Traveling to Antarctica has been the experience of a lifetime. From massive icebergs to little penguins, Antarctica truly showcases nature’s most spectacular features. Since the first Zodiak excursion, for the rest of the trip I was in a constant state of shock from the beauty we were surrounded by. The scale of the glaciers and mountains around us made us feel tiny. Bright crystal blues reflected in the ice really stood out from the surrounding dark seas. Humpback whales, crab-eater seals, and gentoo penguins were scattered around waiting to be spotted. It felt surreal, like scenes only seen in a nature documentary. We also got to go kayaking among seals, hike the mountains near penguin colonies, and brave the polar plunge into icy waters! This trip has been like a dream.
In addition to being full of fun opportunities and beautiful vistas, this trip was very fulfilling through the research we students were able to complete and share. While on the trip, we had a couple projects to work on and often had the opportunity to speak about them with the ship’s guests and crew. One of the presentations that we gave on the ship was of a business research topic of our choice, and another was about the phytoplankton sampling missions we participated in. As a marine biologist in training, the sampling excursions especially gave me a great chance to practice my field skills and leadership in an extreme environment, as well as the perfect community to share why it’s important.
To anyone who is interested in participating in an Antarctic expedition, this program offers the best of opportunities to learn, explore, and contribute toward Earth’s most pristine, otherworldly places. As long as one stays flexible and keeps a good spirit of adventure, this trip is an investment that will not be regretted. When I initially heard about A&M’s Antarctic field trip experience, I could have never imagined I would actually be able to go. Even now, having returned home, I am still in complete awe of the incredible adventures I’ve been blessed enough to experience. On this trip, I’ve seen spectacular views few ever get to experience, gotten a taste of the rough seas Heroic Age explorers like Shackleton braved, and been fortunate to experience it all with fellow classmates, travelers, and friends. Journeying to Antarctica and Argentina has been an adventure I will never forget, and I hope in my future career to continue to contribute to the protection and exploration of these awe-inspiring places.
