If I could do my first field season over...

...here are some of the things that I would change.

1) Maps. I came with terrible maps. I really, really should've sat down with Sam with a better map and talked with him about which sites to use, how to get there, and how long it would take. I probably spent two weeks just getting my bearings, mostly on foot. Also, the slow internet meant that using Google Earth was virtually impossible, though I realized after finally seeing my sites in GE that I could've cached images and that would've been very useful.

2) Data. I would've entered data as soon as possible after collecting it. If I'd done this, then I would not have had to go back and collect data that went missing for 2 months in the bottom of my backpack. Once I caught up on data entry (with Jon's help) it wasn't too difficult to keep up on it.

3) Equipment. I should've tested all of my important equipment before leaving. Of course I knew this, but instead relied on "hope" (which as I said earlier is about as effective in the field as it is a method of birth control) because the weeks leading up to my departure were so chaotic. Some equipment that I was using on a pilot-testing basis needs further adjustments, so I've hauled it back even though it's heavy and cumbersome and I really would've preferred to leave it in Ukenzagapia.

4) Language. I really, really need to find a way to make myself continue independent language study when I'm in the field. I just kind of got stuck with my level of proficiency. For a while I was meeting in the evenings with someone, but I wasn't impressed with him as a teacher and I'm not sure how to find a good one. I have two different language instruction books that I could easily work on by myself, but it's hard to get the motivation to do that after a long day in the field.

5) Advice and advisors. When I encountered problems I think I should've contacted them sooner, especially Sam. Sam knows so much but he doesn't always offer it unless prompted.

All in all, I'm satisfied with my first field season. I wish I'd been able to do more, but I can't beat myself up over and there's still more field seasons to come. I'm looking forward to having time back in Big City to mull things over and plan for next time.

Resettling in

When I first arrived back at the apartment it felt a little bit strange. I'd kind of forgotten what our home was like! I've quickly become re-accustomed to life in Big City with Jon and I don't think I'm having any problems with return shock. Maybe traveling back and forth gets easier each time and the transitions smoother once you know how to fit in in both cultures and places.

I did, however, have a very strong need to tend to all of my plants. And plant new things outside. This reminds me why I don't want to be gone next summer.

This week I'm trying to get some things out of the way for what is shaping up to be an extremely busy fall semester. I'm glad to have some time on campus before classes start again. It's nice to be back.

Flying high with hives

I'm not sure how it happened, but I'm writing this from business class on my trans-Atlantic flight! On an economy ticket! And I didn't even ask for an upgrade! I was assigned a seat in business class. My seat fully reclines, I have my own outlet to plug in my laptop and I have more legroom than I could ever ask for. This is amazing. I overheard a conversation across the aisle and I'm not the only on sitting here with an economy ticket. Pretty darn awesome. This is my first time ever flying business class. We were delayed on the ground but I didn't care at all because I was in a great seat.

My first flight was fine, though about 6 hours before my flight I realized I was covered in hives. It was really strange though, because the hives were all concentrated in places on my body where the clothing was tight like around my waistline and across my back and shoulders. Really weird. It's actually similar to what happened to me two months ago. In reflecting upon the commonalities between then and now (unfortunately there are many), I suspect that I am getting hives from eating cashews. Two months ago I was also breaking out from poison tree rash (did I mention that I got it again after being clear for several weeks?). Perhaps when I my body is already reacting to urushiols I then get hives when I consume them? This is my theory.

I've been eating cashews for years with no problem, though it's possible that here I have encountered more cashews that are unroasted or have higher urushiol levels for other reasons. It's hard to pinpoint this though because I suspect that there is a 2-3 day delay between when I eat the cashews and when I get the hives. Rena had a bunch of cashews that she shared with me when we left Nyota on Tuesday morning, and they definitely weren't fully roasted, maybe not at all. I even snacked on a few of the remaining goodies as late as Thursday afternoon. I may have these hives for a few days.

