The task of grading 46 reflective field diaries, each with 12 daily entries, answers to 13 post-trip questions and a reflective conclusion (not to mention stand-profile diagrams) might seem like quite a chore. Certainly, it’s time consuming as all He!$, but holy smokes, this cohort of students has been wowing the heck out of me. OK – there’s some variation (and i’m only on # 11), but I keep reading these things and thinking how each one is so well-written and full of interesting observations and insights. Each one is almost better than the one before. If this keeps up this might just turn out to be the most stimulating grading experience of my life. Man oh man, i LOVE these students – seriously – BES students really are something else !