Andrea Hiob, University of Alberta

The trip of a lifetime!!!

Vodka never tasted so good!!!
Fish never smelled so good!!!
Lake water never felt so cold!!!
Toilet paper was never more in demand!!!
Russian accents were never more sexy!!!
Being hunched over a grave pit, digging for hours on end was never this fun!!!
Meeting new people and making new friends was never this special!!!

Yeah, it was awesome. I got to see my prof and my classmates half-naked and dripping sweat in a Russian sauna and I also got to whip their backsides with tree branches. How often do you get to do that and get credit for it? In honest truth, Khuzhir-Nuge XIV is beautifully located and is rich in both archaeological and educational potential. This field school opportunity opened my eyes to what Russian culture was really like. The staff's sense of humor made everything enjoyable. If given the opportunity to return, I would definitely take it.

The Field School in Mortuary Archaeology on Lake Baikal in Russia was, and perhaps always will be, one of the best experiences of my life. I learned a great deal of archaeological techniques as well as how to work with a culturally different group of people. The small community of people at Khuzhir-NugeXIV formed from the Russian and Canadian Archaeology teams became like a small town of old friends. We all worked well together and enjoyed many great experiences. From hiking and boat trips to evenings spent around the fire listening to Russian folk songs. The experiences I enjoyed in Siberia will remain a big part of my life for years to come. It was a pleasure to work with all involved and I am sure that many of the friendships will last a lifetime.

My experience in Siberia was very rewarding. I learned a great deal about the workings of an archaeological excavation and my desire to pursue this type of research. Not only did I learn more about archaeology but I also learned a lot about people. This field school gave me the opportunity to meet people who are different from myself, but in some ways the same. The camp was a very tight knit community. Even though we were far from home I never felt homesick. It was a great experience that I will always remember.