I thought it would be entertaining to post a snapshot of my average dig day schedule, even an exaggerated one, so here it goes:
4:50am – wake up…groan…hide face in pillow…get out of bed…stumble around in dark…get blinded by bathroom light
5:05am – take everything downstairs to get ready…boots and socks…fill first water bottle…fill second water bottle…slather on sunscreen but know that burning shall occur irregardless
5:30am – have Hidayet drive the bus to site…nap
5:40am – stop at market and wait as mass buying of cookies and water occurs
6:00am – eat breakfast made by Aishya…glare territorially at bees…and donkey bees….and the occasional 4” grasshopper…watch Anders coo at bees
6:15am – drink çay
6:20am – use bathroom for the only time until 2:30pm or 3pm (sweating takes care of the rest)
6:30am – begin hike up to acropolis…get to acropolis first to get favorite tools…begin work
7:03am – pick
7:12am – drink water
8:24am – trowel
8:43am – drink more water
8:51am – brush
9:05am – stare at the sun and try and figure out what time it is
9:08am – give up and ask Catherine what time it is
9:29am – drink water but less so there is enough for break
10:00am – Rami blows whistle that signals the beginning of break…look around hazily…make way down from acropolis to bath to have break
10:15am – proceed to look mournful in order to win food from surrounding zombies
10:30am – Rami blows the whistle to signal the end of break…proceed to cry while making way back up to the acropolis…Rami cackles in glee at surrounding distress
10:36am – bring out second water bottle and drink more water
10:57am – trowel
11:12am – drink more water than thought was possible
12:08pm – pick
12:30pm – continuing drinking more water than you thought was possible
12:48pm – brush
1:00pm – Rami blows whistle to signal the end of the work day…everyone looks around with glazed expressions on faces
1:02pm – hike up the hill to the dig house…enough said
1:10pm – collapse in chair at table (or possibly just ground)…realize that all clothes and skin are now the same color
1:12pm – mix water with lemon juice with sugar…repeat
1:15pm – receive blessing that is Aishya’s cooking
1:16pm – proceed to eat said food and feel a gradual sense of peace and contentment fill body….and stomach
1:18pm – mix water with lemon juice with sugar…repeat
2:00pm – have Hidayet drive bus back to dig house…have Hidayet say ‘oops’ multiple times….still trying to figure that one out
2:30pm – collapse in downstairs porch because there is no longer any point to fighting for shower…instead just wait to go last
2:33pm – weigh pottery and sweat so much that sweat drips down onto scale
2:57pm – take shower…scrub twice…still be covered in dirt
5:00pm – pottery washing
7:00pm – eat Emil’s food for dinner
8:00pm – lecture on terrace
9:30pm – get ready for bed
10:00pm – go to bed without any sheets because it is too hot
1:00am – pull on sheets because it is too cold
repeat
Maia