Three airports, one ticket change and a few vertical-sitting naps later, I arrived at the Hotel Del Glacier to be a part of a diverse group of environmentalists, students, teachers, artists and professionals, whom would be venturing to the remote wilderness of Antarctica. Our first few days consisted of many introductory conversations (i.e., “Hi, I am Tamara with Oliver Wyman.”) and a beautiful climb up the glacier mountain, where I quickly realized that perhaps I should have continued exercising post-college.
During one of our first lectures, Annie, the CEO of 2041, spoke about her love for the continent of Antarctica. While listening, I grasped onto the concept that Antarctica is the only continent in the world with no native population, where Mother Nature rules rather than a president or king. Correspondingly, as our ship began to sail away from the coast of Argentina, I read the large banners on the dock stating, “You are leaving the end of the world.” Although I have always considered the world, earth and globe as one, interchangeable entity, I realized that Antarctica, although within our earth, is actually a world of its own, with different rules, landscapes and beauty. By being taken out of my world for two weeks and placed in the unique land of Antarctica, I hope to come back rejuvenated and with a different viewpoint on life.
After two days time, several Dramamine tablets and a few creative ways to pass the time (i.e., reenactments of scenes from the Titanic and a miniature golf tournament), we finally spotted land. The ship sailed past an iceberg and several whales this morning, giving sign that we were close to the coast of Antarctica. As my jaw dropped and index finger rapidly pressed on the shoot button of my camera, I knew that I was at just the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.
