I’m trying not to fall off the end of the earth, but I have been horrible at keeping people in the loop. I am finally taking some time to write because I’m not up to much else. Sick again. One of my friends here referred to my symptoms as “Double Dragon” (that would be fire out of both ends…just what you didn’t want to know). Ate some bad fruit or something and just downing Imodium and hoping it will pass in a few days.
Thailand is slow and frustrating as expected. I just can’t get back into the groove and way of life this time. I look at a bowl of rice and lose my appetite, which means I’m relying more and more on eating junk food. This trip I’ve been craving pizza and chocolate and Western food. That isn’t like me. I’m not even enjoying being barefoot like I usually do. I am tired of bugs and rice and dirt sticking on my feet. I am tired of cold bucket showers. I am tired of everyone watching me when I go to buy food. But, I do try to remind myself I am in Thailand!!
I am very close to buying a motorcycle for transportation to my field sites, but don’t want to do so until I know I can research in the park and have grant money. Our project has no vehicle right now and also our carnivore team rangers have been recruited to other areas to work with the park vet (plus, one ranger is out with a broken leg from a motorcycle accident and another with Malaria). Kanda, my Thai colleague, has been spending long weekends in Bangkok taking a TOEFL course. That leaves me solo walking to limited areas.
I guess I get most angry with myself for lowering my expectations and not accomplishing as much field work as I think I should. I haven’t seen dholes yet this time around and have been here about a month now. I am trying to lure them in with various scent baits (doused cotton ball hanging in a perforated film cartridge with pigeon wings). But, we get strong downpours of rain, so I doubt the scent lasts long. I also brought a hunting call “whistle” with me that came with a “Calling All Coyotes” DVD. It looked promising and I thought the DVD would instruct how to produce various prey distress calls. Instead, the DVD shows an experienced caller making a few coyote howls and then 3hrs! of shot after shot of blowing different animals to bits and pieces. Anyway, I tried the hunt call a couple of times in the field, no results. Just waiting for grant money now so I can actually buy equipment and start something….
Thailand is slow and frustrating as expected. I just can’t get back into the groove and way of life this time. I look at a bowl of rice and lose my appetite, which means I’m relying more and more on eating junk food. This trip I’ve been craving pizza and chocolate and Western food. That isn’t like me. I’m not even enjoying being barefoot like I usually do. I am tired of bugs and rice and dirt sticking on my feet. I am tired of cold bucket showers. I am tired of everyone watching me when I go to buy food. But, I do try to remind myself I am in Thailand!!
I am very close to buying a motorcycle for transportation to my field sites, but don’t want to do so until I know I can research in the park and have grant money. Our project has no vehicle right now and also our carnivore team rangers have been recruited to other areas to work with the park vet (plus, one ranger is out with a broken leg from a motorcycle accident and another with Malaria). Kanda, my Thai colleague, has been spending long weekends in Bangkok taking a TOEFL course. That leaves me solo walking to limited areas.
I guess I get most angry with myself for lowering my expectations and not accomplishing as much field work as I think I should. I haven’t seen dholes yet this time around and have been here about a month now. I am trying to lure them in with various scent baits (doused cotton ball hanging in a perforated film cartridge with pigeon wings). But, we get strong downpours of rain, so I doubt the scent lasts long. I also brought a hunting call “whistle” with me that came with a “Calling All Coyotes” DVD. It looked promising and I thought the DVD would instruct how to produce various prey distress calls. Instead, the DVD shows an experienced caller making a few coyote howls and then 3hrs! of shot after shot of blowing different animals to bits and pieces. Anyway, I tried the hunt call a couple of times in the field, no results. Just waiting for grant money now so I can actually buy equipment and start something….
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