was a weighty job!

"Live From Journey North, It's UPS Night!"
Last night, at exactly 4:48 p.m. CST, your paper butterflies began the final leg of their Symbolic Migration to Mexico!

Once again this year, our friendly UPS driver Todd Stenstrom arrived at the staging grounds at Journey North headquarters in Wayzata, Minnesota and eagerly loaded your precious cargo onto his truck:

Before leaving, UPS' Todd Stenstrom gave us the special tracking number so you can follow the migration LIVE all the way to Mexico.

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Are you wondering where the butterflies are right now? Visit the UPS Web site and find out. Then, see if you can answer today's Challenge Question below. But don't wait too long, they could catch a tail wind!

"Are We There Yet?"
Todd "Challenges" you!

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Ever taken a long trip and asked how long until you get there? Well, now that all of your Butterflies are on the move again, you must be wondering the same thing. So we asked the UPS driver Todd Stenstrom about this, and he challenged you to figure it out:

Challenge Question #2:
"Exactly how many days, hours and minutes do you think it will take the butterflies to reach the front door of the Museo del Nino in Mexico City?"

Clues:
The butterflies are traveling via UPS' "Expedited" service. Here is the path they will take:

  1. From Wayzata, the butterflies went to a local UPS station at nearby Eden Prairie, and then will be FLOWN to Louisville, KY

  2. From Wayzata, the butterflies will be FLOWN to Louisville, KY

  3. From Louisville, they will FLY to Dallas, TX

  4. From Dallas they will FLY to Mexico

  5. Upon arrival in Mexico City, they will go through Customs.

  6. Finally they will be TRUCKED to the Museo del Nino in Mexico City.

* As you figure your answer, this information about the workday in Mexico might be helpful: People generally come to work at 9 a.m., they take a midday comida from 12 until 2, and return to work until about 7 p.m.

To RESPOND to this Challenge Question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.

Butterflies on Board? Symbolic Migration Passenger List
A Message of Peace is on Board

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Are all of your Symbolic Butterflies on board for Mexico?

IMPORTANT: Please carefully check for your school's name on this list:

PLEASE DON'T PANIC
If you sent butterflies to Journey North and you do not find your name on the list, please don't be alarmed. Just follow these steps:

  1. LOOK AGAIN! Please check the list very, very carefully. When teachers write us in despair, we find that over 75% simply didn't read carefully enough.

  2. Please do not write to us about spelling errors. With a plane to catch--and over 2,000 schools on board--we had to type quickly! We apologize in advance if your school's name is misspelled.

  3. If you're certain your name is not listed, send an E-mail to Journey North and let us know: our feedback form

(Please include your full name and address, and the number of butterflies you sent.)

Buen Viaja Mariposas!

Special Thanks for Special Service
Your boxes full of butterflies are now flying to Mexico by UPS's special international cargo service. We hope you'll take the time to thank UPS (United Parcel Service) for this support.

Please send your thanks to:

Mr. Ed Gill
UPS Minnesota COO
3312 Broadway St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

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Symbolic Migration Art Gallery Now Open
Had a chance to browse through the Art Gallery yet? "Darlings ...you simply must have a look!" It's an artistic array of many meaningful masterpieces. And your Symbolic Butterfly might be among them.

Take a tour of the Gallery and see if you can find YOUR Butterfly:

Arriving For the Night of the Dead
This Friday night when you are sleeping, many people in Mexico will be awake all night. They will be at the cemetery, spending the night at the graves of their loved ones to commemorate the "Noche de Los Muertos", the Night of the Dead. Rooted in an ancient Aztec tradition, this holiday is celebrated by the Mexican people with a mix of customs and beliefs. They honor and remember the souls of their ancestors, who are believed to return to earth each year at this time. Rather than a time to mourn, this holiday is viewed as a celebration with gifts and favorite foods left for the souls.

 
In the Monarch region, there is a legend that ties the return of the monarch butterfly to the return of the souls. Senor Juan Pablo Martinez-Soriano writes from Irapuato, Guanajuato:

"Natives in Mexico believe that monarchs are the souls of the loving people who have passed away and come back to visit every year. Monarchs arrive in huge numbers at the same time (October 30 to November 2), and therefore their significance and fervor towards them.

"I have been told by local peasants that the size of the monarchs arriving first are small and therefore the celebration for the dead children on November 1. On November 2, Mexicans celebrate the day of the dead (adults). In Central and Southern Mexico, this celebration is deep-felt and people often visit the family graves and offer not only flowers but even hot meals, preferred drinks, cigarettes and many other things to the dead. Some families even spend the night of November 1 there in celebration." (jpms@irapuato.ira.cinvestav.mx)


What's Next for Your Butterflies?
In our next report, watch for the list of donors who are"Helping Monarchs"

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The next and FINAL Symbolic Update will be posted on November 2, 2001. Here's what you can expect in that Update:

Coming November 2, 2001:
  • We'll reveal the Total Number of Symbolic Butterflies "migrating" to Mexico this year and exactly how long their travels took.

  • While your Butterflies are in the care of the Mexican people, read about life in the sanctuary region.

  • A List of Donors to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Foundation, whose donations inspire us all to generously share with other parts of the world.

How to Respond to Today's Challenge Question

IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message.

1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-symbolic@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #2
3. In the body of the message, answer the question above.

The Next and FINAL Symbolic Monarch Migration Update Will be Posted on November 2, 2001

Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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