If you notice a somber, greyish tone to these photos of empty, sparsely populated landscapes, you have accurately perceived the ambiance on board as our underwater archaeological mission comes to an end. It will take at least 7 days for the ship to reach Malta. Hopefully these dark skies are not an indicator of a slow trip home for all of us.
WHile we have a large, comfortable ship to stay aboard during our underwater archaeological excavations in Egypt, the little boats that we use to get around from site to site, and to carry our gear, have to be manned at night, which can be a lonely and lumpy evening. Gaber here is waving goodnight, probably hoping somebody while ferry him over a cup of hot tea and a biscuit. Ok fine, Ill do it. No WOnder this guy wants to jump ship. This Question comes from a student at the school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that I recently spoke with from Alexandria. At any given time aboard ship you can find a number of nationalities and languages represented. I just took an inventory and at this very moment we have the following; 8 French 3 English 3 Egyptians 1 Russian 1 Cuban 1 German 1 Maltese A Pole A Czech A Spaniard Plus myself and 1 “Other” (who defies nationality and speaks 8 languages with an inscrutable accent) The principal language of the team is French, and all meetings, reports, and etc related to the underwater archaeological work go on in French. 70% English is the default language for communicating outside of ones mother tongue, however, Spanish is a close 3rd. Because we often work in Cuba, several of the french team members speak Spanish with a Cuban accent, which the Catalan find very amusing, and Arabic words are often mixed in with any conversation. The inevitable babel that ensues in any animated conversation seems unprintable, both literally and figuratively. But don’t forget that when we are underwater, its sign language for everyone! The question above popped into my mailbox the other day, and since I am currently onboard ship, diving on sunken cities, I'm in a good position to answer it While on board ship we work every day of the week, providing that the sea isn’t too rough. Putting an ex on that date on the calendar marks the passage of time, but doesn’t really help tell one day from the one before., and after a while, all the days seem to run together. Over the years the following traditions have developed and they help to remind me what day of the week it is. Tuesday Night; Dinner in the Officer’s Mess, by special invitation of the Captain… Being in Laos without a book has had its up-side. I've been learning the language, and working on photography, whenever not busy with work. But not having a book with me has caused me to reflect on the books that influenced me enough to have contributed to me being here, in Vientiane, in a musty office full of skulls and bones behind the National Museum. I came up with a list of 3:
When I was 16 I read 'Tombs, Travel, and Trouble", by Lawrence Griswold, and it changed my life forever ... Photo by Clark Lubbs Asher Jay, the High Priestess of Garbagea, recently asked me to come up with a few words for one of her ambitious new projects. Subject? What the Sea means to me. Well I'm no poet, and if I was, I would probably prefer Rap stylin' to Iambic Pentameter. Fortunatly we have a lot of excellent writers who have shared their excellent words on the beauty of nature and why we explore. And I'm not one of them. So after a bit of musing I realized that the following words are true enough for me;, and maybe thats good enough for now; As a sailor, I know the immensity of the ocean. As a diver, her profundity is clear. And only when I am with the sea do I know the role I play in the universe, that I am simultaneously part of the immensity, and nothing at all. |
My Name is Eric and My Job is Scientific Exploration.
That means I'm lucky enough to join expeditions to excavate sunken cities, climb volcanoes, find missing bombs, and Sail old research vessels, while searching for the mysteries of the natural world. Categories
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