Geoff Green

After a good nights sleep we all awoke refreshed and re-energized this morning. Another beautiful day and a hearty breakfast awaited. Then it was off on an all day hiking trip in the spectacular hills of southern Tierra del Fuego. Upon the return to Ushuaia the students had some time to visit the town before heading to the port to board our expedition vessel. It was an exciting moment when we all first set foot aboard. Everyone quickly settled into their cabins and then at 6:00pm we cast off and sailed out into the Beagle Channel. A cheer could be heard all across Ushuaia I think, as the students yelled and waved goodbye from the upper deck! Then it was a jam packed evening filled with an introductory briefing, a lifeboat drill, a wonderful dinner, and time spent out on decks soaking in the stunning scenery...and sunset. Tomorrow we will awake in the infamous Drake Passage. We're all hoping for "Drake Lake" instead the "Drake Shake", but we'll make the best of whatever comes our way. The education program kicks off first thing tomorrow and we'll be on the lookout for whales and seabirds, including our first Wandering Albatross...the biggest seabird in the world...

The students were all superstars today...and a very positive and happy atmosphere is growing stronger by the minute! Antarctica or bust...

Our first full day at sea. The Drake Passage is treating us well so far. The seas are moderate and we only have a light wind. As a result we are making great speed and progress with our crossing to the Antarctic Peninsula. The students are all getting their sea-legs and despite a few bouts of seasickness they are all doing great. This morning we have had the first tow lectures of the journey...the first from Fred on the Geology of Antarctica, and the second from Eric on the Southern Ocean. On the outer decks we are starting to feel the cooler air temperatures as we get nearer to the Antarctic Convergence. That's all for now... Geoff

JOURNALS for Friday (Updated 2:00 am EST)

Geoff Green

We've had a great day at sea. Filled with lectures and workshops, as well as time out on deck to look for seabirds and breath in that fresh southern sea air. Calm seas prevailed throughout the day, and we have just crossed the Antarctic Convergence (the biological barrier of Antarctica), as well as the 60 degrees South (the political barrier). So we are now officially in Antarctic waters. If we keep up this speed we'll arrive to the South Shetland Islands tomorrow afternoon! During our evening Re-cap and Briefing we talked about the threats facing the albatross and other seabirds from the long-line fishing industry. Even here at the bottom of the world, nature is not safe from our destructive and consumptive society. But there is hope...such as the effective measures being taken by the Falkland Islands Fisheries to reduce seabird bycatch, and to regulate a sustainable fishery. The challenge is to spread this awareness and technology around the world. Plus, as consumers we all need to be more diligent with our choices, such as with the fish we purchase. Our daily choices can help to save and change things. This is all an example of how everything is interconnected on our planet. We need to reconnect with the natural world, and that is going to be one of the main themes of our expedition in the days ahead.

The spirit and energy on board is simply wonderful. I can't say enough about this team of students, chaperones and staff. Already we are starting to feel like one big family. This evening after dinner all the students went out on the ship's bow to burn some energy, and do some team-building activities. It was quite a sight to see. I think our Russian crew were a bit perplexed at what was going on, but I know they are enjoying having all these students on board!

Tomorrow the students will see their first icebergs and sight Antarctica. We also hope to make our first landing in the early evening. All first impressions that will last a lifetime. Not a bad way to finish 2005 and begin 2006.

In the expedition spirit,
Geoff

Andrea Snider
Drake Passage

The seas are relatively calm today, just some swells. It seems that everyone is adjusting to the ship and all that there is to do. This morning we had two lectures, one about the geology of how Antarctica was formed; the other was about the southern ocean and its role in the protection and insulation of Antarctica from the other continents. When we aren't in lectures we all seem to rotate from the bridge of the ship, to the top deck to the side rails and bow of the ship on the fourth floor. We just finished a yummy lunch and it has been suggested that we all take a short nap before the next lecture. All I can say is that this has been an amazing beginning to an amazing trip, everything has gone off without a hitch.well ok, so I did wear my running shoes on our hike yesterday and as such I am waiting for them to dry, but all in all this is going to be an amazing experience.hopefully absent of sea sickness! To my parents I just want to say thank you for letting me come on this trip, and have fun on your vacation!!

To my grandma and aunt I just want to say that they are going to have an amazing time when they come down here next month!!

O..I almost forgot, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Lucas Alvarez

Well, well, well! I am finally on my way to Antarctica! This is unbelievable. After all this work and all this waiting, we are finally on the Akademik Shokalsky. I had an amazing time in Ushuaia. Aryana and I even decided to get a vacation home down there. The hike we had to Lago Perdido was amazing and. MUDDY. The boots I had on looked brand new at the beginning of this trip and after two hours of hiking. they looked 20 years old. Anywhoo. The ship ride hasn't been bad yet. The ride down the Beagle Channel was very smooth. We even got to see many Wandering Albatrosses and other different birds. Right now, we are on the Drake Passage. The ship is going from side to side, and it has my head spinning. Argh! I have just been drinking lots of water and I might take a Dramamine tablet later. The lectures are challenging because of the cramped conditions of the lecture room. I really didn't feel bad in Eric's lecture though because it was very interesting and I got to learn a lot.

