Update on last night: We had mashed potatoes, green beans sauteed in butter and vinegar (or so it tasted like), mixed vegetables and carrot cake. Steve was playing this little game called "steal everything off the table and hide it conspicuously where it can definitely be missed". He did this repeatedly with the pepper shaker, Tara's notebook, Robbyn's iphone, and then Tommy's (who has been hanging with our entire group lately) and Carl/Fred's beer. Tommy had 4 bottles on the table and Carl/Fred had 3. Steve succeeded in stealing most of these and passing them to members of the table, who then passed them around and made them mysteriously appear on the table in front of them again. It was a game that we were all laughing about for nearly an hour.
We woke up at the same time, to a little mist outside. We packed up our gear (I took my plant stuff for the first time) and we drove to Mrs. Chocs. Breakfast was excellent as usual and we sat for a few minutes eating- until the downpour hit. I ran to get my backpack and raincoat that were in the back of the truck where I had been riding, after it kept getting increasingly stronger. We were stuck at Mrs. Chocs for a good half hour after we had finished eating waiting for it to let up a bit so we could go home- not even trying for the site.
On the way back to Banana Bank, we pleaded with the people riding in the truck and succeeded in getting them to keep our stuff in the dry while we rode in the back. I was especially insistent and whiny about my stuff since I had a GPS unit, among other things, stored in it.
On the ride home, we had our raincoats up, except for mine that I was half-sitting on. On the ride, Jose asked how old I was, and was shocked to know that I was younger than him. Happens every time. I learned earlier today that he was in the first class I ever TA'd at UIUC- and the one I met Steve in. So, that was very funny too.
We got home and Lisa gave us a lecture on the Maya underworld, concluding that the "sacrifices", as the tour guide told us, were not really sacrifices. She defined them as "witches". It was interesting and something that she had co-authored a paper on so I trust her more than I do our tour guide, who happened to say that he had felt spirits in the cave.
Lisa wanted us to go to the Belize Zoo, but, no one was really up for that. I had to get some work done and the others were not enthused. So, Lisa drove them 5 miles in to the nearest gas station and then left them to shop. During that time, a torrential flood came. So, by the time I saw them again, they were soaked to the core- even those who had rain jackets.
As for me, I worked up a job application for a TA position I want and am now trying to coax my e-mail into letting me send it using my UIUC address instead of my gmail address. If that doesn't work- and I have been at this for a very long time, I will have to go back to using the basic html gmail function and try another route to send my app to my letter writer. I have also been finalizing the methods I will employ in the field, trying to work up a lecture for next week (15 slides down!!), and an abstract for a conference in Texas in the Fall. We shall see how I do. I also want to finish my novel today, but, that might be too lofty a goal.
We still have our pack lunches from Mrs. Choc, so, I will be consuming that shortly! Yummy!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 8- That jaguar wants to eat Steve/My day of rest
I woke up without the aid of an alarm clock. My internal alarm clock keeps waking me up earlier and earlier now! We had breakfast of eggs sunny-side up, papaya, and fried bread and syrup. I worked on being as relaxed as possible. However, I did manage to watch a DVD made probably in the 1990s about the GPS system that I will start using this week in the field. It poured again today, and the internet service was choppy. I think we have more guests, so, that means more draw on our limited internet. Oh well, I got some more reading done on my novel and called my Mom. Clark and Hoyt also talked, Hoyt's main comment being, as always "Sissy, when are you coming to my house?" Unfortunately, July 3rd was not the date he was wanting. Steve, Hannah and I split and Banana Split in the mid-afternoon. It was very good. Basically, it was a lazy day for me. I haven't had one of those in.....well, I can't really remember the last day I really and truly relaxed the entire day. So, this was an awesome break!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 7- "I don't know what just happened, but, you are wearing different pants" (Kayla to Steve)
Update from last night: swimming was awesome. I determined that, fortunately, Tommy also enjoyed hitting on the other girls that I room with. Lisa's niece arrived and ate supper with us after the owner, John Carr, picked her up. Her name is Gabs and she will be with us until after our Tikal adventure next weekend. We had eggplant with cheese and jalapenos, spaghetti with a side of meatballs in red sauce, garlic bread instead of buns, lemonade, beats and red cabbage, and pineapple upside down cake. Since Steve had more fruit on his, he kindly traded slices :) Yay Steve! The others stayed up late playing risk, while I watched the last 2 episodes of the Office that I had missed.
