We've received more than 50 WATER DROPs from many different schools and groups of students from California, Washington, New Zealand and other parts of the wold.
You have read some of the stories of those that accompanied us to various places and those that were "adopted" by people here in Antarctica. Do you remember what Rick, Jesse, or Lydia did with theirs? Do you remember what they saw at the Ice Town or at the Water Desalination Plant?
Most WATER DROPs have returned from their adventures though quite a few are still out with their hosts. Some will hopefully return before we leave, though the ones with the balloons or the ones at South Pole or in remote field camps might be out a while longer before we see them again - if ever.
Though our office is sometimes very crowded with 4 or 5 of us working on our computers, the WATER DROPs kept us company for a while.
We have been displaying the ones we have either in our lab or in our office, but with the start of the holidays, we received permission to display them in a more public place for all to enjoy.
We strung together the WATER DROPs.
DJ, Bob, and Tina got permission and hung up the WATER DROPs in the entrance to the galley.
Now, with the WATER DROPs hanging in the entrance to the galley, not only do we smile at the beautiful pieces of art, but all residents of McMurdo get to see the children's creations. This will be especially wonderful as next Saturday and Sunday Thanksgiving is coming to McMurdo. We should get both days off as well as a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. While we will miss our families, the WATER DROPs will hopefully cheer us up.
There they are. The WATER DROPs that have returned from their adventures are now brightening the day of all McMurdoites as they leave the galley.
I also added a flier with information about how these WATER DROPs were made by various classes and how they are meant to connect research in Antarctica to the kids. I hope that in the end everyone learns through their travels, which are similar to real drops of water that follow the same path - from Antarctica to all part of the world, over great distances and with great adventures along the way.
We also posted this flier to explain the story of the WATER DROPs.