Author Archives: vhl2

Course Reflection: We Have Savannah At Home, Synonym Abuse, And Other Post-Trip Musings

Posted on July 2, 2024 by vhl2

The African savannah, so often depicted as a total wilderness preserved untouched, had surprisingly more human connections than I realized. Reading about how locals interact with the ecology of Tanzania did not give me the full picture I got from … Continue reading →

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Travel Days II (June 28 – 30): Askdghhfjalhsdjlafhaljdk <- Live Vivian Reaction

Posted on July 2, 2024 by vhl2

If the first travel days were a journey, these days were a ****** epic saga with a full hero’s journey and epilogue. Staring out, we were up even earlier than normal to get completely packed and disassemble our camping gear. … Continue reading →

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Day 10 (June 27): In Which I Very Much Resemble A Walking Cloud Of Dust

Posted on July 2, 2024 by vhl2

It was a melancholy feeling to be starting our final day. Though the trip wasn’t over yet (Istanbul make some noise), we were still ending something here. The feeling of a Sunday night before work on Monday was prevalent in … Continue reading →

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Day 9 (June 26): In Which I Am Become Indiana, Jones Of Bones

Posted on July 2, 2024 by vhl2

Archaeology Is like a plane ride No position Works – Freeform poem; I’m really scraping the barrel here Sweltering heat beats down. The sun’s glare is not so much angry as it is incensed, and the skin on my back … Continue reading →

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Day 8 (June 25): In Which Much Excrement Is Fondled

Posted on June 27, 2024 by vhl2

On our second day of archaeology, we split up to look for clues. And by clues, I mean poop. While four of our number left to do bone surveys with Dr. Charles’s team, the rest of us prepared for a … Continue reading →

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Day 7 (June 24): In Which The Importance Of Keeping Your Teeth On You Is Recognized

Posted on June 27, 2024 by vhl2

Take Each & Every Tooth Home – Running out of poem types, send help Day one of the archaeological expedition was, as many days here have been, a bright and early start. Rising with the sun is a novel experience … Continue reading →

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Day 6 (June 23): In Which The Day Of Rest Is Observed

Posted on June 27, 2024 by vhl2

The start of our second week in Africa brought a new focus to our curriculum. We began the transition from current ecology to paleoecology and archaeology, led by Dr. Dominguez-Rodrigo. Our day began with breakfast at camp followed by a … Continue reading →

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Day 5 (June 22): In Which We Lose Our Collective Minds, But Me Especially

Posted on June 24, 2024 by vhl2

We once chose a cliff for our tents; This setup, it didn’t make sense; The winds blew so strong, The whole night went wrong, We fixed it though, in our defense – Obligatory limerick, because we are now establishing a … Continue reading →

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Day 4 (June 21): In Which International Giraffe Day Is Properly Celebrated

Posted on June 24, 2024 by vhl2

Update: it did not go well. The night was an absolute disaster for everyone except Enoch, who had the foresight to set up in a place with at least some cover. The rest of us were treated to either a … Continue reading →

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Day 3 (June 20): In Which We Find Scar From The Lion King

Posted on June 23, 2024 by vhl2

The lions napping In the afternoon sun Fill me with envy – Obligatory haiku, because why not The gates of Ngorongoro Crater opened wide before us; if only we were able to pass through them with expediency, rather than being … Continue reading →

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