This morning we slept in!!!! Until 700. It was amazing. The night was very hot again, but, it was ok. Somehow, through the course of sleeping, I wound up taking the mosquito netting from off one corner of the bed, by my head, and sticking my head out of it. I woke up and wondered why, in this hot hot weather I had used the sheet to cover myself. When I finally realized it was the netting, I quickly replaced it.
Breakfast was orange juice, pancakes, eggs and watermelon. The watermelon was tops. We crossed the river and boarded a bus bound for ATM at 815. Steve was the official guardian of our packed lunches from Banana Bank and he, therefore, got an entire 2 seats to himself. I was the guardian of the bananas, also for lunch. It was an hour trip by tour bus, with 3 other American girls, and I spent the majority of it reading my long-forgotten book, "Nefertiti". I really enjoyed it! I sat next to Hannah, who has quickly become my dinner table/riding buddy.
We hiked about 2 miles inland through the jungle, with Steve carrying all the lunches in a garbage bag, to the cave entrance. Elle finally took them from him when we were almost to the cave, which he jokingly complained about later. There were 5 of us from the field school and the three random rich American girls who went on one tour group into the cave.
I don't really know if words can describe our experience. I would borrow Jose's word and say "Awesome" (he uses this word all the time, he is easily excited). But, I think a better me-term would be "WOW". The trip incorporated my passion for archaeology with my love of caving all wrapped into one. If that wasn't enough, there were portions that we basically had to swim through. It was absolutely incredible, ranking as one of the best trips in my entire life! I took lots of photos, many of them candids of Steve per my normal actions, and I will try to post the best ones to Facebook.
Most of the archaeology remains in the cave, since archaeologists have done minimal to the site itself other than try to protect it in its original state as much as possible. I was actually shocked at how many of the concepts that the tour guide was saying that I already knew. I was also happy whenever I could answer his questions that he posed to the group. Finally!! Haha.
By the time we got out of the cave, it was pouring. But, we were already soaked so it was ok. We ate a packed lunch of bologna and cheese sandwhiches and a salad of zucchini, cabbage, carrots, raisins and pineapple (maybe, it tasted sweet whatever fruit it was). Steve and I made a deal: I got both of his cheeses and he took both of my bolognas. It made for an awesome exchange. When we got back to the bus, the rain had stopped, so, we were able to change our clothes in the open-air but closed on 2 sides used-to-be rest room. Luckily, I had brought my towel, so, things weren't so awkward as they could have been.
It started raining again, pouring actually, while we were in the bus. We actually had to struggle to make it up some hills, and went through streams that would have made an American driver turn around. But, there was no where else to go, so, we barged ahead. At one point, another tour vehicle, this one a 15-passenger van, was stopped in the mud. We waited for it to move before we were able to proceed.
It was pouring again when we got back to Banana Bank just a few minutes ago. And parts of the roof in our room was leaking. Elle and I went about trying to find make-shift water catchers. Steve, Kayla and Tara were not deterred by the rain, and are actually playing soccer outside my window with 2 local boys about 10 or so as I type. It is fun to watch and listen to them laugh.
