South America?!? :D Okay, that does provide explanation for communication difficulties. Plenty for an archaeologist to do there, too.

Glad Daniel was able to be home to send the children off on their first day. That's such a big deal for kids!

Can't imagine how hard it must be on the two of them to know that they're so far apart. None of my family has ever left the planet and the separation was bad enough. :(