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dragojustineWorked the entire time today- won't die after all! Finally feel like I might pull my weight. In a relative sense, of course- many of the Israeli students are 22 year old guys who have lived in this climate all their lives and are straight out of the army with obsessive physical conditioning. I have met few guys as strong as they are, but I'm not sure I've ever met any who are able to work that hard, that steadily, in that kind of heat (Erez and Carmel foremost among them). It's astonishing. But, in an "all things being relative" sort of way, I feel like I can pull my weight.
Took over my own little square today- they're pushing the trenches out to the very edge of the cliff. Working next to Erez, who, frankly, I've taken quite a fancy to. Went down to the beach with him afterwards. His English is the worst of the Israeli students- apparently lived away from the city for quite awhile, never practiced. 28. Got out of military duty on a trumped-up psychiatric excuse. He's a fascinating personality with fascinating politics, language barrier aside- very serious with these little flashes of really quite smart humor underneath that I keep missing until they've gone by. Also works like an ox.
Hagi gave the lecture at lunch today- He's the head of the National park, the absolutely huge dark guy with the pistol- radiates "gentle giant," always smiling, loved by all. He has huge plans for the future of this site, which he may never see done in his lifetime. Incredible dedication to it. Really an inspiring vision. It also explains some things, like their obsession with architecture- architecture draws tourists, which is the only way to fund these things. Had some long conversations about how different it is from archaeology in other places, which is much less taken for granted, valued much more for reasons outside tourist attraction. Also about the politics of human remains in Israel, the problems with the Orthodox rabbis- utterly fascinating and strange. I wouldn't have predicted that at all.
Had to do laundry in the tub. Pain in the butt- nothing every gets really clean, and NOTHING ever gets dry. The food has been good- I especially like that yogurt-ish cheese spread and the egg dish in the mornings. But I never want to see cucumbers or tomatoes again.
Took over my own little square today- they're pushing the trenches out to the very edge of the cliff. Working next to Erez, who, frankly, I've taken quite a fancy to. Went down to the beach with him afterwards. His English is the worst of the Israeli students- apparently lived away from the city for quite awhile, never practiced. 28. Got out of military duty on a trumped-up psychiatric excuse. He's a fascinating personality with fascinating politics, language barrier aside- very serious with these little flashes of really quite smart humor underneath that I keep missing until they've gone by. Also works like an ox.
Hagi gave the lecture at lunch today- He's the head of the National park, the absolutely huge dark guy with the pistol- radiates "gentle giant," always smiling, loved by all. He has huge plans for the future of this site, which he may never see done in his lifetime. Incredible dedication to it. Really an inspiring vision. It also explains some things, like their obsession with architecture- architecture draws tourists, which is the only way to fund these things. Had some long conversations about how different it is from archaeology in other places, which is much less taken for granted, valued much more for reasons outside tourist attraction. Also about the politics of human remains in Israel, the problems with the Orthodox rabbis- utterly fascinating and strange. I wouldn't have predicted that at all.
Had to do laundry in the tub. Pain in the butt- nothing every gets really clean, and NOTHING ever gets dry. The food has been good- I especially like that yogurt-ish cheese spread and the egg dish in the mornings. But I never want to see cucumbers or tomatoes again.