Random aside, for my dearest Granny Annie (don't take offense). As we were walking back from the cave site in the pouring rain, we encountered a group of people walking to the cave site, who were soaked from the 2 mile trek. There were 3 Asians, a young American couple, and 2 ladies who appeared to be in their 70s or 80s sporting canes and waddling through the jungle. I will account to you only some of what we had to do on this trip: walk across slippery stones (I fell at one point and caught myself with my water bottle) across 3 or 4 different creeks, up and down slippery mud hills, walk through or around several large puddles, and constantly watch for branches and herbaceous plants in our way (this was just on the walk there and back)- and it was a 4 mile hike total. In the cave, we had to swim through the entrance, walk across slippery stones, climb a ladder, be pulled up rocks, make our way through tiny squeeze holes, and watch constantly for boulders beneath the surface of the water, all while watching out for any archaeology or stalagmites that we could damage with just a tiny touch. We had to come in and out of this cave, probably a mile each way. All of this that 2 little old ladies were trying to accomplish when they could barely make it through the jungle while leaning on each other! All of our group, most strongly the 3 rich American girls, were really upset that they had come. How could they hope to make it?
I, at first, reached similar conclusions and scorned their presence. And then I reflected on my own future as a grandma at some point, and wondered what all I would still want to do. I don't take life sitting down and I don't ever expect to. If I set around my nursing home room playing canasta and watching soap operas, I think I would go insane. I would at least flirt with all of the young male nurses (if my own husband weren't still around to flirt with).
A lot of my generation is not too active. Their idea of fun is playing endless hours of video games or surfing the internet or watching hoards of movies. What these ladies proved to me is that it is never too late to enjoy life or have fun. I like to feel that, as a grandma, I would like to still be active. I would like to be an example to my grandchildren, as both of my grandmas have always been to me. They always encouraged my work ethic and exploratory nature, and I really appreciate that. I think I would like to be the kind of grandma that, if my grandkids played too many video games and such, would kidnap them for a week or so in the summer and take them to someplace in the middle of no where and make them put up their own tent, and cook food over a campstove or firepit, and not allow any other "toys" except for board/card games, frisbees and soccer balls, and books. I also like to think that, if they got too much into ice-cream or instant dinners, I would teach them how to grow a garden and cook real food from scratch.
Btw, on a 2 mile hike back, you have a lot of time to mull over such things :)
This morning we slept in!!!! Until 700. It was amazing. The night was very hot again, but, it was ok. Somehow, through the course of sleeping, I wound up taking the mosquito netting from off one corner of the bed, by my head, and sticking my head out of it. I woke up and wondered why, in this hot hot weather I had used the sheet to cover myself. When I finally realized it was the netting, I quickly replaced it.
Breakfast was orange juice, pancakes, eggs and watermelon. The watermelon was tops. We crossed the river and boarded a bus bound for ATM at 815. Steve was the official guardian of our packed lunches from Banana Bank and he, therefore, got an entire 2 seats to himself. I was the guardian of the bananas, also for lunch. It was an hour trip by tour bus, with 3 other American girls, and I spent the majority of it reading my long-forgotten book, "Nefertiti". I really enjoyed it! I sat next to Hannah, who has quickly become my dinner table/riding buddy.
We hiked about 2 miles inland through the jungle, with Steve carrying all the lunches in a garbage bag, to the cave entrance. Elle finally took them from him when we were almost to the cave, which he jokingly complained about later. There were 5 of us from the field school and the three random rich American girls who went on one tour group into the cave.
I don't really know if words can describe our experience. I would borrow Jose's word and say "Awesome" (he uses this word all the time, he is easily excited). But, I think a better me-term would be "WOW". The trip incorporated my passion for archaeology with my love of caving all wrapped into one. If that wasn't enough, there were portions that we basically had to swim through. It was absolutely incredible, ranking as one of the best trips in my entire life! I took lots of photos, many of them candids of Steve per my normal actions, and I will try to post the best ones to Facebook.
Most of the archaeology remains in the cave, since archaeologists have done minimal to the site itself other than try to protect it in its original state as much as possible. I was actually shocked at how many of the concepts that the tour guide was saying that I already knew. I was also happy whenever I could answer his questions that he posed to the group. Finally!! Haha.
