“Daddy, why did you go to Antarctica?’ Asked Ana in a severe tone of voice.
“I went to Antarctica because I wanted to see penguins,” I replied, thinking that would be a good enough answer for a four year old.
“But you could have seen them here in the zoo,” said Ana.
“You’re right,” I said, as I searched for a better answer. “I could’ve seen the penguins here at the zoo, but I wanted to see them in the wild. I wanted to see how they live when they’re not at the zoo.”
I was enjoying one of the most magical moments of the day, helping Ana get ready for bed. We’d finished reading her book and were laying down in the dark, chatting for a few minutes. I had just returned from my first PolarTREC expedition, after sailing around Antarctica for over days. The conversation was not going very well that night, though. I could tell Ana had not enjoyed my three months absence from home.
Ana remained silent. I could hear her breathing in the dark, knowing she was about to challenge my answer.
“Just promise me that you will not go back to Antarctica unless you take me with you.”
“Sure honey. Next time I go to Antarctica you’re coming with me.” I was sure I had used my only opportunity to go to Antarctica that didn’t see any harm in promising to take Ana with her on my next Antarctic adventure. Simply put, there was not going to be another Antarctic adventure. She rolled around and gave me a warm hug.
The moral of the story: don’t promise anything you are not willing to fulfill, even when you are sure there will be no need for you to fulfill the promise.
Ana in summer 2011
Four and a half years later, I am excited for a new opportunity to travel to Antarctica, and wish I hadn’t promised Ana to take her with me.
I am heading back to McMurdo Station!
This time I will be joining Dr. Jim Madsen from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and two of his graduate students, to service neutron sensors that have been collecting data at McMurdo since the 1950’s.
I hope you decide to come along, reading this expedition journal. We will learn together about cosmic rays and solar activity, life at McMurdo Station and multiple challenges that I am sure we will face. You will be able to see videos and pictures of the whole expedition. And don’t forget to ask questions to the whole team. We’ll be happy to answer all your queries. And don't worry, we won’t make random promises.
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