Finally!!

Well, finally the blessed time has come for me to go to Uganda for my first field season with chimpanzees. My flight is in two days. As I'm sitting here typing, a corner of my apartment is piled high with my field gear, which I have yet to organize and pack, and I am also enjoying a mimosa all fancy-like, because I know that in a few days I will be slumming it. Oh, I do love Africa! And I cannot wait to see what Uganda is like; I've heard it's really jungle-y, like on TV. The last few weeks have been pretty crazy with preparations for my trip. I've also been swamped with manuscript writing and applications for field work grants. My research is turning out to be quite an expensive feat so hopefully someone gives me some dolla' dolla' bills. Right now, I am anxious about leaving Tenzan (my boyfriend) - this has probably been my biggest worry about my trip. Seeing how most anthropologists I've known have had their relationships fail miserably due to field work, I'm expecting the worst for Tenzan and I. I try to be optimistic... and it should be okay for this field season because I am only going for two months but come September, I will be gone for much longer... I have some other worries about my trip to Uganda. I am scared about the first couple of days, as I will be alone and I have no freakin' clue what Uganda is like or where stuff is. I am also worried about my knee troubles and not being able to cope with field hiking. A few month ago I tore my meniscus and my ACL and I'm not as mobile as I used to be. I can still work out and stuff, but my knee still really hurts so I'm worried I'll be all caught up with my crappy knee while I'm in the field. Other than that... no worries I guess. I am just UBER EXCITED to see chimpanzees and chimpanzee infants! I'll post again when I'm finally there. Wohooo.