By the time we got out of the cave, it was pouring. But, we were already soaked so it was ok. We ate a packed lunch of bologna and cheese sandwhiches and a salad of zucchini, cabbage, carrots, raisins and pineapple (maybe, it tasted sweet whatever fruit it was). Steve and I made a deal: I got both of his cheeses and he took both of my bolognas. It made for an awesome exchange. When we got back to the bus, the rain had stopped, so, we were able to change our clothes in the open-air but closed on 2 sides used-to-be rest room. Luckily, I had brought my towel, so, things weren't so awkward as they could have been.
It started raining again, pouring actually, while we were in the bus. We actually had to struggle to make it up some hills, and went through streams that would have made an American driver turn around. But, there was no where else to go, so, we barged ahead. At one point, another tour vehicle, this one a 15-passenger van, was stopped in the mud. We waited for it to move before we were able to proceed.
It was pouring again when we got back to Banana Bank just a few minutes ago. And parts of the roof in our room was leaking. Elle and I went about trying to find make-shift water catchers. Steve, Kayla and Tara were not deterred by the rain, and are actually playing soccer outside my window with 2 local boys about 10 or so as I type. It is fun to watch and listen to them laugh.
Random aside, for my dearest Granny Annie (don't take offense). As we were walking back from the cave site in the pouring rain, we encountered a group of people walking to the cave site, who were soaked from the 2 mile trek. There were 3 Asians, a young American couple, and 2 ladies who appeared to be in their 70s or 80s sporting canes and waddling through the jungle. I will account to you only some of what we had to do on this trip: walk across slippery stones (I fell at one point and caught myself with my water bottle) across 3 or 4 different creeks, up and down slippery mud hills, walk through or around several large puddles, and constantly watch for branches and herbaceous plants in our way (this was just on the walk there and back)- and it was a 4 mile hike total. In the cave, we had to swim through the entrance, walk across slippery stones, climb a ladder, be pulled up rocks, make our way through tiny squeeze holes, and watch constantly for boulders beneath the surface of the water, all while watching out for any archaeology or stalagmites that we could damage with just a tiny touch. We had to come in and out of this cave, probably a mile each way. All of this that 2 little old ladies were trying to accomplish when they could barely make it through the jungle while leaning on each other! All of our group, most strongly the 3 rich American girls, were really upset that they had come. How could they hope to make it?
I, at first, reached similar conclusions and scorned their presence. And then I reflected on my own future as a grandma at some point, and wondered what all I would still want to do. I don't take life sitting down and I don't ever expect to. If I set around my nursing home room playing canasta and watching soap operas, I think I would go insane. I would at least flirt with all of the young male nurses (if my own husband weren't still around to flirt with).
A lot of my generation is not too active. Their idea of fun is playing endless hours of video games or surfing the internet or watching hoards of movies. What these ladies proved to me is that it is never too late to enjoy life or have fun. I like to feel that, as a grandma, I would like to still be active. I would like to be an example to my grandchildren, as both of my grandmas have always been to me. They always encouraged my work ethic and exploratory nature, and I really appreciate that. I think I would like to be the kind of grandma that, if my grandkids played too many video games and such, would kidnap them for a week or so in the summer and take them to someplace in the middle of no where and make them put up their own tent, and cook food over a campstove or firepit, and not allow any other "toys" except for board/card games, frisbees and soccer balls, and books. I also like to think that, if they got too much into ice-cream or instant dinners, I would teach them how to grow a garden and cook real food from scratch.
