Why "americaninwales" address???

If your questioning why my blog address is "...jcw-americaninwales...", this is your lucky post.  I originally setup this blog just prior to me heading to Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, to start my career changing education in the conservation of museum and archaeological objects in 2007.  The idea is that friends and family here in the States could follow my progress as I churned through my education. The reality is that i wrote one post that was never published.  Here it is for the first time...

Greetings to those who choose to read this. This is my first entry. I arrived in Cardiff early in September to set up housing for a two-year adventure in living abroad, alone, and cold. But not hungry as there are several pubs about and plenty of Indian cuisine. Still, the temperature in September is about 40 degrees cooler here than in Virginia. My wife, still residing in the States, keeps telling me that I have moved to a cold place. However the humidity is still pretty high and though I might be cold while moving about the streets, as soon as I enter indoors I sweat as though it were 95 degrees (F). Funny thing, its the humidity that I despised so much while living in Alabama. Can't seem to get away from it.
The people I have encountered so far are very nice. The only problem seems to be breaking-the-ice. The people are very reserved but once you break through they are extremely helpful and friendly. Very unlike the southern States where people are extremely friendly as strangers.
Obviously football has a different meaning here in Wales than it did in Alabama (SEC baby). In fact, football here is not even the #1 sport. In order it is probably like this; Rugby, drinking, fighting, football, etc...
My reason for coming to Cardiff is to attain another degree in some way related to archaeology. I will remain vague for the time being but those of you who know me know why I am here. 



My history in the professional world started while working for the Office of Archaeological Services (later changed to the Office of Archaeological Research) within the University of Alabama Museums.   I worked as an archaeologist for this cultural resources management organization for nearly ten years on projects throughout the southeast. This is where I met Katherine.  Since that time we have both had a career change.  She now works as a reference librarian at a private, non-profit library.  I've been working for a non-profit cultural institution as well.

Working in the swamps of central Alabama.

So, back to the subject of this post.  My time in Wales was absolutely wonderful from the first couple of days I had arrived.  I met people from all over the world and saw wonderful castles, cathedrals, and landscapes. Almost every hour of every day was filled with friends and work, and no time for blogging.  I am very happy to answer questions about attending uni in Cymru (Wales in welsh) if you should have some. And just as a cool aside, I received my first school project on my first day of class.  It was to conserve a 2000 year-old Roman broach pin.  I was hooked from the start.

Roman pin post-treatment.

Roman pin prior to treatment.

Caerphilly Castle