In the Smokies

So I'm at a computer at the Gatlinburg library, and they have computer access for 30 minute increments and there is this little timer at the top of th screen that is counting down. It's pretty frustrating. I'm at 9:33 right now. And counting. So this post will be short (whatever I can write in 9 minutes). I'm not sure if I have a lot to write about, but I potentially do. I guess I'll start with my quest to get down here.

Took the Greyhound, which left at 11:00 pm Friday night from Cleveland (more like 11:30 because Greyhound tends to be late). It was definitely interesting. It wasn't too bad, but more "stressful" than flying. Not that I was super stressed. It was just an "oh this is kind of sketchy and nobody is really that friendly and it's crowded and I'm tired and what if they forget to load my checked bags when we transfer" etc. It all worked out fine though. Cheaper than flying.

I'm living in a log cabin, which is pretty nice inside. There's a huge common room, and then on either side is a doorway onto the girls side or the guys side. Each gender specific side has a kitchen (bigger than the one I have at home), a bathroom, and two shared bedrooms. The bedrooms each have two sets of bunk beds (so they can each accomodate 4), but supposedly there probably won't be more than 2 to a room. I already have one roommate, and the guy in the other room (Paul, the air quality intern) still has his own room.

I guess I'm not sure how much more I want to go into the living situation, because I'm still not sure how I feel about it. But it will definitely suffice for the summer.

Yesterday was my first day "on the job," but since there are two more interns coming in over the weekend (they will be in my cabin), orientation was postponed until next week. So I'm just doing stuff that doesn't involve pesticides basically. Yesterday I planted native grasses in the increase fields at Cades Cove (if you want to know what an increase field is, then just ask and I'll explain but as of now I have less than 3 minutes left). Today I looked for Ash trees to set up Emerald Ash Borer traps in. There are very few Ash in te park, and th EAB hasnt' come here yet, but this is the most visited NP in the country and people will inevitably bring firewood.

Ok, I'm gonna cut this short. I might write more if I can get more time.