Hello again to all from Chile, where I have about 12 hours until our ship, the R/V Laurence M. Gould is about to depart for the Antarctic Peninsula. Our trip began with a long day and a half of flying last week, and since then we have been waiting for the ship to depart.

I realized right away that I should have paid more attention in my high school Spanish courses because ever since our arrival I have been fairly lost due to the language barrier. Even ordering at a restaurant was a challenge at first. By today though, I have started to catch on a little more.

Our first full day in Chile we were issued our Antarctic gear through the Antarctic Support Associates. This included boots, socks, gloves, parkas, and other necessities for life down on the ice. After that, our group had the opportunity to see a little of the backcountry, which is beautiful. The wildlife in the national park we toured included rheas (similar to ostrich), guanacas (similar to llamas), and condors.

As I sit on the boat typing this, I am anxious to get underway so that I can begin my research. In four days (or so...depending on the seas), I will be in Antarctica. However, I am not anxious to get out into the open sea, which in this part of the world can make even the strongest stomachs squeamish. The boat is fantastic though. It is filled with things to do: email access, a weight room, tons of movies, and there is always that pesky thesis proposal that I need to write. I guess I will keep busy and try not to think about getting seasick and hope that the oceans behave for a few more days.

So, until next time, adios.
Andy