SAS Data Analytic Development

Chapter 8Efficiency

As I watched the last bits of my Ivory bath soap float down the Mopan River, I realized that perhaps I hadn't chosen the most effective method to wash my clothes.

San Jose Succotz, Belize. Only a week into the archaeological expedition, my team had returned from our dig site (Minanhá) deep in the highland jungles for sundries, sharper machetes, and naturally to wash our beleaguered, mud-laden clothes.

Standing in the slowly swelling, chest-level current of Succotz's only river, we were aware of the pollution (and occasional body) that floated down the Mopan from neighboring Guatemala, but were comforted by several Maya women washing nearby with their daughters.

In fact, having no idea how to wash clothes in a river—and barely able to even maintain control of our soap and loose clothing—Matt, Catherine, Erica, and I immediately set to watching the Maya women to observe their techniques. But, when they spied our interest, smiled widely, and waved, it was immediately apparent that they were not only washing their clothes—but also themselves.

Embarrassed by our voyeurism, we quickly whirled around and, now facing upstream toward the empty river, were again on our own to formulate a plan.

We had entered the river with a mix of powdered detergent, liquid dish soap, and of course my single bar of Ivory. One failed technique was to place the clothing in a trash bag with the liquid soap and to shake vigorously. But as we realized there was nothing to agitate the clothes ...