I stopped this morning and realized that I had been in Antarctica for two weeks. It seems like just yesterday that I was flying into New Zealand and starting this amazing adventure. I still have almost four weeks here but I know that the time will fly by. I want to make sure to stop and enjoy every moment. At least once a day, I take a few moments and look out Stacy’s window. It has an incredible view of just what this is all about.

A view to die for.

I am impressed by so many different things. The landscape is breathtaking and the animals are utterly adorable. However, it is the community that is known as McMurdo Station that has really amazed me. There are over 1000 people in the station and yet I feel like I know so many of them already. I am touched by the warm way that I have been accepted into this community. I spoke with someone today that said this place is filled with an assortment of unique people and I certainly agree. I also am impressed with the efforts of everyone to protect this one-of-a-kind environment. You see recycling bins everywhere and what is really astonishing is that everyone goes out of their way to use the bins. I notice that people turn out lights and don’t run the water in the sinks. These may seem like small things but they add up to create a community that cares about its environment and shows it.

There are bins for everything. One bin is labeled "Skua" for items that are used but in decent shape. You can find shoes, books, etc.

I spent the day doing lots of different things. I went to the hut at Cape Armitage and worked with Marco to clean out the remaining items.

Marco is entering the dive hut at Cape Armitage.

A chapter in SCINI’s adventure in Antarctica came to an end. As you know, there are three sites that the team hopes to visit and use SCINI. Cape Armitage was the first of these places and it was the site of a lot of the initial testing. There are some fond memories there that the team will not soon forget.

The dive is almost, but not quite frozen over. It saw a lot of use during the first few weeks of the project.

Our next stop was another hut that the divers used during the first few weeks they were in Antarctica. We picked up some more items. We also had to get an extension cord that was buried under 4 feet of snow and ice. Marco used an ice chipper and worked on it until it was free. He showed that persistence pays. I think that this is a lesson that many of my students should learn. DJ had spent 20 minutes the other day trying to free the extension cord and it would have been so easy for Marco to say “why bother?” Luckily, Marco was willing to work diligently until the job was accomplished. The extension cord thanks him.

Marco is the man!

I spent the rest of the day doing interviews and working on the computer. Next week we will be very busy. Once we start going to Heald Island I won’t have a lot of time to do these types of things. This is the third and final location for SCINI. I understand that the place is gorgeous and that not many people have had the opportunity to visit it. I am constantly reminded just how blessed I am to be here.

In case you were wondering where the second site was, it is Cape Evans. In fact, Stacy, DJ, Scott, and Justin (a volunteer) packed up and went there today. The Pisten Bully has a hydraulic leak and is being fixed, so they used the vehicle from last year. It is called a “Tucker” and it is big and slow, but it has a table and curtains. As they say, “Beggars can’t be choosers.” It is a funny looking vehicle but I understand the ride is a lot smoother.

The infamous "Tucker". Last year the team used this vehicle to go everywhere.

The goal for SCINI at Cape Evans is to view and record the effects of the passage of icebergs along the seafloor. These are areas that have been devastated by the activities of an iceberg.

In addition, Marco and DJ leave next Wednesday which means that we will be down to 5 people. That means everyone will have to cover the slack. I thought I worked a lot already but I have a feeling that I am about to get really busy. I can’t wait!