It's official: I will be staffing a dig at Betty's Hope on the island of Antigua from June 5-July 3, and then from July 3-early August, I will part of the team excavating at the William Carr Estate in Little Bay, Montserrat! Both sites were early sugar plantations dating to the mid-17th century which have continuous occupation sequences up until the 20th century. I'm thinking the Caribbean will be a nice change from the Andes. For one thing I actually will get to wear shorts instead of packing extra sweaters. Plus, I'm super excited to work on some historical sites and try my hand at something new.
As usual, both projects will require me to teach; Antigua is a college field school for USC Chico and Montserrat will involve educating secondary school students about archaeology and excavations. I'm ridiculously excited for the teaching aspect though; there's just something very enjoyable about getting others excited about digging and dirt.
Links to the sites are as follows:
Montserrat- Beaudry's BU Page
Antigua USC Page
Antigua Site Page
Antigua AIA Listing
In other news, work is going well. I went up to Harrisburg, PA to check out the Pennsylvania State Museum's paleo collections from BLM land. Had a rather informative guided tour of the facility with the lead paleo researcher and his assistant. The museum is amazing, and I highly recommend the drive out there to anyone interested in Paleontology, Archaeology, and Pennsylvania state history; it is a very well run, well designed museum. Definitely worth the 2 hour drive from DC!
Other than a trip down to Charlottesville, VA to visit my sister and friend, R.R., this weekend, not too much is going on. This upcoming week I'm co-leading a BLM table at the National Historic Preservation Advocacy Day Conference run by NCSHPO, going to see the Terra Cotta Warrior exhibit at the NatGeo Museum, and hopefully attending the WAPA meeting on Tuesday about teaching religion in science classes. I'll let you know how all those go next weekend.
Hope all is well with everyone else. Enjoy your next week!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Obligatory "What I'm doing with my life in the future" Post
Seeing as I'm already a month into my internship with only 4 more to go, it seems like it's time to starting thinking ahead to the future again. This summer is starting to seriously shape up, what with my offer to teach on a dig in Antigua during the month of June and there still being a possibility for another dig on Montserrat during the month of July. Additionally, I'm trying to figure out what to do come August, but I do think that I might end up out West. For some reason, I've been having this weird draw to the other side of the country lately. Maybe it's just a need to try something new again; but instead of just a city change, more a lifestyle change? Go see what temperate climates and wide open spaces have to offer? Who knows really... The West just seems very romantic right now. So, that all being said, if anyone hears of museum/CRM/any anthropology or archaeology related work past the Mississippi, please let me know! Remember too, that I'm completely down for working for 'The Man;' we have a pretty reasonable relationship going on right now.
Otherwise, the other big future decisions I have to start making relate to Grad school. My bestie, E.R., just got into Berkley and ASU (CONGRATS!!!), and I'm starting to realize that now is the time to start seriously considering my options. I need to research professors and their publications, schools and their funding, and regions of the country where 6yrs in one spot will not cause me to go insane. Then I have to start sending out inquisitive emails, thinking about when to visit my top choices, and, 'Oh yeah,' decide what the hell I want to focus on: Maya Pre-classic or Contact-Period/Historical- Spanish, English, etc? You know, the whole 'what region, culture, when?' thing.
At the very least, I think I've removed the Andean cultures from my choices; while I enjoy it on the surface, I don't think I could devote my life to studying that region. It just doesn't cause the same excitement that other areas do. I wish I could go see a dig in Belize or Guatemala this summer, so that I could compare the Historic (specifically English or Spanish contact period/post-contact period or Victorian American) to the Maya, since I think I've at least narrowed my options to those two. But, apparently Mayan sites are protected from infiltration under cult like hierarchies; you have to be somebody's grad student or have done your field school on a site in order to become a staff member anywhere in the Maya lowlands. Forget a good resume; this is all about networking connections. And while there may be chances to get to Holmul next summer, this summer is out since el Profe is having another bambina! Thus, if I decide to go the Maya route, my decision will be text book based verses 'in the field with dirty hands' based.
Oh, how these decisions continue to weigh on me! I know I want to go to grad school. I know I want to continue on the track of becoming a professional archaeologist/ professor. But focused in WHAT?!?! How do you decide between 2 passions, which sadly do not completely allow for compromise? It's not like I can study pre-classic Mayan culture during European contact, as that never happened; so it's one or the other. I've got to pick between apples and oranges here; we are way past the point of wanting just a piece of fruit. Maybe some crazy person will let me study medicinal archaeology throughout time in the western hemisphere? We all know I love the archaeology of drugs and medicine (coca? vaginal syringes, anyone?), and what better than a dissertation on the archaeological evidence of medicine throughout time in one area of the New World? I can see it now: "Trepanning to Advil: An archaeological investigation through time concerning the treatment of maladies in Guatemala." (The Maya trepanned right?) I think I just drooled a little thinking about how fun that research would be... But then again, I love indigenous archaeology and the idea of cultural heritage management, which could be a totally different path. Why are there so many options, and why must I choose just one?!?!
