Monday, 10.12.2007: We've reached the ice!!! Yesterday was marvellous! The first thing I saw, when I looked out of my window, was lots of "Antarctic Petrels" and "Black-browed Albtrosses" accompanying Polarstern. We did not see these species so far and especially the Albatrosses are so beautiful! They were very close to the ship and I took lots of pictures.
Also yesterday the ship's weight-watchers club started. This is a weekly event, which to me seems necessary, as the food on Polarstern is excellent. It must be that good, as food helps to create a good mood for crew and scientists as a contrast to harsh conditions and hard work. For
the weight-watchers you have to bet 0.5€ how your weight will develop during one week and you The money collected will be given to an organisation caring about children suffering from cancer.
During lunchtime we were passing huge icebergs outside with Penguins. It was really amazing: Polarstern was passing by between two quite huge and blue icebergs. And there were hundreds of penguins sitting on these. The icebergs were closer than 500m each and when we were right between them, it was 12:00 and Polarstern's daily horn was blown. This was an incredible
feeling! It is hard to realize where I am and in this moment I really got overwhelmed!
Today we also started to sort our first samples that were now fixed in cool and pure ethanol for 48 hours. Not many animals could be found so far, but there are some in it. Tomorrow we will start extracting DNA. As it is the 2. Advent today, we had some festivities and lots of fun.
After days of storm and waves hitting the ship hard the waves decreased more and more during the evening. Afterwards I went to the gym to run some half an hour and to do some workout, when suddenly I heard ice scratching on the ships hull! We have reached the sea-ice!! It looks so great and I really look forward to see the endless ice -desert tomorrow.
The ice extension is very big now and we expect to have some problems in reaching "Neumayer II" station. There is a big storm approaching and we hope, that it will blow away some of the ice.
Also yesterday the ship's weight-watchers club started. This is a weekly event, which to me seems necessary, as the food on Polarstern is excellent. It must be that good, as food helps to create a good mood for crew and scientists as a contrast to harsh conditions and hard work. For
the weight-watchers you have to bet 0.5€ how your weight will develop during one week and you The money collected will be given to an organisation caring about children suffering from cancer.
During lunchtime we were passing huge icebergs outside with Penguins. It was really amazing: Polarstern was passing by between two quite huge and blue icebergs. And there were hundreds of penguins sitting on these. The icebergs were closer than 500m each and when we were right between them, it was 12:00 and Polarstern's daily horn was blown. This was an incredible
feeling! It is hard to realize where I am and in this moment I really got overwhelmed!
Today we also started to sort our first samples that were now fixed in cool and pure ethanol for 48 hours. Not many animals could be found so far, but there are some in it. Tomorrow we will start extracting DNA. As it is the 2. Advent today, we had some festivities and lots of fun.
After days of storm and waves hitting the ship hard the waves decreased more and more during the evening. Afterwards I went to the gym to run some half an hour and to do some workout, when suddenly I heard ice scratching on the ships hull! We have reached the sea-ice!! It looks so great and I really look forward to see the endless ice -desert tomorrow.
The ice extension is very big now and we expect to have some problems in reaching "Neumayer II" station. There is a big storm approaching and we hope, that it will blow away some of the ice.
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