Adjusting

Today I collected some infant data...well, I tried at least. I got 2 really bad 10-min focal animals samples done on Remus and Obama from group B2. During each focal sample, the researcher watches one individual (in my case one infant), and records everything that individual does within 10 minutes. To make things easier to record (behaviours can happen quite quickly, especially when there are a lot of social interactions with other individuals) we make up codes for all behaviours. While behaviours occur we record them, along with the time when they happened. My first 2 focals were stressful and I did a horrible job, but it will get better with practice (I hope!). During the first attempt, I was watching Obama. He was nursing from his mom, Ofilia. I guess I was watching them a bit too intensely because Ofilia got totally freaked out half way through my focal animal sample and she darted in the opposite direction. I don’t blame her! I would be creeped out too if while I was breast feeding my baby, I had some obruni woman with two HUGE circular eyes (binocular lenses) pointing directly at me while her voice droned constantly towards a small metallic weapon (voice recording Dictaphone). Like a good primatologist, I didn’t give up on her. I followed, while also making sure that I wasn’t stressing her out too much. I managed to complete my 10 minute sample, but barely. A pathetic attempt of which I am proud.
Other than monkeys, there isn’t a lot much else going on here. I go running every second or third day, like I do back in Canada, except it’s more difficult here because of the heat and humidity. A group of kids ran with me (the entire 12 km) the other day as they sang some cool marching songs in Twii. This was a bit discouraging for me actually ... the chunky obruni runs like a Ghanaian 8 year old child. I don’t get it! They weren’t even breathing heavily or sweating, while I was doing plenty of both those things! I see why it is good I came here well before the time when I have to really collect data...so that I have a few weeks of conditioning my body to field life. Geez. My Canadian chunkiness is a disability here because it’s so freakin’ hot. I need to transform into a lean, mean, data collection machine! Lol
It’s rained a lot so there hasn’t been electric power on several evenings. When I say rained, I mean huge African thunder storms with burning trees (from being hit by lightning) and lots of flooding. This is rain in Ghana! I’m reading lots. Overall though it’s kind of lonely... I guess listening to Leonard Cohen all the time like I do in Canada has a different effect on me here, but I try to counteract that with plenty of Basshunter (trashy Swedish techno). Most of the time I like it here a lot. The life is simple and all of the stupid things I worry about in Calgary no longer burden me. However, it does get lonely because we’re so isolated from everything I consider my home. I think it will get better though once Katie (my research assistant) gets here and I actually start collecting some decent behavioural data. Hell YA!!