My "Office"

So this is where I will be spending the next 4 1/2 months!!! Gorgeous, huh? From left to right, we have the Godspeed, Susan Constant, and Discovery. I've spent most of my day off today continuing to read and research and try to retain as much information as possible so that I can get out there and start interpreting.

One of the books that I am reading (by request of my supervisor) is American Genesis: Captain John Smith and the Founding of Virginia (Alden T. Vaughan, 1975). I am enjoying it, but I don't know that I recommend it. I'm about halfway through and have found a number of...shall we say..."discrepancies." Not necessarily errors or false information, but tidbits that don't go along with what is approved for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (which is not uncommon since historians are still hashing out details of 400 years ago). Also taking into consideration the fact that it was published in 1975 and history really does change over the years, I don't know how deeply to read into American Genesis. What I do know is that it is a decent source for getting the larger picture and the general story of "who, what, when, where," and a nice take on "why." Just don't focus too much on the details! I will definitely finish it and then move on to The Jamestown Voyages Under the First Charter, 1606-1609 (Philip L. Barbour, 1969). Don't worry, I'll keep you posted on how that goes......haha.

I know that this is the right job for me at this point in my life because I've spent my day off "doing work stuff" and I'm actually really excited to get back out on the pier tomorrow. I have this one co-worker who is just a SAILOR. We're talking bushy beard, scraggly hair pulled back in a knotted ponytail, tanned leathery skin, gruff voice, and always talking about the weather. There are stories of children crying and refusing to go anywhere near him, and I believe it! After working with him this week though, he is definitely one of my favorite people at Jamestown. All of my co-workers are helping me out and teaching me things, but this particular sailor throws me right out into the mess to figure it out for myself. I was given the assignment that required unlocking a combination lock, for which I did not know the combination. He was closest, so I asked him. His response? "It's our latitude," and then walked away!

And with that, I'm going to go back to my reading so I'm prepared for the next problem that he throws my way.