My Husband, a flexible as a monkey and a PhD!!!
After breakfast, we head to the saloon for a talk from one of the expedition leaders on living in South Georgia (an island in the South Atlantic Ocean). He had collected some great photos and this only further peaks MG’s interest in seeing the Antarctic – we agree to investigate further.
Later in the morning we meet to review and discuss the answers to the “University of the Arctic” exam that was distributed earlier in the week. The lack of internet availability, meant that there was no assistance from Google as we completed our answers. I got a 26.5 out of 39 – achieving a HBA status and MG received at 27.5/39 – earning a Master degree. One potentially subjective question asked what one should do to warm frozen digits. The correct answer (incidentally, the answer I picked), was to warm them in a bathtub or sink. MG answered that the frozen digits should be warmed under one’s armpits. The expedition leader reviewing the questions and answers clarified that digits related to both fingers and toes and if anyone could warm his/her toes in his/her armpits, then he would award an additional point. MG proceeds to easily demonstrate – with both feet – and gets awarded an additional point, bumping his score into PhD range.
As people slip to pack their cabins, the mood shifts to planning for disembarkation – the end of the voyage comes closer. We attend a lecture entitled “Strangers in Paradise”, describing one expedition leader’s two year experience in Antarctica as a Base Commander of a Polish Scientific Station.
Next it’s off to an informal presentation about the other Quark offered expeditions…obviously I need not add anything additional on what impact that has on MG .
Before the final briefing we head outside for a final stroll around the ship. We are back in our jackets – no longer bundled up like one of 125 yellow marshmallows. About this time, cell phones that have been useless for the last two weeks suddenly start to appear as we finally come back into cell reception range. With a combination of excitement and dread people start to retrieve emails and texts from home. During the final briefing, the Captain, through Russian translator, wishes us well and says goodbye. In response, a snappy dressed Chinese lady makes her way to the front of the room to perform her rendition of something from west side story for the Captain, expedition team and passengers…while clearly prepared in a bedazzled evening gown, her singing skills left a lot to be desired and we are unable to suppress our giggles. Another group has prepared a 12 days to the north pole (version of the Christmas carol), which had some funny moments.
We enjoy our farewell dinner in the dining room and gather in the bar one more time for final goodbyes. In some cases email addresses are exchange, but often it’s nothing more than well wishes. Although we will likely never cross paths again, we have all shared something important together.