Last post before I head south of the equator for the first time. As I finish packing up and get ready for the airport shuttle to arrive, I feel like things are going pretty smoothly. We'll see about that... I can't help but compare my trip to a previous expedition to Antarctica: I recently finished reading Endurance by Alfred Lansing - a chronicle of Ernest Shackleton's incredible failure and triumph of a journey to cross the Antarctic continent on foot (and sled) in 1914. Before they landed, the Endurance (Shackleton's ship) became bound in the ice, and it all goes downhill from there. Every time you think things are as bad as they can get, well, something new happens. The stamina and willpower of these 28 men is just incredible - the entire crew survived setback after setback for close to 2 full years (survived, but not entirely unscathed); I can only imagine that Bear Grylls would be crying like a baby within the first month. If you like history and adventure, check it out, it's a pretty quick read. Before I leave, I wanted to re-introduce my class mascot. My students came up with a whole list of names, and voted on the best one. The winner? Q*Bert! My school's office staff dolled him up with a CHS sweatshirt and an official school ID.
My students suggested names for my class mascot and then voted. They chose the name Q*Bert, after the awesome video game. The administrative staff helped by supplying him with a little sweater that says CHS, and an official Carlmont ID on a lanyard.
When I arrive in Christchurch it will be Wednesday, 11/18 (I lose a day crossing the international date line). While there I will be issued my Extreme Cold Weather Gear, and then on the 21st, weather permitting, I fly to McMurdo Station, and thence to the South Pole!