Btw, on a 2 mile hike back, you have a lot of time to mull over such things :)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 6-
By the way, I realized that we have not been going to bed when I thought we were, at 900pm. That was what my computer said because it is still set to US time. We have had lights out by 800. That's pretty incredible for 3 college girls. It was a very hot night and I have never sweated so much in my sleep! Luckily, I had the fan on, but, it didn't stop the horrendous heat. I had my first actual nightmare (to me) in like forever. So, I guess hot nights give me bad dreams :(
We woke up on time, and got to Mrs. Chocs for breakfast of corn tortilla, bean paste and fried chicken. Yes, fried chicken (that I didn't eat) for breakfast. If Clark is reading this, tell him it was a first for all of us too, and we are all "grown-ups". I again braided Kayla's hair. We got to the site around 730 and started setting up a grid for one single unit. I emphasize this one, single unit because it took us until 1100 to get it in correctly- one measly 2x1 unit! I asked, as we finally finished, how long does it take 11 archaeologists to put in one unit? Answer, a very long time! Of course, it had to be exactly 1m on 2 sides and 2 m on 2 sides, and with all sides matching NS or EW axis. Often the NS axes were off, causing us to start all over again. Or, the sides were 1-3cm off, causing us to start all over again. Even if just one side was off, it was a disaster. I won't go in to the ends and outs of how we did it all, but below is a photo of how we did measurements. I actually got a little ticked at one point and began to give my personal opinion on how it should be measured and what instruments should be used and such.
Before we started putting in the units, the guys showed us how to use our machetes. I don't really have good form, so, Steve was forever correcting me. But, eventually I almost cut him, so, our lessons stopped. Luckily, all of our machetes were so dull you would have had to use them as clubs to really hurt someone.
For lunch, we had rice and beans with tomatoes and chilis. It was sooooo awesome. I even got some extra rice left over from Elle's lunch. Robyyn brought her ipod and speakers, so, we listened to the Beatles as we ate. I also found a large vine that I could swing on during our machete lesson, so, I swang on that for a bit.
We practiced siting from a permanent transverse point and the guys built a cute little hut around out unit.
After that, we started in mapping yet another unit, this one on a hill. So, we thought it was going to be horrible. It was 130 and we were tired. But, we mapped it correctly on our first try! And spent the rest of the time mapping it to the traverse point near the main site, that we were working on yesterday. Now, I am about to go swimming again, hopefully with people I know or alone, and get some ice-cream!!!!!
We woke up on time, and got to Mrs. Chocs for breakfast of corn tortilla, bean paste and fried chicken. Yes, fried chicken (that I didn't eat) for breakfast. If Clark is reading this, tell him it was a first for all of us too, and we are all "grown-ups". I again braided Kayla's hair. We got to the site around 730 and started setting up a grid for one single unit. I emphasize this one, single unit because it took us until 1100 to get it in correctly- one measly 2x1 unit! I asked, as we finally finished, how long does it take 11 archaeologists to put in one unit? Answer, a very long time! Of course, it had to be exactly 1m on 2 sides and 2 m on 2 sides, and with all sides matching NS or EW axis. Often the NS axes were off, causing us to start all over again. Or, the sides were 1-3cm off, causing us to start all over again. Even if just one side was off, it was a disaster. I won't go in to the ends and outs of how we did it all, but below is a photo of how we did measurements. I actually got a little ticked at one point and began to give my personal opinion on how it should be measured and what instruments should be used and such.
Before we started putting in the units, the guys showed us how to use our machetes. I don't really have good form, so, Steve was forever correcting me. But, eventually I almost cut him, so, our lessons stopped. Luckily, all of our machetes were so dull you would have had to use them as clubs to really hurt someone.
For lunch, we had rice and beans with tomatoes and chilis. It was sooooo awesome. I even got some extra rice left over from Elle's lunch. Robyyn brought her ipod and speakers, so, we listened to the Beatles as we ate. I also found a large vine that I could swing on during our machete lesson, so, I swang on that for a bit.
We practiced siting from a permanent transverse point and the guys built a cute little hut around out unit.
