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EXPEDITION UPDATE:
Toronto and Miami
Sunday, Dec. 17
Posted at 9:47pm EST
by Students on Ice Headquarters
Students in Toronto - dressed for Miami!
Students Journals and Images
Anthoula Lelekidis, Student - New York City, U.S. Waking up at 4am wasn’t a good start to the long day ahead, but after about 6 hours of waiting in the Miami International Airport I am getting used to it. Poker matches, silent thinking and small giggles surround us all. After a few random chats, I am slowly growing closer to each of the Antarctic ambassadors. Vancouver, Boston, Texas, NYC and Canada are now united with the same goal in mind...
I sit back and countdown the time remaining until our next departure. One flight down, two more to go… yet I’m patiently waiting for the countless photo-shoots to occur. Without a doubt, they are definitely soon to come. I am gradually growing out of my homesick state of mind since I have come into realization with what’s in store for me. I deeply miss everyone back home but I know they are cheering me on as they go about with their normal lifestyle. I, on the other hand, have obtained a new lifestyle far from usual.
I miss and love you all! [Mom, Dad, Steve and Papa!!] Stay safe and be careful, just like me!
Darcy, Livio and Anthoula at the airport
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Chris Page, Chaperone - Florida, U.S.
Driving from the middle of Florida to Miami very early in the morning, and watching the sun rise in the east wondering what will the sunrise look like in Antarctica? When I arrived at the airport I met three groups of students from New York, Boston and Houston, yet by mid-afternoon of a long day sitting in the airport, we are already one group going on a big adventure. Everyone is writing, playing cards, or sharing backgrounds. There is an underlying sense of excitement and apprehension at beginning the next part of the trip.
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Andy Diaz, Student - New York City
It’s December 17 about 3:35 it’s a very beautiful day. The group and I are waiting for the next flight. We will be leaving about 8:30 tonight; we won’t be arriving to Ushuaia, Argentina in South America until around 2 p.m. on December 18. Its amazing what we have all come together to do on this expedition! I look forward to learning and having fun. P.S. I’m having a lot of fun!
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Kevin Adamson, Student - Toronto, Canada
The group is at Miami International Airport and everyone is anxiously awaiting our flight to Buenos Aires and the arrival of more expeditioners. From Buenos Aires we will head off to Ushuaia. When we get there it will have been a long day for the entire group, but all the hours waiting will be worth it. What I am looking most forward to when the group gets to Ushuaia is learning about the area and its animal and plant life. It will be very exciting to finally reach South America, where many of us have never been before. I am truly thrilled to see the trip finally begin. I have been anticipating the trip for many months now, but the magnitude of the experience I am about to embark on had not come to me until these last few hours. Although, I am sure the full scope of what this expedition means is still to come to me. This is truly an amazing experience, to which I owe many thanks to the Toronto District School Board for sponsoring two of its students (including myself), paying for half the cost of the trip.
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Livio Jimenez – New York City, U.S.
The actual exploring and discovering has not started yet but I have learned a few things. I’ve learned that no matter how huge New York City is or how far one lives from another we are all some how connected. I have more in common with my fellow expeditioners than I would have ever imagined. I also learned of how hospitable Miami’s air port can be. The team met up in the SOI Lounge that Miami’s airport allowed us to construct. Learning how to juggle “hackey sacs” was also a new and fun adventure. This has been great so far and I am 100 % sure it will get even better. I am physically fine but not mentally. Imaging myself and the rest of the team in Ushuaia and on our way to Antarctica is driving me crazy because I can’t wait. The hands on the clock seem to move slower the more I want them to speed up. First step Miami next step a whole new world and adventure…and we are moving forward.
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Sandra McCubbin, Student – Barrie, Canada
Killing time in Miami International Airport. Our flight from Toronto to Miami this morning was quick and uneventful. We are now sitting in the terminal among a mass of bags and luggage. Some of us went for a walk outside for a while where it is hot and humid. It felt extremely strange to be standing underneath palm trees when we’re on our way to Antarctica. It has started to rain now so everyone is back inside either wandering around, playing cards, reading or doing homework. For me, it is back to homework and orange juice (according to Eric, Miami International has the best orange juice in the world of any airport in the world so I’m going to try it out!). I might not get the chance to write again in a while since our group will soon grow to over one hundred people so I’ll say Hi Mom, family, friends, everyone at school and everyone who helped me get here! Despite the boredom of time-killing, everyone in our group is really friendly and we’re having a good time getting to know each other.
