I don't remember Lewis needing a foreign language requirement for his Ph.D., but then again, he was in a science track (genetic epidemiology and biostatistics) so that may be the reason why.

Thanks, flea. I'd be hoping to do local archaeobotany (although so far I've had trouble finding a department that covers that - it all seems to be South American or Near Eastern material), so I can't think of a language that would be relevant to my area of study.

I might be able to get away with translating Irish I suppose. Although I'm as crap at that as I am at French, which was my foreign language in secondary school.

Crap French has gotten generations of people through the exams. They give you a dictionary to use, and an hour for, like, a page.

he was in a science track (genetic epidemiology and biostatistics) so that may be the reason why.

That's the thing - I think in order to do the sort of research I want to, I'd have to work through the science and the arts faculties. Maybe they'd be more likely to waive the language requirement that way?

Also flea, I don't suppose that you have any knowledge about archaeobotany in the States? Although given your focus on Classics I guess it's unlikely.

I know some archaeobotanists... most of whom you know too. BU has a good archaeology program, in an independant department. I think they have a science component. I can name you top archaeological Anthro programs (Michigan, Arizona) but I don't know if they have archaeobotany. Another keyword to look for would be environmental archaeology.

I've been looking at BU. They definitely have archaeobotanists in the department, anyway. I'm going to email them next week I think, just to get some advice. The main problem is that I'd really like to do local New England material, and I don't know how into that they are. Can't hurt to try though.

Also, just replied on lj! Thanks!

Go Arizona! Choose Arizona!

I use the Buffistas cookbook all the freaking time. In fact, I have the ingredients for Cass' panzanella caprese right now AIFG.

I'm home from vacation! Whoo, vacation rocked! It was awesome. Slounging around our totally killer (free!) timeshare...it had three bedrooms and a private hot tub on the deck. Dragging our band buddies all over the southwest.

They played an amazing show for our kiddoes, and spent time with them afterwards hanging out, showing them stuff on their instruments. Our littlest student grabbed the toughest looking long-haired guy and dragged him off to the playground to push him on the swings. Hee! Not to mention they are kickass musicians, legends in their small genre, and could have been doing a lot of other stuff, but took time with our kiddoes instead.

Finished off by the world's shortest trip to the Grand Canyon (seriously, y'all, we made one stop. One.) and sent them on their way down the mother road. Their documentary should be out in the spring.

Then more kicking it at the cabin, then the Flagstaff arboretum, then a superfabulous anniversary dinner at a restaurant that does all local foods. The SO had a NY strip with fries & a truffle oil mayo. I had antelope (!, but farm-raised) over polenta with asparagus. Both amazing.

Now we're home and wiped out. I'm skipping church this morning to get the house (and my metaphorical house) back in order for the school year. D's picking up the dog (yay!) and then probably heading out.

It's nice to be home, though. Our comfy bed and shower have spoiled us for hotel beds and showers.

Buffista cookbook! I'll order mine in a bit. Sounds wonderful!

javachick: I like the world you described earlier. Please sign me up for a similar version! Must start saving to attend F2F so parts of it might come true.

Jars, UW-Madison does some research within the fields you're interested in, but not in the US northeast. Just in case you want to take a look, though, here's a page that describes their various programs: [link]

IOmeN, I made the dutch baby for breakfast this morning with carmalized apple slices. Yum nomnomnom.