If anybody wants to just open a magic door that leads me down a path of life long success and happiness, I'm waiting. Just hand me the key. Really, I'm soooooo incredibly game right now.
...
...
...
...alright, alright. I know I have to make these decisions for myself. Way to be no fun, people.
Can't blame a girl for trying though, right?
Otherwise, the other big future decisions I have to start making relate to Grad school. My bestie, E.R., just got into Berkley and ASU (CONGRATS!!!), and I'm starting to realize that now is the time to start seriously considering my options. I need to research professors and their publications, schools and their funding, and regions of the country where 6yrs in one spot will not cause me to go insane. Then I have to start sending out inquisitive emails, thinking about when to visit my top choices, and, 'Oh yeah,' decide what the hell I want to focus on: Maya Pre-classic or Contact-Period/Historical- Spanish, English, etc? You know, the whole 'what region, culture, when?' thing.
At the very least, I think I've removed the Andean cultures from my choices; while I enjoy it on the surface, I don't think I could devote my life to studying that region. It just doesn't cause the same excitement that other areas do. I wish I could go see a dig in Belize or Guatemala this summer, so that I could compare the Historic (specifically English or Spanish contact period/post-contact period or Victorian American) to the Maya, since I think I've at least narrowed my options to those two. But, apparently Mayan sites are protected from infiltration under cult like hierarchies; you have to be somebody's grad student or have done your field school on a site in order to become a staff member anywhere in the Maya lowlands. Forget a good resume; this is all about networking connections. And while there may be chances to get to Holmul next summer, this summer is out since el Profe is having another bambina! Thus, if I decide to go the Maya route, my decision will be text book based verses 'in the field with dirty hands' based.
Oh, how these decisions continue to weigh on me! I know I want to go to grad school. I know I want to continue on the track of becoming a professional archaeologist/ professor. But focused in WHAT?!?! How do you decide between 2 passions, which sadly do not completely allow for compromise? It's not like I can study pre-classic Mayan culture during European contact, as that never happened; so it's one or the other. I've got to pick between apples and oranges here; we are way past the point of wanting just a piece of fruit. Maybe some crazy person will let me study medicinal archaeology throughout time in the western hemisphere? We all know I love the archaeology of drugs and medicine (coca? vaginal syringes, anyone?), and what better than a dissertation on the archaeological evidence of medicine throughout time in one area of the New World? I can see it now: "Trepanning to Advil: An archaeological investigation through time concerning the treatment of maladies in Guatemala." (The Maya trepanned right?) I think I just drooled a little thinking about how fun that research would be... But then again, I love indigenous archaeology and the idea of cultural heritage management, which could be a totally different path. Why are there so many options, and why must I choose just one?!?!
If anybody wants to just open a magic door that leads me down a path of life long success and happiness, I'm waiting. Just hand me the key. Really, I'm soooooo incredibly game right now.
...
...
...
...alright, alright. I know I have to make these decisions for myself. Way to be no fun, people.
Can't blame a girl for trying though, right?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The 3rd snow day; the 5th day stuck in the house
I've had two snow days already, and today marks my third. It's been estimated that we'll get another foot tonight, which will leave about 3+ feet on the ground after both last weekend's, this weekend's, and tonight's storms. I thought I'd moved away from hellish winters when I left Boston, but apparently snow follows me wherever I go! There's apparently just no winning until I decide to move somewhere permanently temperate.
I'm getting sort of sick of this sitting around and waiting to go back to work thing though. I like my job; I'd like to be back in the office now and actually receive my pay for working. One snow day was fun. The second was somewhat productive, but the third is going to mark the 5th day I've been stuck in the house; I'm running out of things to do! I'm starting to get a little stir crazy in fact; a big part of me can't sit still for too long. I like spending my weekends wandering about the cities I live in, even if that just means going to the grocery store or riding the metro to some random stop not on my normal root. And this weekend, I didn't get to do that. At least last weekend, I got out to Eastern Market on Sunday after the Friday night storm. But these past five days I've been cut off from the outside world, unable to adventure, to explore, and to simply interact with the general public. I'd like that privilege back soon, so if the Federal government could get up and running again, that would be simply lovely in my book.
Not that I'm complaining about the Fed having legitimate concern for it's employees' safety and well beings. Don't get me wrong; it's nice to know that The Man has bit of a soft side about people's ability to commute to work, seeing as many suburban roads are still not plowed and the metro's still only operating underground (no above ground service). More and more, I'm becoming convinced that working for the government may be a legitimately decent way to go.
