Journal Entry

In less than a week I'll be surrounded by plants, warm sunshine, and all the fresh fruits and vegetables that I want! Until then, we have a lot of packing, cleaning, and finishing up to do.

We're also enjoying the last few days of our time here.

Though the popular expression, "It's a harsh continent" certainly fits, I've come to love our little town.

The WATER DROP from Lori's ESL class check out the view of McMurdo from ObservaThe WATER DROP from Lori's ESL class check out the view of McMurdo from Observation Hill.

Drilling holes with LT and running back and forth on ski-doos, the tucker, and the piston bully was totally different from my life of teaching and riding bikes or driving cars. Even my motorcycle didn't quite prepare me for these vehicles.

The WATER DROP from the first graders at Sacred Heart Elementary School hung outThe WATER DROP from the first graders at Sacred Heart Elementary School hung out with Paul and Stacy as LT drilled another hole. The WATER DROP from the first graders at Sacred Heart Elementary School took a Ski-doo out to transport people and things from hut to hutThe WATER DROP from the first graders at Sacred Heart Elementary School took a Ski-doo out to transport people and things from hut to hut.

Wonderful people have helped us in so many ways. Will we ever see them again?

William measuring the WATER DROP from the 2nd Graders at Westlake Elementary SchWilliam, the metal magician, measuring the WATER DROP from the 2nd Graders at Westlake Elementary School.

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Though there were times we missed parts of home, we've gotten to know and love many parts of this little research station on the bottom of the world.

The Heavy Metal ShopThe Heavy Metal Shop the library in McMurdoTina and the WATER DROP from Peggy's ESL class at the Santa Cruz Adult School take some time out at the McMurdo library. the mailroom in McMurdoArnita finally sees what's inside all the packages Tina has been getting. Here are five more recently arrived WATER DROPs from Elizabeth Gibbs and her students.

Seeing the world under the ice through the eyes of SCINI was an absolutely amazing experience while being immersed in this research expedition was insightful in many ways.

SCINI and WATER DROPsThe WATER DROPs from Elizabeth Gibbs accompanied SCINI out on her last mission of the season for ICE AGED.

Most of all, I've enjoyed the remoteness of this little community.

Observation Hill with a WATER DROPI've been climbing Observation Hill most evenings to enjoy the peace of this vast landscape. Here the WATER DROP from Lori's ESL class joined me on this official hike.

I have six more days to see and do what I can down here at the bottom of the world. Between helping to pack, journaling, organizing WATER DROP adventures, preparing for the upcoming Webinar (Saturday morning here and Friday morning PST time), and responding to my Cabrillo students, I hope I'll have time to soak it all in once more before I head back to greener parts of the world.