{"id":297,"date":"2016-09-12T21:21:46","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T01:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev-the-digital-silk-road.pantheonsite.io\/?p=297"},"modified":"2016-09-12T21:21:46","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T01:21:46","slug":"the-silk-worm-from-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/silkworms\/the-silk-worm-from-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silk Worm from Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Earth,<\/strong>
\n\"dune-43205_1920\"
\n 
\nI am the Silk Worm for the Earth team. Other than being exploited by having silk reeled out of my body, I also advise the team. With the group sounding like it would be a huge burden, we are, thankfully, not researching the whole Earth. More specifically, we are based on areas of choice, along the silk road, which is still a large chunk of the planet.
\nDuring the first meeting, my role as a Teacher\u2019s assistant was slightly murky. I had assumed that I would be another student in the group, except that I report back to the professors. However, after a brief explanation, it was brought to my knowledge that I am in charge of advising the group; to make sure meetings are set, progress is progressing, and time is well-managed. But other than that, I am merely a normal student going on the journey with them.
\nAs for group members, we have Sam, whom in which shows an appreciation for medicinal plants and herbs, Austin, who is interested in architecture and agriculture, and lastly, Jake, who wants to focus on crops grown in different environments. The group started off thinking of how their interests can create crossroads for each other in doing sub-projects for the main project at hand, (as well as figuring out what that main project would be).
\nAustin went ahead and discussed about researching architecture and agriculture. Jake thought of possibly doing a crossroad with Austin\u2019s research. Sam was thinking. Austin went ahead and said he wanted it all to stick together. Sam then considered that we should do a week of research so things could narrow down. Sam shoots and says he\u2019ll research on medicinal plants and herbs. Jacob then says that he would focus on the crops grown based on environment. I was nodding and writing their speeches on my laptop.
\nSo forth, the team had a meeting and wrote a proposal which states the research question: \u201c\u201cHow did the fragility of the agricultural systems and medicine of oasis cities affect the larger silk road?\u201d
\nAnd here\u2019s the part where I state what the Earth group is all about. Slightly late, I know. Yet i\u2019m quite certain you have a good idea on what this is about. The Earth team is assigned with the collective interest in medicine, food, herbs, magic, irrigation and farming. Crossing out magic due to some group member trading, we focused mainly on agriculture and medicine. Furthermore, the members of Earth have refined it into what their interests lie on, with the absolute knowledge of building bridges on each individual to create a larger structure. And honestly, I cannot take any credit for what the group has done. I was only there to throw in some advance, and slightly, just slightly put ideas into the brainstorming. This being said, the proposal that was posted that Wednesday night was all because of Sam, Jake, and Austin. You did a fine job, read it more than once.
\nAs an Earthly silk worm, I feel confident that the group members that I have been assigned to will do great in the research. Even before brainstorming and official work, the group showed much enthusiasm to work with one another; a key part in group projects. Also, that our interests are very much aligned, and well grounded in the Earth group. However, I cannot say much as we are only on the first stage.
\nOne of my concerns would be of what I am expected to do. The fear of not giving enough, or not doing a good job as a TA struck me during the first meeting. I was assigned the role of advising the team, yet what if even my own intellect and coordination would fail them. It grows into me, this feeling of being just moderate. Also, creating physical work into digitized files and publishing it into the internet where it is replicated into everyone\u2019s screen in just a click of a button, worldwide. We are available for all that has access to the internet. More so, those who are interested in the Silk Road, and are critical to judge research. A lot comes to mind when concerning inadvertent plagiarism, slightly off data, and maybe even inadequate research. However, this is not to say that my team is below that. This is merely a fear that comes to me. But a benefit nonetheless due to the fact that I will be more aware of what is to be expected. Furthermore, I will keep this fear as a constant reminder of expectations and warnings, similar to that of Murphy\u2019s law, in which anything can go wrong, giving the incentive to reconstruct and replicate for errors, fixing it.
\nOn another note, I have a lot of excitement for this project. The fact that we are focusing on agriculture and farming is definitely my forte. To know more about the origins of organic product, medicinal herbs; almost following it physically as we research historical timelines about different oases and the influences of medicine that have impacted Pastoralists or Agrarians, and so forth. I am more than content that I was assigned into this group.
\nAlso, contrary to what was mentioned above, I am quite excited to see our results go into the WordPress, and globally for all to see. Yes, there are fears of criticism and faulty information, but I do trust that my group can execute and show a well written research paper on the fragility of the silk road. A Yin and Yang of some sort, where fear makes me know that I will work harder and make it better, you can understand this i\u2019m sure.
\nAll this being said, I am grateful to be having the opportunity to travel the silk road this January. From advising the research to stepping on the dirt path that has been the crossroads between countries and key role in influential exchanges, it truly will be a rewarding experience. As Marco Polo says himself, \u201cI did not write half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed\u201d.
\n 
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Earth,   I am the Silk Worm for the Earth team. Other than being exploited by having silk reeled out of my body, I also advise the team. With the group sounding like it would be a huge burden, we are, thankfully, not researching the whole Earth. More specifically, we are based on areas … Continue reading The Silk Worm from Earth<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-silkworms","category-team-earth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ds.guilford.edu\/projects\/silkroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}