Well, this is pretty much it from me now. I just want to say hi to mami, papi, my siblings, Ms. Matos, Ms. Rendon and Howard, and Zaira! I love you guys and I am having an AMAZING time!!!

Dr. Brad
Students on Ice

The rolling ship - movements and forces Gondwana - Fred Roots talks at the courses Albatrosses glide wingtips seeming to touch The swells and the waves - We are sensing so much And now on the Drake a ship full of youth Seeing Southern Worlds and a search for some truth To take home the pearls of knowledge so fine To perhaps help the world over the future of time Tomorrow's leaders inquisitive and eyes wide open With new understanding - new visions for hoping Rolling and swells, camaraderie - a team Seeing and living - new ideas and dreams Antarctica!

The Journey Begins!

Aryana Jacobs

Today was possibly one of the most physically challenging days I 've experienced in years. About midnight or some time, after we entered the Drake's Passage. I knew this because the excess movement of the boat woke me up. The realization that the Dramamine that I bought was not sufficient medication for motion sickness came to me when I couldn't eat breakfast and opted to sleep a little extra until the next lecture. Finally lunchtime rolled around and despite my best efforts, nothing could remedy the way I was feeling. All that my stomach would accept was crackers and some flat ginger ale as suggested by Becky. After some fresh air and a short nap, I felt a little better. Hopefully the next 24 hours pass quickly.

Sophie Breton

Direction Antarctique La journée a débuté par un mal de mer, un mal partagé par bon nombre d' étudiants et de professeurs. Heureusement, nous avons à bord un "docteur pillule". La température refroidit rapidement, nous approchons de l'océan Antarctique, les baleines et les phoques devraient bientôt nous apparaître. Les membres de l'équipage sont sympathiques, nous avons déjà appris plusieur s mots russes, à huit personnes nous arrivons à faire une phrase complète (sujet, verbe et complément compris!!).

Demain nous nous souhaiterons bonne année 2006 en Antarctique! En attendant, je vous souhaite à tous, à l'avance, une très bonne année.

À très bientôt

Wendy De La Rosa

Well, what can I say about today? Its 10:15 pm and I have so much energy that I feel like its 3 pm. We kicked off with Fred who gave us the info-session on how Antarctica broke apart from the main land 180 million years ago making the Drake Passage. Then we went on to learn about the Southern Oceans from Eric. And this was when we were informed about the Antarctic Convergence. Yeah.Well what did that start? It started the competition in which we tried to figure out the exact time in which we would cross the Convergence. Me, like the little competition freak that I am quickly rushed off to the Bridge (the captains office) and tried to figure it out mathematically. How? I figured out our latitude, and the average latitude in which the conversion occurs and the speed of the ship, and with lots of math I came up with 8:40 pm. I am still waiting for the answer. I can't lie though; I did change my time like 8 times.

Then after getting some help from Andy (who's not feeling so good so he goes into the barfing count) in my physics homework I went into the maps and charts workshop from Fred. Most interesting fact? That the Antarctic Treaty is not worldwide accepted, and that it neither supports nor denies land claims made by the claiming countries. Therefore, their claims are just a part of pride since they don't own anything, and they can't stop anyone from coming into their land. So what's the point of the claim? I don 't know. I'm going to skip over to what to me was the most enjoyable part of the day. (This is not to say that Daniel's bird lesson was not interesting, because trust me it was, its just that if you are reading up to this part I do not want to loose you just yet.and by the way congrats you are still reading my journal) Ok.got a little sidetracked there, but again to the most interesting part, was out on deck where Dave, if I do say so myself, was overflowing with energy. We played a series of games, but we got to the human knot. The New York Crew (Sarahn, Katherine, Meghan (who was born in New York) Aryana, Banelle and myself) of course untied ourselves in record time, and of course us being females had to do with it since girls rock. But anyways Dave's crew, was still working while Diz's and Jason's were all done and ready to go. But the hard core team did not give up, and so we went on to another activity while they still worked diligently. And we finished the activity and guess what. they were still going at it, but thanks to our Karma, they untied themselves.partly.sort-of.ok well they tried. And then we waddled like penguins. You're confused? Well I guess its just one of those you had to be there type things. On the barfing note, I'm still going strong, the drugs are working! Unfortunately, not the same for Aryana. so send her your Karma.

