Another Week Done!

Sorry, it has been so long since I have posted. We had a full week of digging and working. Here is our daily schedule:
5:45- head to the site
9:30- second breakfast/break
12- done in the field
1- lunch
2-4- break/nap time
4-6- work (usually paperwork and ceramics)
6:30- dinner
7- lecture

It has still been very hot as the heat wave continues. This week we have a short work week. The students went to Petra and take 3 days instead of 2 so we will not be in the field Monday. On Tuesday Ramadan ends and it is a national holiday so we will not have our local coworkers in the field, we will still do some work but not to the same extent. This weekend I went back to Amman for a couple days. It was nice and relaxing but we still did work. Because of Ramadan, most restaurants are closed during the day so we ate at a French cafe and an Irish Pub. We are back at Umm El Jimal now and are busy getting ready for the interpretive center opening later this month.

Friday!

Today was a long day in the sun. The students started excavating trenches and it was very hot with no wind. The students are spread out all over the site so I along with their Professor walk in a loop visiting all the students, checking in and answering any questions. We even finished an hour early because of the sun. Thankfully I get a little time off. A friend and I are staying in Amman (the capital) this weekend. We are in a nice hotel with air conditioning and ICE! It will be a nice break from the heat and we will do some shopping and relaxing. We will head back Sunday and get ready for another full week. 

We are here!

We have made it. I have been so tired I haven't posted yet. We arrived Tuesday night had dinner and went to bed. On Wednesday we had a late start and started getting everything ready for today. It is very hot right now, we are going through a heat wave so it has been a long couple of days on the site. Today we went out and set up all the trenches for the students. We have 10 students digging in 9 trenches. There is a lot going on as we prepare to open the museum in a couple weeks. Today we finished early because of the heat but tomorrow the real work begins.

Going Back!

I'm going back! Tomorrow I leave for Amman, we have a long non-stop flight. I will be meeting up with the students from Calvin in Chicago and we will be traveling together. Will post again when we get in. See you in a month.