Last time I got hives I started taking the prednisone right away, which also cleared up my rash. This time though, my rash isn't nearly as widespread and I didn't want to suppress my immune system shortly before extensive airline travel. Instead I've been taking Benadryl every 4-6 hours, which does have a noticeable effect on the hives. They move around though and seem to regroup in new places between doses. I've got them on my face and ears now too, though I think it looks like I just have bad skin so I'm hoping they don't try to quarantine me when I go through customs or something. I'll take an extra Benadryl just in case.

Going home

I'm spent my last two days in Ukenzagapia with an American family, and I think it will make the transition back home a little easier. Like I mentioned before, I've gotten used to life here, for better or for worse. I wonder if I'll experience return shock in Big City. Tonight I'll get on a plane and within 24 hours I'll be back with Jon. We live in an amazing world.

I've got my ipod charged and two books to read (In Defense of Food and A Primate's Memoir). My path home is far, far less arduous than last year, and I'm optimistic that my luggage will arrive with me (unlike last year) since I only have one connection. I'm also leaving a huge amount of stuff in Ukenzagapia at the University or my friend's house, including several books that I just don't want to keep hauling back and forth.

I think I did what could be done in my first field season and I'm looking forward to going back. But most immediately, I'm looking forward to going home :-)

Last night in Nyota

Rena and I are both leaving Nyota early tomorrow (now this) morning.
We had our field assistants over for a good old American dinner of
fried chicken, mashed potatoes, bread with butter, tortillas, refried
beans, and guacamole with coconut rice for desert (hey, we did the
best we could with what we had to work with). It was a hit.

Everyone finally left around 10 pm, and that's when we really started
packing. I pulled out my big backpack for the first time in several
weeks to stuff some dirty clothes in the bottom. Lo and behold, what
did I see but a bit of a yellow write in the rain notebook sticking
out from under the lining! MY MISSING NOTEBOOK! I wasn't sure whether
to laugh or cry. We went back and re-collected nearly all of the data
in that notebook, much to my field assistants' dismay, not to mention
my own. It is a relief but frustrating at the same time that I found
it just hours before leaving.

Losing my notebook did have one positive outcome: I went back to all
of my sites and collected another piece of data in addition to re-
collecting the original data. I doubt I would've collected the new
data for all of the sites if I hadn't had to return for the other
data. The new data I collected led to the aforementioned insight into
the system that contradicts current literature. So, it wasn't all for
naught.

I'm sad to be leaving Nyota, and it hasn't really sunk in just how
soon I'm going to be home. Most of the things that were initially
uncomfortable here have become normal and routine: bucket baths every
day, riding on the back of a motorbike, being stared at wherever I go,
going to bed and waking up early, eating chapatis and hard boiled eggs
every day for lunch, always being ready for the possibility of losing
water or electricity, and combating poison tree rash by avoidance and
regular use of IvyBlock.

I'm starting to fall asleep as I type so I'd better just end this now.
Perhaps I'll write more thoughts later once I'm in the city.

Crunch time

Not only is this my last few days of collecting data, it's the last
chance to fulfill various social obligations such as dinners with
people. This last week also coincides with a visiting colleague of
Rena, a visit from my Ukenzagapian advisor/contact (Dr. K), and a
whole bunch of interesting students staying at Nyota. I've got several
things to blog about but I think my days and nights are booked from
now until I leave Nyota on Tuesday morning, so blogging may be light.
I hope (think?) Sunday will be my last day in the field and then on
Monday Rena and I are cooking American food for our field assistants.
I'm going to be back in the city, and then back in the U.S. in a week!

Tired

Tired- that's what my field assistants keep calling my diameter tape.
Unfortunately it's the only one I've got. I've totally lost count of
the number of places where it has broken (it's at least 8). Metal
measuring tapes suck.

My boots are tired too.

As is my rain jacket. The stuff that keeps it waterproof is all gone
from the upper back and shoulders, which is probably where I need it
most.

I don't think my boots or rain jacket are coming home with me. I've
had them both for about 7 years. Is that a respectable amount of time?
They've been all over the world with me. If I leave them here, they
might get 7 more.

When the going gets tough...

...I tend to hesitate and change my mind. Or proceed slowly with
trepidation. This is something I've finally realized about myself.
Admitting your problem is the first step, right?