PS we broke record today! The ship is going at 13 nautical miles is probably the fastest its gone. At this rate we will reach Antarctica tomorrow afternoon! Come and read tomorrow.

Meghan Hughes

Today is our first full day in the Drake Passage, even though a couple of us have encountered some sea-sickness we're all coping, and enjoying every minute. A couple of us woke up around midnight as we just entered the passage, but we went back to sleep and woke up in time for breakfast. After breakfast we went down to the lecture room and had our first lecture given by Fred about the Geological History of Antarctica. Down in the lecture room you could really feel the boat rock so we had a couple minutes of free time, where we either went up to the upper deck and even though it was foggy enjoyed the fresh air and the sea breeze, or took a short nap. Then we went down again for Eric's lecture on the Southern Ocean.

After absorbing all that information into our brains we had lunch and had a little bit of free time, where a group of students (Wendy, Sarahn, Andrew, Anand and me) had a little study party, as we all have homework thanks to our generous teachers who don't want us ever to stop our learning, in the class room or not. Even though it was serious and we got a lot of work done, we were still joking and had lots of laughs, especially about my pronunciation of the word genre which I pronounced as gen-ree instead of jaun-ra. But this time of laughs came to an end and we got ready for our first workshop. I attended the Photography workshop and we first had a general photo talk and then went out to the bow and took some pictures applying the 3 by 3 rule. Then we did a bit more homework and had tea time, before we went down to Daniel's lecture on the Southern Ocean birds. After learning about the different species such as the Albatross we had our briefing, and learnt we always have to check where the fish we eat comes from so none of us eat Chilean Sea Bass. Then we had dinner and talked, continuing to get to know each other.

After dinner the students had a little New Years Eve festivity on the bow of the ship and we started by an action syllable name game, and moved on to getting ourselves in a knot. Even though the team I was on with Wendy, Ariana, Bioneol, Katheryn, and Sarahn (The Newyorkans) a couple other groups had a bit of trouble. However we moved on to sharks eating us unless we stayed on the rope and had to arrange ourselves in order by birth dates. Since the last group wasn't untangled we lent some karma but they eventually gave up as they were in 2 circles. We then went on to a penguin shuffling game, and everyone was just laughing and enjoying themselves. We had 45 minutes before curfew so almost everyone has come into the lounge where we' re listening to Dave play the guitar and just hanging out. Hope everything back hope is going great. This is a great experience. Thank you Granny and Grandpa and I hope your operation went well today Mommy! Have fun up there when were partying down in the South Pole

Emily Armstrong

Here we are in the Drake Passage, bobbing along on our way to Antarctica. The ocean has luckily been pretty calm so far, considering these can be the roughest seas in the world, but that hasn't stopped many of us- including me- from feeling queasy! I'm hoping to gain my "sea legs" soon. Although I decided against breakfast and headed outside for some fresh air instead, I fortunately felt well enough (after the drugs kicked in!) to attend the two lectures this morning. Very interesting- Fred told us about the geological history of Antarctica, and Eric discussed the phenomenon that is the Southern Ocean. Next I'm off to learn as much as I can about outdoor photography from Daniel! I've realized that my writing style is not particularly eloquent, but words like "amazing", "crazy", and especially "awesome" are undoubtedly the first words that have been coming to mind so far!

To everyone back in H-town: Hey! Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year 's; I know I sure will! It looks like the e-mail thing won't actually work out, so I'll try and write a journal once in a while to be posted on the website. (You better be checking!) Je vous aime tous!

Kathryn Jordan

At 5 o'clock in the morning I got up to the noise of things falling and crashing, that was when I knew we had officially reached the Drake Passage. Surprisingly I fell asleep so fast and comfortably. Although, this morning I got up and no longer was it that easy to walk around the ship because I was always looking around for that railing to hold on to. The seasickness finally hit me and I felt horrible! I was falling asleep practically through both lectures, but I tried to be a "trooper" and not run back to my room.

It was so funny because I was talking to Robin when I was on the deck trying to grab some fresh air and I told her, it's times like this where I wish I was home. I felt so sick, but she told me that it's only going to happen once so it's all apart of the experience. All in all, this trip has been amazing so far. Yesterday we went on a hike before boarding the ship and that was an amazing experience. Even though it was an hour and a half both ways it was a bit tiresome, yet worth every minute of it. I was so happy because I was determined to be the first one to finish the hike going to the lake and back and I did. It gave me a real sense of accomplishment giving me motivation to continue onward.

The Journey

The fog on the Drake means less of the Shake
The wind an unusual breeze mild
On to the White Continent steady time we take
A trip to the place of the wild
We learn about ourselves and reflections of nature
The snow and the ice and the blue
The soul of the wildlife / to every little creature
A thought of the world so new
Let us be now be up and doing
With a mind for all that is right
Learn to love and live in balance
With a heart that follows the light

An SOIer