| Entry: | Dear Diary,
Today marks the beginning of my third week at Catalhoyuk, and to say that this experience has been eye-opening is an understatement. I thought this trip would be similar to Blake Lively's expedition in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but it's far from it. I would use the film Holes for a comparison. For starters, one does not simply pull a skull out of the ground, as it requires more grueling, painstaking work. In addition, when one falls, one is generally not met with praise for discovering something novel. Usually, one is first met with awkward silence followed by a mixture of disapproving and disgusted looks. Trust me; I know. It's happened several times. Once, I was simply standing--just being--and I caused an important wall to collapse.
I don't know what exactly I expected from this experience, but as my first two weeks come to an end, I realize that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The work is challenging, both physically and mentally. I've never had so much time to myself to think. It's liberating. Halle once shared a quote with me, which I will paraphrase as: if you're lonely alone, you're bad company. Well, now I know that I'm able to be alone without needing someone to which to talk. When I'm digging, I often either sing to myself or ponder about life. Those thoughts I will keep to myself.
What have I actually learned about archaeology? Well, I can now tell the difference between bone, ceramics, and obsidian. I can almost fill out unit sheets by myself, and I know that being bitten by ants here won't kill me--I haven't died yet. On a more serious note, I have developed a deeper appreciation for all those who surround me now. Who knew that such an eclectic group of people would have made such an impact on me? And the best part is that they will continue to change me in the upcoming weeks. It is true that one does not learn the most in books; one learns the most tnrough hands-on experience. Although I know that this field of study is not where my life will take me, I hope to find the same passion that these people here have already discovered.
Iam so appreciative of this opportunity, and I can't wait to share my stories with my classmates next school year. |