This unfortunate tendency of mine manifests itself in all sorts of
situations. I do it at the grocery store if something I was planning
to buy seems too expensive, then I change my mind about what to cook.
I do it in the field, walking through brambles. On second thought
maybe I shouldn't go this way after all. On paper, I'm going to record
10 kinds of data. In the field I think oh crap, how am I ever going to
do all of that? So I hesitate and think maybe I can do without some of
that information. I second-guess my decision to do whatever it was I
was going to do. I'm the kind of person who can spend more time
thinking about the best way to do something than it would take to
actually do it. This is a problem.

I think this is part of what I was trying to get at with my post about
needing to be more of a badass. I just need to keep my head down and
power through (that's for you, Jon). At least more often than I do now.

Ukenzagapia's only female taxi driver?

This is Violet. As far as she knows, she's the only female taxi driver
in Ukenzagapia. She hasn't met or heard of another in the two years
she's been driving. She only drives for foreigners because
Ukenzagapians (especially men, but women too) are discouraging of her
choice of profession. She's the same age as me, unmarried, no kids,
and putting herself through university. Eventually she wants to work
for some kind of NGO, but in the meantime she's a awesome taxi driver.

Summer days, driftin' away...

Oh, summer. I love summer. I was sad when I realized last year that I'd have to miss most of summer at home to be here in Ukenzagapia for field work. Don't get me wrong, Ukenzagapia is beautiful, sunny, and warm but it's not the same as summer back home. I'd just rather be here during the Northern Hemisphere winter. However, it's just one summer and I've come to terms with it. 

For all intents and purposes, this is my summer. It's hard to believe that my first field season is almost over and I'll be returning to the comfort of my home and husband in just two weeks. If I were to do this field season over again, there are definitely several things I'd do differently, but overall I'm satisfied with what I've been able to accomplish. I also got to explore some places other than Nyota when I wasn't collecting data which has helped broaden my perspective of African ecology, natural history, and conservation.

This is the point during summer when I usually think, Oh my gosh where did summer go? I still have so much to do- summer can't end yet!  Even in Ukenzagapia this is crunch time. I've got several days of data collection left, and I'm not sure yet exactly when I'll leave my field site. My last possible day in the field is August 11, but if I can wrap things up sooner I will. I'm also thinking ahead for what needs to be done this fall (my review paper, grant applications, data analysis...) and trying to get my ducks in a row for that to go smoothly.

I'm excited to return home. I hope I get to enjoy the spirit of summer for a while after I get back. Fall is already shaping up to be very busy.

Expect the unexpected

I'd like to start this post by mentioning that I haven't freaked out
AT ALL about my project since before Jon returned home. This is in
spite of the fact that today is the first day in the past two weeks
that has gone generally as planned. The past two weeks have brought
late field assistants, motorbike mechanical problems, vain attempts to
catch critters, a minor motorbike wipeout, and unsuitable field sites.
In spite of those setbacks, we have managed to accomplish something
every single day.

Unexpected good things are also happening. The phenology of some major
life history events is turning out to be different than I expected. I
thought I'd have to be here in February or March to see it, but
instead it's happening right around now. As a result, I might get to
set up an experiment that I didn't think I'd be able to do yet. Just
as exciting if not more so, this week I made some observations that
contradict current knowledge of the system. I might get a small
natural history note out of it if I can get enough data.

Also, Herb just suggested I get a 12 gauge shotgun. I wonder how many
grants include a gun in the budget? Are there rules against that?

Life at the house hasn't been without its drama either. The cell tower
was out for a day because the generator ran out of fuel. The water
supply at the house is erratic for reasons unknown, and after several
days of nearly uninterrupted power we had a two and a half day
brownout. Thankfully, I'm still able to power my computer during a
brownout. The most exciting and unexpected domestic event: I
accidentally made cheese! And it was good! I left some milk sit too
long and it started to look curdley (is that a word?). I didn't want
to deal with it then so I left it until the next day and when I opened
it to give it to Mommy Dog, I thought it looked cheese-ish so I
decided to strain it instead. I poured it into a cloth and suspended
it for about 48 hours and then it really looked like cheese! It had a
consistency similar to feta but a milder flavor.

