Like A (Field) Virgin
// June 16th, 2009 // The Project, Travel Planning
Getting information about life in the field has been harder than I thought.
I’ve chatted with people from CAWST who work in the areas where we’re going. I’ve talked to the people who LIVE in the areas where we’re going. And every time I ask a question, they stop just short of rolling their eyes.
I ask things like, “So, where are we staying?” And they look at me like I’ve said the single most pointless thing in the world.
Up until today, I thought it was an engineer thing. Engineers frequently look at me like I’m an air-head…until win them over with my charm. That’s when the real INFORMATION EXCHANGE starts happening.
But today, after being on the business end of my four hundredth blank stare, I decided it was me. I’m not asking the right questions. I’m asking ‘Where are we staying?’ when what I really mean is ‘Is there a shower?’ or ‘Will I end up with amoebic dysentery?’
Yesterday, I tried a new approach. I cornered the most sympathetic-looking CAWST employee I could find. “I’ve never been in the field before,” I said with an edge of panic in my voice.
“You haven’t?” she said. And miraculously, the blank stare turned into a look of surprise.
Nope.
“Well, it can be overwhelming. But you know, humanity is humanity. No matter where you are.”
Yes, thank you, but CAN I DRINK THE WATER?
“Oh! No. I take a ceramic filter and chlorine tabs when I go.”
Oh.
“Yeah, filter it into a Nalgene bottle. And listen to everything you read about salad vegetables.”
She walked away. Salad vegetables? In India? Despite the relative success of my new method, I felt shaken. What else do I need to know? What other critical information has fallen through the cracks between What You Assume I Know and What I Assume You’d Tell Me?
The way I see it, this information means the difference between me puking and pooping for two months straight or actually getting some work done. This goes so far beyond what I’m freaking WEARING, I can’t even tell you.
