After months of anticipation, hundreds of questions and a couple bouts of packing, weighing and re-packing, the Spring 2013 Turkana Basin Field School is finally underway and so is the field blog. Over the next few months, check-in here if you want to know what’s going on in the Turkana Basin, what we’re learning, and where we’re wandering.

Everyone has arrived safe and sound at our first stop in Amsterdam and the crew is slowly getting to know one another. Some have braved the brisk weather to explore the city, others are exploring the massive terminal, home of clog kiosks and blue and white porcelain motifs.

A kind Dutchman suggested my sandaled feet might not be very happy if I ventured into the city for the day. I told him I was looking forward to a couple months on the Equator. From freezing North America and Europe to Equatorial Africa in a day. It’s an incredible world.

Even if sleep was a little hard to come by while crossing the Atlantic, the excitement to be heading to the Turkana Basin is palpable. The adventure is about to begin.

Next stop, Nairobi!

We're a long way from Africa, but we're on our way...