Educational Activities

Journal Entry
< Return to the Journal Entries main page.

August 24, 2003
Sunday

Today being Sunday, I was hoping it was going to be a relaxing, touristy, lazy type of day. NO LUCK! It has been a full day. Breakfast was great and then it was work, work, and more work. The schedule was something like this. At 9 a.m. the divers begin to get ready. We set the Zodiac on the side of the ship. That was a big challenge. We also moved the cradle of the Zodiac next to the MOCNESS, which is next to the CTD/VPR combo. As you can guess it is a tight squeeze, but I am sure it will work out. By this time it was lunch time. After we brought the divers and the Zodiac back onboard, we deployed the MOCNESS. When the MOCNESS came in we then had to drain the nets and collect the plankton, rinse the nets and containers, the machine, and strap down the MOCNESS and cover it for the night. It is about a process of 3 hours and I ended up soaking wet. After that we did the 1 meter net and then sent the second team of divers away. I had time to eat at 5:30 p.m. and start on this journal entry and then it was time to deploy the CTD and VPR. It was 9 p.m. when they came back in and then we had to get our water samples and start running the tests. It is 11 p.m. and we barely finished. I am ready for a shower and bed. There is no doubt that today was a productive day, so if you think we are just lounging around the deck taking in the rays, tanning, and relaxing—we only wish.

The crew is very cool. They are nice and friendly and will help you as much as they can. I specially like our cook. He is a sweet man that never seems to be cross and always has a smile and a positive thing to say. The other researchers are just as nice. Fred and Mark, the VPR researchers are pretty cool. We talk a lot with them when they come and check their e-mail.

One thing I am really enjoying is being able to communicate with my family through the net. I like staying in touch with them because this way I don’t miss them that much. I found out my friend lost her cat—I hope they find it. My mom and dad are worried but they like the fact that they know I am OK on a daily basis. My doggies and husband are also surviving without me, thank God and I will be able to say Happy Birthday to my niece on the 27th of this month. Really, I just don’t know how people could go on without communicating with their loved ones back when technology was not this developed. Wow.

Mrs. Dora A. Leal

< Return to the Journal Entries main page.

For questions or comments about the STEAMER site
please contact Luis Martinez at: