last day

Today is my last day on this farm in Paros. I'm going to miss it, but I know I'm ready to leave. I was going to stay another week, but the heat is driving me crazy - It has been a humid 105 with no wind except for hot blasts from North Africa.

My ferry leaves at 3:45 pm and arrives in Crete at around 8. I'm so excited to visit my friends from the dig last summer. They're all there working again during the study season. When I left Crete last summer, Barbara, the head of the dig, told me that she'd pay for me to come back... But then took it back in about January. Now I got an email from my friend Joe saying that she has been asking when I might come to visit because she has some money and might want me to draw some potsherds and small finds. I'm not convinced that this will actually happen, but I am prepared to ask for housing and a stipend for food if it does.

On July 21st, I'm leaving for Italy! I've never been before and I'm really excited. I'll be volunteering with the Association for Cultural and Linguistic Education there. They've recently purchased a few Medieval houses and need volunteers to restore them. I applied about 6 months ago, and since I hadn't heard back, I figured that I wasn't accepted or something. But then a few weeks ago, I got an email asking if I was still coming. So, I'm going! Here's the website:


It will be a nice change from the serious labor here.

I'm really going to miss it here though. It's a really special place. I told Jim I would return and I know I will.