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Sarah Shackleton – Boston, U.S.
We just arrived at the airport in Miami and have met some of the other students. We have some time to sit down and relax for a little bit while some of the other kids arrive. It’s a bit strange to be staying in such a hot place when we know that in a few days we will arrive at the coldest continent on earth. All of the people on the trip are really friendly and happy to be here. I can’t wait to get on the plane to Buenos Aires. We won’t be boarding until 8:00 so there’s a lot of time to kill. There are a few shops here so Emily and I have been wandering around. I think we’re just all a little anxious to be off on the next leg of the journey.
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Jessica, Darcy, Sandra and Karen stretch and wait!
Nihal shows his hacky sack skills!
Sunday, Dec. 17
Posted at 2:57pm EST
by Geoff Green, Expedition Leader
We landed safely at Miami International Airport this afternoon, on time, in good spirits, and were greeted by another dozen or so students and chaperones from other corners of the continent. Every hour, our group
gets a little larger - the noise generated from our group a little louder - and the area we're occupying in Concourse
G Departure Lounge a little larger! A big group of students have broken out the hackey sacks
and non-Antarctic bound passengers are moving away from us in droves! Such is the excitement. We had
a large pizza lunch and are currently settling in, getting acquainted and waiting for our Miami - Buenos
Aires flight, which departs early this evening.
Stay tuned!
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Sunday, Dec. 17
Posted at 10:22am EST
by Geoff Green, Expedition Leader
We received our first little group of expeditioners last night! Everyone was very excited and fatigued from the travel! Without much prompting from chaperones and staff - it was early to bed for everyone last night as we have a full day of travel ahead of us.
Very early this morning, our little group emerged from their rooms rested, hungry and excited about the adventure ahead.
We are flying out of Toronto at 9:35 am EST (as I write this our flight is on time!) and we will arrive in Miami at 12:30pm EST where we will meet some more of our group. Over the next 24 hours - as we pick up students, chaperones and scientists in various hub cities - our number will grow to 107 happy and excited travelers! We will all be in Ushuaia, Argentina - Gateway to Antarctica - by the 19th!
Sandra, Karen and Darcy check out their new SOI toques!
STUDENT JOURNALS
Written on December 16, 2006
Toronto, Canada
Posted by Darcy, Sandra and Karen --
This evening we met for the first time at our cozy hotel just outside of Toronto International Airport. It was comforting to know that we are all in the same situation, as we shyly learnt each other’s names and sat down to a greatly needed meal. After the briefing we sat absorbing what we could from the overwhelming amounts of information that was thrown at us. We have a very full day tomorrow trekking down to Miami and then to Buenos Aires, basically non-stop until Tuesday when we arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina and we can safety put our feet on the ground.
Our small group has had a great chance to start getting to know one another today. We’re all looking forward to our group doubling in size tomorrow as we pick up some fellow adventurers in Miami.
So finally it is here, the first night of our long-anticipated Antarctic expedition! The best part is, that despite our nerves and excitement, we have all been welcomed with open arms and feel that we have become part of an instant family. Bright and early tomorrow morning…the adventure begins!
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Posted by Ryan Kitts --
Hello everybody, I arrived safe at the Toronto airport, where I met Diz. We had a good chat while we waited for my bag to come out onto the carousel. Everything went pretty smoothly today, except for a few short delays, which didn’t end up causing a problem. Right now I am sitting in MY hotel room (Yup, I’ve got my own room!!) writing my first journal entry. Tonight at dinner I met Geoff and Kendra, and two other students whose names have slipped my mind already. I also met a chaperone, Karen, and the oceanographer, whose name also slipped my mind, sorry buddy! I am getting really excited now, even though they say we are in for some pretty crappy times traveling from here all the way down to Ushuaia. I am going on this trip with 102 other people!! How am I going to remember al their names?! So for any family reading this first journal entry, I’m going to miss you all like crazy, but you’ll have a great Christmas, and don’t worry, I’ll take lots of pictures!!!
STAY TUNED - THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME!
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