(translation by Art Ballard)

(This article was written by Guadalupe Chiappe, Dr. Luis Chiappe’s 12-year old niece who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.)

I was really excited about this trip. All my friends told me I was very lucky to be able to go on it, that it was a very unusual experience, and that is true. We arrived in the field, and I began to learn the equipment that they use in the field, how casts are made and what they are used for and I saw the fossils. I got real excited knowing I was in the middle of fossils that were more than 80,000,000 years old. Later I learned of all the things that had happened between the time they were alive and my life; Egypt, the birth of Christ, Independence, etc.

The second day we spent a lot of time hiking, but those walks were worth the effort. Meeting new and interesting people and finding that we had a lot in common was fun. Practicing English with the Americans helped me a lot, since I like to study it. I learned how to make casts; you put the cloth in the plaster, and wrap it around the fossils so they can be transported without breaking. It was something marvelous, since I had never done it before, or knew how to do it. Cleaning the bones with the brushes made me feel like I was going back in time and living with these animals.

I got to learn about new species of dinosaurs I had never heard of before. Each word and explanation that my uncle gave me I recorded in my memory. I was very decided to study medicine and now after this trip and after learning more deeply about this career I will probably study paleontology.

I liked the trip very much, the camaraderie among the colleagues, the way they treat each other, was very interesting to me. They all tried to make me feel welcome and tried to help me learn new things. I want to thank all those who were there and especially my uncle Luis who allowed me to have this fantastic experience. This was unique and priceless; I hope to be able to do it again very soon.

Guadalupe Chiappe