8 August, 2002

Our week is winding down and I fear I am as well.  Today's 
presentation concerned field safety and was given with infectious 
enthusiasm by Brian Horner of "Learn to Return."  Brian exemplifies 
much of why I applied to TEA, in his confidence to rise to nearly 
any challenge.  It is the type of confidence fostered by years of 
real experience.  In my own career history, what I lack most is 
actual professional physics and astronomy experience.  Teachers 
need experiences that better inform otherwise abstract lessons.  
I hope that my TEA project affords me such opportunities.


Brian taught us as much as anyone could hope to in a daylong 
course:  knot-tying, emergency first aid, fire building, camp 
preparation, appropriate clothing and much more.  As with Priit 
and all the presenters before him, his lecture was clearly 
knowledeable.  He referred to his own travels, punctuated 
with the authority of experience:  experience more powerful 
than a Ph.D. or years of lecturing.  Perhaps I feel a little 
envious?