Tel Rehov Week One
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Monday, June 19
Well, I actually fell asleep for a nap at 6:00 in the evening, and didn’t wake up till the next morning, so I’m writing this one on the afternoon of the 20th. We got up at 4:30 and went to Tel Rehov. Our first job was to put up the shade, then we started clearing the “winter wash.” They gave us breakfast at 9:00, and after that I took upon myself the tedious and tiring task of emptying the dirt buckets and hauling the wheelbarrow. Despite it all, though, I actually had a good time . . . maybe because it’s only the first day.

We took the bus back to the kibbutz and ate lunch, where Will and David invited me to go to the springs with them. I got on my bathing suit and met up with them, Hanan, Adam, and Kyle. The walk was long, and we walked under a bridge, climbed fences, and pushed through scratchy weeds. It was worth it. There were a lot of people there, and the water was gorgeous.

When I got back, I finally took a shower, then watched Mask of Zorro on the movie channel. After that, I went to lie down for a nap . . . and I didn’t wake up!

Tuesday, June 20
Now I can write about today. I served the whole time as the “dirt wench” – that’s the term coined by Dr. B.

Kyle found a figurine, or part of one. It was a hollow horse’s head with a hole in the nose, apparently used as some kind of pouring thing. Our supervisor Dalit and Dr. B were really excited about it. Kyle got to take a propaganda picture.

We also had a very small dust storm, and everybody had to run to hold the poles of our tent. They’re these long tubes with buckets on top, so they don’t tear the shade thing. One of them fell on Shannon today.

I wish I had been taking pictures, because even after only two days, our site looks so different. We’ve removed two walls (called balks) and dug a huge hole, about 10x5x1.

Dirt gets everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. When I take off my socks, they’re black. When I blow my nose, it’s black. Pretty nasty. We all soak our socks in the kitchen sink right after we get back.

It’s only 1:45 now, and I’m waiting for a very welcome shower. One thing I like about our schedule – we get six hours of work done in the morning and have free afternoons. Pottery washing is at 5:00, though we haven’t done that yet. Tomorrow will be our first. Then supper and sometimes lectures. I really like the lazy afternoons.

9:10. Supper: soup and an egg. Then a slide lecture on carbon-14. zzzzzzz 21

Wednesday, June 21
Today Will and I extended the pit another 7x4 feet. Every day the site looks like an entirely different place.

We had our first pottery washing this afternoon. It was dirty and tedious, but a good social time, and actually kind of relaxing. I met a girl who is getting a double major in literature and archaeology, with a minor in Hebrew. We talked about Thomas Hardy – she loves Jude the Obscure. Her name is Anna.

For supper, we all ran for the Sugar Smacks cereal, and I ate three boiled eggs. We had a high time, laughing at literally everything. Jo asked me if I have a boyfriend (ha!), and then she said, “Well, that’s a terrible waste.” I told her that’s the nicest compliment I’ve gotten in a long time.

We then sat through a lecture on dating methods. Shannon counted lines on the ceiling, and Matt and I threw around a stray Sugar Smack, which was really fun until it went down my shirt.

Hanan and David were our “dirt wenches” this morning, only they changed their title to “dirt whore.” Will was quick with his infamously groan-worthy puns. “Hey Dave, whore-y up!” Etc. The eggs at supper provided a whole new realm, and I think you know eggs-actly what I mean.