Archaeology in Turkey is something I decided to take a chance on and it was an amazing experience. I came with limited knowledge related to archaeology and history of Ancient Greek, artistic interest, and curiosity. Never did I imaging how much art is incorporated into archaeology. I was given the opportunity, aside from the usual digging, to visit the anthropology team and draw some of the bones they uncovered as well as visit another group of archaeologists (advanced research team) to draw their amphora. There I continued to practice my drawing from observation skills and working together with another group to achieve the set goal which, in this case, was to finish the drawing, hopefully before excavation and object removal by the end of the day. While digging, I continued to practice and deepen my observation and attention to detail. Soon spotting bone and pottery from a decent distance away became a whole lot easier, but double checking with a lick or two did not hurt either.
As an artist the awareness of colors and shades can play an important role. However, thinking about colors, shades, and textures in an archaeological sense was something acquired here on the site. For example, the color white can look clumpy or be broken into pebbles or grains and found near and in between rocks could be mortar. Slaked lime, on the other hand, can look very similar but it is found in much larger groups and is an extremely annoying pain to hack at since it is the residue after the cement has been taken out. The best part, is that you did and still do not need to know because with more practice you will learn; it is absolutely okay to be wrong. It is an outlook open for continuous growth and improvement.
Whether I was on or off the site, I have gained more experience from working with people of many backgrounds as well as with people, Turkish students and professors, who may not speak the same language as my own. I have also gained working experience linguistically, by slowly adding Turkish phrases to my new vocabulary; socially, through many interactions with the people around me, and culturally, by adapting and learning about the different environment I am temporarily living in. Even if I do not choose to work abroad, I will absolutely work and meet people from many places and who may be in a situation I am—traveling for work; these experiences will assist me in completing various tasks but also with in getting to know and working with my coworkers.