I'm trying to embrace the unexpected. After all, sometimes life gives
you cheese.

Submitted

I finally submitted the NSF proposal that I intended to submit in
March. It feels so anticlimactic. The process just dragged on and on
for some reasons beyond my control.

After all that, I'm not very optimistic about this proposal being
funded. We'll see, but I'm not holding my breath. I expect to apply
again. This summer I'm trying out some of the methods I proposed and
I'm a little worried that they won't pan out. They aren't working yet.
This may be a case of me wimping out before I've really given
something the good old college try, which is something I'm going to
blog about soon.

Speaking of blogging and things that take forever to get submitted, I
decided that I need to spend as much time or more working on my review
paper as I do blogging. Now. Here in Ukenzagapia. Even while I'm
trying to finish out my first field season. Which is why I haven't
blogged much for the past few days. I've got a lot of posts kicking
around in my brain but I haven't let myself sit down and work them out
yet because I've absolutely got to get this review paper out this
fall, and it still needs major work. I have done basically nothing on
it for 6 months, and I am so horrified to realize that (and admit it).

Well, the timer is ticking so I'd better just post this now.

Mommy dog

Rena and I have a dog- Mommy Dog. She adopted us. Isn't she cute? She
used to be really shy, but she's warmed up and lets us pet her now. We
feed her fish, milk, and whatever scraps she finds in the
aforementioned rubbish pile. She's on the skinny side but definitely a
lot happier than most dogs here. Look at that blurry tail wagging!

Plastic problem

Sometimes I think if I really want to make a difference in the world I should've gone into waste management, because we humans sure have made a heck of a lot of waste that needs to be managed. Most of the time though, we privileged people don't have to think about it. We (hopefully) sort the recycling, take out the trash once a week, and then it's out of sight and out of mind.

Not so here at Nyota.

I'm a tree-hugging, recycling, composting ecologist working a beautiful area that is home to numerous endemic species. Imagine my horror at realizing that ALL of the garbage from our house goes into a hole in the yard right there where I can see it and be reminded on a daily basis of the waste my life produces. Not just the food waste goes in the hole- everything. Dogs eat the food waste, glass is inert, metal will rust, and I'm not throwing away any batteries. But the plastic... oh the plastic pains me. It's not going to break down on any kind of time scale that we work on. As far as our human existence is concerned, plastic is basically forever.

I'm not sure what to do. If it can't be recycled, the best and least harmful thing we've come up with for plastic is to concentrate it in holes in the ground. What can I do with my plastic here?

-Separate the plastic from the other waste and bring it with me to the city where is will hopefully be thrown in a properly managed hole and then I can feel better about not polluting Nyota with my forever waste.

-Throw it in the yard hole with everything else. After all, when in Rome...

-Burn it. This is not a great solution because I'd be releasing more fossil-fuel derived carbon dioxide into the air along with many toxins, and I wouldn't even get any use out of the heat. Other than throwing it in a hole, this is the main way that waste is managed in Ukenzagapia.

I try to avoid plastic bags and water bottles, but many items here come in some kind of plastic, and many of the supplies brought from home have plastic packaging. I've decided to collect all of my plastic for the rest of my time at Nyota. I'll decide what to do with it when I have to leave. If I can take it with me to the city I think I will. I think the chances are better that it will end up in a landfill, though perhaps this is just wishful thinking. At the very least, having to look at all the plastic I use even when I try to avoid it should be an educational experience.

Featuring my research

Last week someone from UBC contacted me because they're writing a
piece about me for a newsletter. It's kind of a follow-up to the award
I got from them last year. I just read the rough draft and it's
pretty good but I'm concerned about the details of my research. See,
they're pitching the (arguably) most exciting part of my project, but
I haven't really begun that part yet. The stuff I'm actually doing
this summer is part of the bigger picture, but not very exciting to
write about (at least not compared to what they think I'm doing). To
what extent should I exact the details of my project and narrative?

They've also given me a "label" that I'm not sure I'm qualified to
have. Let's say they called me "Karina the Katydid Capturer" but I
haven't caught any katydids yet. Do I suggest something less catchy
but also more fitting?