Slept fairly well last night. Woke up after 4 hrs of sleep to unidentifiable wildlife noises, including weird pig-like snorting and grunting. (later find out this is a common impala noise) Woke up at 6a for good because of sun pouring in through door – apparently my banda faces east. Try my first fresh papaya for breakfast. Upon cutting it open it fill my nose with a sweet yet mildly vomit-y smell. Not too bad, but I wouldn’t file it under ‘sumptuous.’ Talk with some folks about their projects; it’s great to hear the cool science as well as feel welcomed to collaborate. So much to learn about this place and its research, and beginning to feel mildly upgraded from complete-novice. Sit in dabbled shade under tree for 45ish minutes, and my shoulders are untogether unpleased with the equatorial sun exposure. Two main soil types here: red and black. The experimental exclosures (and much of the research done here at Mpala) is on the black cotton soil ecosystem. Head out on short trip to red soils to help look for some termite mounds, happened across some Rock Hyrax. Tomorrow plan to go to black soils to check ’em out.