PhD student Shafer starting research in Marfa, TX

PhD student Kathleen Shafer was the first to depart to her field site this summer in Marfa, TX. Shafer, who holds degrees in Photography and Anthropology, started in the department last fall. Having had a few weeks to settle into her research, she writes:

“There is a bird that chirps outside my house that sounds exactly like the green pelican in Angry Birds. It is hilarious. For the most part, it is a quiet town. Trains pass through about four times a day, more on Saturday, and for a brief period the town is divided in two – north of the train, and south of the train. People say hello when they pass you in the street, or raise their hand in acknowledgment when they pass you in a car. The light and the colors are wondrous, and everyone knows each other.”