Travel is Educational

One of my donors said he wished he knew I was only going to Antarctica for a short time.  I  thought a short time was plenty, but I see now it's not.   Patagonia is amazing and I keep thinking about Antarctica!  John Behrendt of INSTARR, who is one of my Polar scientists mentors, went 12 times.  My father applied to go again before he retired from the Navy.  It's clear to me there is an energy present that's precious.  I don't know anything else like it on earth.  Scientists are studying rocks fallen from Mars, group dynamics are exaggerated after long periods of time, and again, people return.

Firsts are also important.  Some of us have a first kiss to remember.  My father wrote about the first time he was in airplane, the first time driving a dog sled, the first time seeing a sleeping bag, all at 22 years old.  This is my first time on a small aircraft.  The plane had no toilet and in the end, it didn't bother me to wait.  Excitement took over. I was in an altered state for two days.