2011 Photos
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MU Field School Fall 2011
This semester, I had an archaeological field school at the site of one of the first colonizations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We learned basic field procedures as well as lab procedures for processing artifacts (we are still working in the lab currently). In the unit I worked on, we mostly found broken glass, nails and ceramic fragments. I am working on my 15 page paper/interpretation of my unit. Here are some photos from the site:
I am very happy that I had this opportunity to dig however I don’t feel as though I’m as prepared as I ‘should’ be to go on an actual dig. Hopefully, I will be able to find a project to be a part of next summer to learn more and gain more experience in the field.
The job outlook for archaeology is slim to none with a bachelor’s degree, a field school, and no other experience. This reality has been the cause of my recent panic and nearly rash decision to join a technical school for dental assisting. Why dental assisting? It’s a 9 month program with job security. However, maybe it’s out of pride but I wouldn’t be content with pushing back completion of my bachelor’s degree once again in pursuit of something that I know isn’t what I WANT to do with my life.
So, I’m going to make it work. Somehow. Some way. There’s a list about a mile long of things that I know that I don’t want to do with my life and as time goes by, I discover more and more of the things that I DO want to do with my life. It’ll be interesting to see how they fall into place like a well played game of Tetris. Because I’m determined that they do.
Update
It’s been a long time since I’ve written anything. Not sure where to begin.
Recap of the last few months(since I turned 22 in July): Tom and I went to Pennsic XL-a medieval ‘war’ between two SCA groups with nearly 10,000 people camping for two weeks in period garb. It was fantastic! I met so many incredible people from so many diverse backgrounds. We drank, we ate, and we drank some more! There are many stories of adventure which need to be told to future generations.
In September, Tom proposed to me. Of course, I said yes. I knew that I wanted to marry him from the moment I met him back in North Carolina last April (2010). Ok, maybe I didn’t know that I wanted to marry him then and no I didn’t fall in love at first sight but I knew that there was something special about him, something honest and something that drew me to him. We are planning on a wedding in July of 2013 here in Pennsylvania. Our ‘honeymoon’ will be Pennsic XLII.
I’m taking 18hrs at Millersville University this semester. English composition-shouldn’t have had to take this freshman level class but it did not transfer for some reason from LSU(really, from my ACT score in English), Astronomy, Geography: Resources and the Environment, Spanish II and my Archaeology field school.
Just a quick update. More later on various topics (+pictures!!)
Two More Years
Though I vowed to put myself on the road for no less than three years when I first left Louisiana with the Donut People, I’ve come to find myself in PA finishing up my undergrad.
The Wanderlust beckons daily but I fight to keep my mind on track. Two more years, two more years….
This semester, I am taking my archaeologic field school. We are out in the field for six hours every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s an extremely interesting site we are on that could possibly be the oldest site of colonization in Lancaster County. After this semester, I will be qualified (enough) to participate in other digs. And that is exactly what I plan on/would like to do come summer 2012.
My other classes are astronomy, English, geography: resources and the environment, and Spanish II. Spanish I find most difficult. I studied French for quite some time in Louisiana. Switching to Spanish has been interesting, I’ll start a thought in Spanish and finish the sentence in French (unintentionally). J’ai veintidós años……wait, that’s not right.
So the idea is to study, study, study, dig, study, study, study, graduate in May 2013, dig, dig, dig(TRAVEL!).
Oh, and get married. 
July 2013
Patience is a virtue…a virtue is a good thing
Patience and persistence will pay off. It is not worth my time to sit and dwell on the negative things and on all of the things that I don’t have, or all of the things I’m not doing rather.
My favorite quote from Wade at vagabondjourney.com, “If a man wakes up smiling, then he is as rich as any king and as vast as any kingdom. A deep, true and unprovoked smile is the most sought after thing on earth.”
I see the great big grand picture of what it is I want to do with my life, what I believe will make me happy but I forget, constantly, that it takes time to carve out a niche in this world. And it is often the journey towards the things we want that make it ultimately worthwhile.
I have no reason not to smile, for I am rich.