It has been a very hectic few weeks. I found out I had a new preparation the week before school started. It's Physical Science, which I have taught before, but as my wife reminded me, not since we've been together (we celebrated our 26th Anniversary this year). Getting used to teaching 5 in-person classes, leading a new Senior Advisory, and trying to re-train my kidneys to get on a school schedule. It has certainly been an adjustment.
This week, my "guest teacher" Jaime Ochoa co-taught, and we worked to get 8 weeks of lesson planning done. We're not quite all the way through, but thanks to the help of my colleagues and Jaime's enthusiasm, my classes are in great hands. In an "all my life's a circle" moment, Jaime is a former student who was in my AP biology class 12 years ago, when I was on my first Arctic expedition at the beginning of the school year.
Then, there was the packing. My pile of gear grew by the day. PolarTREC goes to great lengths to make sure we are well outfitted, even offering to ship a set of rain gear to Kirkenes, Norway because it had gotten held up in shipping. I have boots, insulated waterproof boots, gloves and more gloves, waterproof bib pants, hats, a balaclava, a neck gaiter, and a parka that is so warm I thought I was going to pass out after wearing it in the house for about 3 minutes. Of course, our cat Murphy tried to help with the entire process, but it was a good thing she didn't stow away in the luggage - she is definitely over the weight limit.
The start of the gear pile
The gear pile grows
The gear pile. Notice Murphy the cat being very helpful in the process.
In addition to my gear duffel, I have another duffel full of everything I could possibly need for a 10 day quarantine in Oslo and then 40 days on a ship that does not have a commissary or store. It's hard trying to think of all the things necessary for 6 weeks at sea. Plus, it's been almost 100 degrees in Chicago this past week, so even thinking about all those fleeces, wool socks, and long underwear just seemed really strange - it's also going to be weird that I'm leaving here in the summer and will be back in the late fall. I managed to fit every charger, cord, mask, shoe, pair of pants, and toiletries into the 2nd duffel. I even had room for a bathing suit - they say there's a sauna on board.
Very full duffels. This was a challenge because I like to pack light.
On Thursday, I said goodbye to my classes (including a student who started that day) and gave a presentation about PolarTREC and my expedition. (I even managed to include my PolarTREC swag). Some of the students seemed very interested, especially about ship-life - I promised I'd post about where does toilet waste go and how the Russian food is; others were just very excited to get to know Mr. Ochoa.
Presenting PolarTREC to my students - swag hat and all.
After wrapping up at school and some more packing, my wife, kids, some friends, and I had an outdoor dinner in Chicago.
Outdoor summer dinner with the family and friends.
Then today, the morning that I had been dreading for days. I am not typically an anxious person, but this was different. I woke up every morning this past week nauseous about today - was it the traveling, the fear that I'd forget something, the leaving my family for such a long time?!? I certainly thought about these things, but the event that worried me most was the dreaded COVID test. We'd been in school (all-masked) for almost 3 weeks, and I'd had more exposure to people than at any time in the past year and a half. I scheduled my rapid PCR at 7:10 this morning. I even convinced the test tech to take my picture - anything for PolarTREC. Then the wait...
The rapid PCR COVID test. The final hurdle before leaving.
After a little over an hour, I got my wish and "failed" a test - Negative! So, I'm finally on my way.
On my way!
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