Woah, so much to say!

Wow.

I asked for an adventure, and I sure got one. I am having an incredible time here in Israel. First of all, the beauty of the country is enormous; the hotel is most conveniently situated next to a beach that is a pleasant 2 minute walk away. The Mediterranean water is warm, soothing, and gentle.

I can’t believe that it is only Wednesday here! It feels like I’ve been digging for more than just four days. My body has passed over from bone-sore to muscle-sore, which I consider an improvement. The work itself is hard, but so rewarding, and so good. I’m digging in grid 38 – a 100 square meter cutout of earth. It is primarily focused on the older stuff, ie Philistine and Canaanite history. However, I am working in square 85 (a 10x10 segment of the grid) which is still in the later parts of history. The goal is to dig square 85 down from its current layer so that it is level with the history contemporary to the rest of the grid. This means we have our work cut out for us, because this one square of earth (now dubbed “the ivory tower”) is perched 10 feet above the rest of the grid, requiring the use of a rickety ladder to scale up to the lofty heights. Yesterday we were working around some Roman drains and through some Persian walls. And I found some Iron II pottery as well (basically, that means we saw it all!!). What a privilege it is to experience the beauty and incredibility of this world. What a privilege to see what was – for the chance to validate the past and give credit to antiquity!

I pickaxed and shoveled and carted dirt with these buckets called “guffas” – which, as I understand, is the Hebrew word for “bucket”. Really though, working here I’ve been introduced to a wide range of new vocab. Probably my favorite is the “petiche” which is, for all intents and purposes, a baby pickax. So great!

Wake up alarm at 4:15, first breakfast at 4:40, leave for site at 5:00, start digging by 5:20, second breakfast at 9:30, dig at 10, fruit break at 11, work ‘til 1. Free time until 4, washing and sorting pottery from 4-6, lecture at 6:15, dinner at 7, bed at 8:30. It’s a regimented schedule, and my body is finally adjusting to the early mornings and intense labor. I feel kind of sissy going to bed before 9, but what can ya do? I’d be toast if I waited ‘til 10.

What else can I tell you? Oh, I wrote this in my journal when I was on the plane to Israel. It was kind of the moment…you know, the one when I actually realized what was happening. Check it out:

“This morning I didn’t know that I was leaving the country. I only know that I was ‘going international’ when I boarded the plane. As the daughter of a pilot, I have spent many hours onboard the single engine prop planes. As a college student in a different state, i[‘m accustomed to large jets. But…this is different (and that’s an understatement!) I only knew I was going to Israel – I really think I only became excited for Israel – when I saw a man in first class thumbing through a newspaper in another language. When the guy on the PA system was giving safety instructions in Hebrew. When I met the man sitting next to me going home to Jerusalem. When he promptly fell asleep in my personal space twenty minutes later.
My “personal trip mapper” tells me my body is currently catapulting through thin atmosphere at the spit swallowing speed of 625 mph. Also, it’s -48F outside right now, in case anyone cares to know. And 9.5 hours, 5604 miles, a couple of movies, and one long nap before I step onto Israeli ground at approximately 9:04 AM, Saturday morning. Woohoo!” 6/4/10

It is also important to note that the airline provided all passengers with a complimentary pillow and blanket. Such a perk! :)

Oh, and before I go to bed (9 is fast approaching!), just a couple other cool things of note.

+ I’m having SO much fun with my friends. Love ‘em. Cool people, the one’s I knew, and the one’s I just met.

+ It’s interesting being so near Gaza. The tel is about 6 kilometers (a little over 4 miles) from the boarder, and while we dig the planes and helicopters fly overhead. The Israeli military is always patrolling, and flying planes over the strip to intimidate the people there. Being so close, the planes pass over our heads around 500 feet in the air. It seems crazy, but it’s really just a strange kind of normal.

+ Some cool things we’ve uncovered so far: a nearly intact jugulet (small jar) which probably contained oil or perfume. One thing that surprised me about archaeology is how it really gives credence to the past. Holding that little jugulet, I couldn’t help but think about the woman who used it to hold perfume so that she could feel pretty. The humanity is just so evident – it’s just so vivid and obvious when I work.

+ Today I worked on excavating a Roman drain – I pickaxed and ended up taking down the floor nearly 40 centimeters. The drain had once been a sewage pipe…and I encountered LOTS of gross green dirt. You can only imagine what that was. I guess you could say I pickaxed through ancient, solidified poop. Indiana Jones never put up with that crap! (ha) We did end up with some beautiful Roman glass that someone unfortunately decided to dump (ha) in the drain, but those finds made it all worth it. Tomorrow we get to dive through the Roman layers and find out what’s underneath!

+Bread with hummus is my LIFE.

+ Jerusalem this weekend! Yeah, man! I’ll keep ya posted…


I should probably let you go now…most of my posts won’t be this long (I hope!). Either way, thanks for readin’. Catch ya’ll on the flip side! :)