We are back in Kino Bay, and I finally have a chance to get some blerging in. I thought I would have more time, but the combination of spotty internet and so many things to do leaves little time for blogging. Also, there are no students here this week. When they are here they suck up all the internet juice. Actually, all of the Prescott students we met in the last few weeks were all very nice and fun to hang out with. It is good to have more room for the rest of us this week though, and nice to have hot water for showers and get our laundry in, etc.The desert is so beautiful! There is not another person for many miles! We do see hunters every once and a while, but apparently the hunting is really bad this year, which is pretty good for us. Hunting season just ended too, so we won't be seeing anymore for the rest of the field work. There are some cool critters out there with us, we have seen some cool birds, a few lizards, some mice, and one persistent fox. The plants are very large and unforgiving, especially the
cholla cactus. It has these buds on it that will embed themselves in anything except metal. They are insanely painful and difficult to pull out (usually requires pliers), and are all around jerks. The other plants aren't so bad, you kind of have to go out of your way to get stuck by them. The larger cactuses are actually really neat, and they make really sweet disc golf targets. The wildlife out here has left us alone for the most part, with the exception of a fox that has taken to sneaking up on us and trying to grab inedible things. For the first time a few days ago, it went for the garbage bag and we had to run it off. Before this it has tried to run off with a huge duffel bag, a tire from MARV, and my camp chair.Being back at the field school is pretty great, we watched the super bowl yesterday at our favorite restaurant, La Palalpa. We were the only gringos there watching the game, and two of three people watching it intently. It was fun to watch in Spanish, the sportcasters were hilarious. And we have gotten to know one of the servers at La Palapa and he started giving us free shots of really good tequila. Score! They also may have the best fish tacos I have ever eaten. We are getting pretty good at getting our way around town, and have discovered where to get the best fruit and tortillas. I don't know if I can ever eat American tortillas again. They really know how it's done down here. I am also going to have to stock up on Sonora sauce, which is their hot sauce standard down here. The field school is really great, we have a great roof to kick it on with a sea view. Also, great beach access. Bahia de Kino is not that touristy, and it is where people from Hermisillo go on weekends to get some beach time. There is also a large old white people population here, in the form of RV and vacation home. Seems like a great place to retire. They all drive around on four wheelers all the time. It's pretty hilarious, I wonder what the Mexicans think of them.
So everything is going really well, getting lots of sun and exercise, getting some good mapping done, and haven't picked up any viruses, although we both got sick from the milk here and had to give up cereal. They use different bacteria here to pasteurize the milk, and our American stomachs are not used to them. It was basically like being lactose-intolerant for a couple of days. It would really suck to be lactose-intolerant. If any of you are, I am extremely sorry for you. God must be punishing you for something. We have managed to stay quite healthy on a diet that is about 80% tacos, which is a pretty great diet, if you ask me. The weather has been really nice for the most part, although we did get rocked by a pretty big storm out in the field the first week and we have been rained out of work a few half days, (we were told it rained here once a year. we were lied to) it has been mostly sunny and beautiful. So for a little rain we have no reason to bitch. We could be in Oregon getting rained on everyday right now.
Right now we are set to head back to the states on March 9th, and be back in Eugene on the 11th. It's a pretty long drive, but it will be fun being back in the states! USA! USA! USA!
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