Anywho, I'll let you guys know if anything worth writing about happens tomorrow during my day off... goodness know I'll probably think of something to write about, even if my rambling is just one way I decide to escape boredom.
I'm getting sort of sick of this sitting around and waiting to go back to work thing though. I like my job; I'd like to be back in the office now and actually receive my pay for working. One snow day was fun. The second was somewhat productive, but the third is going to mark the 5th day I've been stuck in the house; I'm running out of things to do! I'm starting to get a little stir crazy in fact; a big part of me can't sit still for too long. I like spending my weekends wandering about the cities I live in, even if that just means going to the grocery store or riding the metro to some random stop not on my normal root. And this weekend, I didn't get to do that. At least last weekend, I got out to Eastern Market on Sunday after the Friday night storm. But these past five days I've been cut off from the outside world, unable to adventure, to explore, and to simply interact with the general public. I'd like that privilege back soon, so if the Federal government could get up and running again, that would be simply lovely in my book.
Not that I'm complaining about the Fed having legitimate concern for it's employees' safety and well beings. Don't get me wrong; it's nice to know that The Man has bit of a soft side about people's ability to commute to work, seeing as many suburban roads are still not plowed and the metro's still only operating underground (no above ground service). More and more, I'm becoming convinced that working for the government may be a legitimately decent way to go.
Anywho, I'll let you guys know if anything worth writing about happens tomorrow during my day off... goodness know I'll probably think of something to write about, even if my rambling is just one way I decide to escape boredom.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Blizzard February 2010
So, we had a bit of a blizzard here this weekend. About 2 feet of snow settled over the DC area, resulting in the Federal government closing 4hrs early on Friday and all day today (Monday). Thus, I have pretty much just spent the last 3 and half days hunkered down at home in my PJs drinking hot cocoa, watching Stargate SG-1, and getting chores done around the house. It's been peaceful and relaxing. And, as I have another 3 day weekend next week, I'm at serious risk of staring to feel spoiled. In other words: I like this whole getting paid without working thing; Snow days in the Federal government are much more enjoyable than snow days from elementary school. Haha!
Anyway, this up coming week should be good. I'm planning on stopping by the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of the American Indian, which should be fun and educational. And then on Friday, I'm headed home to Delaware to visit the fam and the girlie in Philly. Not a bad way to spend Valentine's Day weekend if I do say so myself. I may be single, but that doesn't mean I have to hermit myself away next weekend!
'Till later, loves!
Anyway, this up coming week should be good. I'm planning on stopping by the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of the American Indian, which should be fun and educational. And then on Friday, I'm headed home to Delaware to visit the fam and the girlie in Philly. Not a bad way to spend Valentine's Day weekend if I do say so myself. I may be single, but that doesn't mean I have to hermit myself away next weekend!
'Till later, loves!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Flu shot wake-up call
A very dear friend of mine is currently in the ICU after experiencing flu-like symptoms and loosing all feeling in her legs. I'm panicking right now:
1) because she is a very special girl who I consider a great friend, and I hate the idea that she has to go through all this
and
2)because things apparently were going down hill for the past week, and I just found out today
Needless to say, even if this specific situation is not H1N1 related, I am going to get my flu vaccine shot tomorrow. No more putting it off. I can only image how terrifying this all must have been/be for her and her family, and I can't even imagine how I would react if I was in her position. I'm sending so many positive thoughts up to Boston. And I hope any of you who are in the loop keep me updated, please.
Feel better, Girlie! You're going to be all right.
Edit 2/6/2010: After talking to my friend, it can be reasonably assumed this wasn't a swine flu caused incident. More like "the perfect storm" (her words) of too many things going wrong all at the same time. Additionally, I will be going to visit her next weekend I think, since she has move to a rehabilitation center in Philly.
1) because she is a very special girl who I consider a great friend, and I hate the idea that she has to go through all this
and
2)because things apparently were going down hill for the past week, and I just found out today
Needless to say, even if this specific situation is not H1N1 related, I am going to get my flu vaccine shot tomorrow. No more putting it off. I can only image how terrifying this all must have been/be for her and her family, and I can't even imagine how I would react if I was in her position. I'm sending so many positive thoughts up to Boston. And I hope any of you who are in the loop keep me updated, please.
Feel better, Girlie! You're going to be all right.
Edit 2/6/2010: After talking to my friend, it can be reasonably assumed this wasn't a swine flu caused incident. More like "the perfect storm" (her words) of too many things going wrong all at the same time. Additionally, I will be going to visit her next weekend I think, since she has move to a rehabilitation center in Philly.
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