After that, we started in mapping yet another unit, this one on a hill. So, we thought it was going to be horrible. It was 130 and we were tired. But, we mapped it correctly on our first try! And spent the rest of the time mapping it to the traverse point near the main site, that we were working on yesterday. Now, I am about to go swimming again, hopefully with people I know or alone, and get some ice-cream!!!!!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 5-PM
Update from previous post:
So, I managed to get to the pool around 535, when everyone had left. It was really nice, and the water temp is absolutely perfect. I did a few laps width wise and convinced myself that I wasn't really so horrible in water after all. Definitely not any good, but not as horribly depressing and embarrassing as I had previously thought. Just when I thought life was perfect, this guy who had come in yesterday entered the pool area with his drink and just set there, facing me, saying nothing. The pool is large (see FB photo), so, it wasn't an issue. Finally, after a very long and awkward time, he entered the pool. Since he was with this other guy about Lisa's age named Kevin (who helped us across the river when we first got there and was originally from Champaign), I asked about that. Well, that was all it took and apparently I am Tommy's new best friend. I found out his who life story, etc. 23-year-old guys from Kansas must all be very friendly lol.
Dinner was finally called and we were served: buns, zucchini with butter (yummy), vinaigrette dressing with tomatoes green peppers and red onions (super), rice, and a gravy. All with the same amazing lemonade. For dessert, we had a granola bar with white icing. Then, we learned about forms from Lisa and paid for lunches with Mrs. Choc. And I sat down to blog again!
So, I managed to get to the pool around 535, when everyone had left. It was really nice, and the water temp is absolutely perfect. I did a few laps width wise and convinced myself that I wasn't really so horrible in water after all. Definitely not any good, but not as horribly depressing and embarrassing as I had previously thought. Just when I thought life was perfect, this guy who had come in yesterday entered the pool area with his drink and just set there, facing me, saying nothing. The pool is large (see FB photo), so, it wasn't an issue. Finally, after a very long and awkward time, he entered the pool. Since he was with this other guy about Lisa's age named Kevin (who helped us across the river when we first got there and was originally from Champaign), I asked about that. Well, that was all it took and apparently I am Tommy's new best friend. I found out his who life story, etc. 23-year-old guys from Kansas must all be very friendly lol.
Dinner was finally called and we were served: buns, zucchini with butter (yummy), vinaigrette dressing with tomatoes green peppers and red onions (super), rice, and a gravy. All with the same amazing lemonade. For dessert, we had a granola bar with white icing. Then, we learned about forms from Lisa and paid for lunches with Mrs. Choc. And I sat down to blog again!
Day 5- This is a pool of apple juice, with monkeys with swimmies
Last night update: finally got into the pool and it was awesome (most awesome part was that absolutely no one was around). I got Skype and gchat to work finally and got to hear a clarinet solo (awesomeness). We went to supper: buns, salad, green beans and fried potato slices, and chocolate cake with chocolate sauce on top (I ate a lot of buns). We had the lights out before 900.
We woke up at 530- this time with no alarm clock problems. However, new problems arose- no water. So, we had to fill up our water bottles in Lisa's room and did not get a chance to refill our extra water for the truck. Luckily, Chris had filled up an extra water for yesterday, so, we took that one. We got a slightly late start, and then ate breakfast and picked up lunch at Mrs. Chocs. I french-braided Kayla's hair so that it wouldn't bother her in the field so much.
We started work around 730 and began clearing the backdirt some more. The photo above is what we have been working on- isn't the site beautiful?? We actually got some sunlight today. And the jungle was so pretty- Tara, of course being the bubbly one, commented the most strongly about it. We also had smiley-face dustpans (which, sorry to say, there is no pic of). It made my day. Tara says my voice goes up an octave when I talk to Steve or when I talked about smiley-face dustpans.
We got out of the field around 200 so that Lisa could finish up some stuff. Another ride in the truck and we were home again :)
We woke up at 530- this time with no alarm clock problems. However, new problems arose- no water. So, we had to fill up our water bottles in Lisa's room and did not get a chance to refill our extra water for the truck. Luckily, Chris had filled up an extra water for yesterday, so, we took that one. We got a slightly late start, and then ate breakfast and picked up lunch at Mrs. Chocs. I french-braided Kayla's hair so that it wouldn't bother her in the field so much.
We got out of the field around 200 so that Lisa could finish up some stuff. Another ride in the truck and we were home again :)
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