Thank you, body.

How many weeks have I been doing field work? I guess I have almost hit 2 months. The days are blurring together... I have memorized all of the local radio stations and most of the songs they commonly play while I drive around all morning (zanculo loco, loco, loco, loco....) I've forgotten how to sleep in past 6am. I have boxes full of pinned bees in my closet and can never pin them fast enough to eliminate all of the bags from the freezer. My field clothes are now just my clothes and my first reaction to every party, festival, and opportunity to drink alcohol with youths is exasperation and annoyance (note to my Hojancha friends: this only means you should try harder to get me out of the house in the night!)

Some days, I can barely get out of bed. It seems exhausting even to have to put on my clothes (how can it be so hot before 530 am!?) and gather all of my gear. Other days, I find myself practically running up the hills. I get to meet so many cool people and see and learn everything about the peninsula... and I'm gettng PAID to do it! It helps me stay positive even as the sweat bees nibble my ears and the car tires skid around our questionable roads. In addition, that is what I tell my glutes as they try to get me up ANOTHER hill.

Guys? Guys? WAIT FOR ME!!!

Why are all of the best data collection sites in such hard-to-reach places?

Some days I even choose to continue doing physical activity after getting back from doing field work. This is usually "Insanity" workout videos with Simon or running. Last week, Charlie, Simon, Jose Mario and I greeted one of the first afternoon downpours with a 45-minute run on some dirt roads and forested paths near town. It was heavenly! At times it was raining so hard that I had to squint my eyes to block out streams of rainwater. The dusty streets of Hojancha soaked it up like a sponge and so did I.

The next day, as I scurried to keep up with a strong 60-something cattle farmer, I thanked myself for doing everything I have been doing in the last couple of years to stay somewhat in shape. Sometimes I get angry at exersize for not giving me six-pack abs and the ability to run particularly fast or long distances compared to those with natural talent. But, in my daily pursuits as a bug scientist, I'm constantly asking my body to keep up with people who have been doing physcal work every day for their whole lives. I don't think I could do this job- period- if I came straight from off of the couch.

Cundo poses by another rewarding view

In the same way, food has taken on a new meaning for me. I know I have heard similar stories from my friends who do a lot of backpacking, canoeing, etc. Cereal and toast just don't make any sense to me now that I know I am going to be working my body until 1pm. My housemates probably think I'm insane for getting up 30 minutes earlier than I have to just so that I can make a breakfast of mango smoothie, eggs, veggies, tortilla, and plantain. Just like not enough coffee=headache, not enough protein=hungry at 10 and not enouh liquids=light headed on the first steep hill.

Honestly, depending on my body so much scares me sometimes, too. What if I twisted an ankle and couldn't hike for a few weeks? What if I tripped and broke a wrist while running and couldn't carry all of my gear with me? What would I do? Just take a break from one of two critical field seasons? Come to think of it, how have my parents dealt with injuries or illnesses during almost 3 decades of farming? I guess all you can do is give thanks, strength train and eat well...

un mes más

Today Chad and I had a conversation that went like this:

Me: "We get to see each other so soon! This week I prepare for Nilsa (my advisor)'s visit, then she is here for a week, then I prepare for the IGERT meeting, then I have that for a week, then I get to see you in Colorado! Then I have visitors in June, then the teak blooms in July, then I see you in August, then..." (and so on until I had summarized the next 10 months in such a manner)

Chad: "Just wait until you get a little older. You'll be referring to time in years instead of months because time just keeps going more and more quickly." 

I paraphrased that a little bit. But it really blows my mind how the older I get + the busier I get + the more fully I enjoy myself, the more quickly time slides through my fingers. Take the last month or so:

I had such a great time with Chad: We went to Isla Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua, climbed a volcano, visited 4 beaches on the peninsula, did field work, cooked together, swam in the neighborhood pool, and had an awesome pirate-themed party for Chad, Kahlil, and Ilianet. 

Party! Party! Party!

I also started doing hardcore field work! Everyday I get up at 530am. By 630 am I pick up Cundo, the world's best teacher/field assistant. Then, we either search for more parcels, collect traps, or set up new ones. It involves climbing steep farms and constantly talking Spanish, so by time I get back at noon I am EXHAUSTED. Then I have to answer emails, pin insects, try to identify a few, and attempt to keep up with my team/student duties. I will post a blog soon with photos from my coffee farms and pastures... not sure why my teak parcels get all of the photographic attention:

Sometimes I post pictures of myself looking kind of nice while I do fieldwork. Those pictures are lies.

Here is one from one of the days where Chad was throwing rope into the teak canopy for me. Still can't figure out how he did that. Oscar and I spent a full hour trying to get one rock over the lowest branch ever. 

Other than that, I have tried to keep the last week more or less uneventful except for work (7 days a week!)  One big event did happen yesterday... I bought hens! Four "rescue hens" from the egg farm. These ladies are enjoying their space, vegetable castings, over-ripe mango, and sweet exercise equipment. I would like them to roam free but I've seen what the neighbor's fighting roosters do to a pretty young hen. Plus, I'm quite certain they wouldn't know what to do with that kind of freedom.

I got four eggs this morning! Already thinking about buying a few chicks to raise for meat. 

 Also I set rat poison because the squeaking and running in the ceiling is no longer passing for geckos.