My first week in Kiuic has been exciting and eventful but sadly I have not been able to document anything! If you recall, I mentioned the restricted internet connection and solar power in my last entry. It is a much more complicated situation then I let on. First, we have to consider the internet itself which can only support 5 people at a time. For this reason, we established the rule that all internet jubilee must be conducted within the classroom where the numbers of happy users can me regulated. Sadly, some people find their individual rooms better suited for cruising the internet and think that our very limited broadband is sufficient enough to conduct video skype chats. This means that the few times I have tried to use the internet I have been kicked off due to an abundance of illegal users.

But most of the time, the biggest problem is quite simply battery life. Since we run on solar power, we can only charge our laptops during the day and every day this week, we have left camp at 7:30 and returned around 5 when the sun is starting to get tired and considering letting the moon take over. It’s quite a predicament since we use our daylight to visit off site Maya ruins. Plus, it’s been a very cloudy, cold week so even the day hasn’t been providing much power for our humble Biocultural Reserve. In this way, I have been severely deprived of electronics. It’s not necessarily a bad thing – I’m actually enjoying my detachment from the computer and our days are filled with more productive activity anyways. But I have needy parents and friends who occasionally like to hear from me so to some extent I am still bound to the internet.

So this has been my dilemma this past week; my battle with solar power. Now everyone can sleep peacefully knowing that Regan Dohm is alive and well.

As I mentioned before, every day this week we went to a different Mayan site. In order we visited: Kiuic, Uxmal, K’oox, Kabah, Sayil, Labna, Loltun, Mani, Oxkutzab. It was such a busy tiring week. On top of that, we had 3 frigid nights of frequently disturbed sleep. A combination of lack of sleep and a highly regimented, busy schedule lead to a group of very tired and cranky Biology majors. The day we had a quiz, a Maya final in 2 days, and a Biology mid-term in a week and spent the day looking at three Terminal Classic Puuc style sites, we nearly spilled the blood of the Dawleys in the forested recluse of Sayil’s sacbe in a panic. The Mayan gods, seeing us tormented and ravenous, blessed us with extra blankets and a restful night of sleep and we were all appeased.

My Maya archeology final exam is in an hour...

Oh but did I mention that our hard work is being lavishly rewarded this weekend? We’re heading out to Celestun tomorrow morning and staying in a beach side hotel with hot showers for the weekend. On top of that, we get all of Saturday afternoon off to enjoy the sun and the sand! If I can get internet at the hotel, I’ll write another entry and post some pictures! You all have probably been missing the pictures, huh? I mean, who wants to hear me ramble on anyways? You’d much rather look at pretty photos then listen to me I’m sure. All in due time my friends. Soon you will all be satisfied!

I'd also like to add that upon further review my last entry was filled with stupid spelling errors and words that don't exist. I have quickly edited the major ones I saw, but I apologize for my blunders.