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Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Ambassador Sammi
Kia ora,
I'm Sammi from Marsden Primary School. Wow! Antarctica here I come!
I can't wait to journey all the way from Wellington to Scott Base in Antarctica! I am looking forward to sharing my travels with you all Marsden Primary.
Talk soon,
Sammi.
Thursday 23 November
Kia ora,
It was a great day to be travelling from Dunedin to Christchurch but unfortunately is was not a great day to be travelling south to Antarctica. Our flight was delayed, and we had to spend the day getting better organised for our Antarctic adventure. I had to wash my clothing to ensure that it was clean and not hiding any dirt or grass seeds. There are very strict rules about biosecurity, so Antarctica remains pest free.
Fingers crossed that we get to travel tomorrow.
Talk to you then,
Sammi.
Friday 24 November
Kia ora,
This is a short and rather sad update to let you know that our flight south was cancelled, and we now have to wait until Monday for the next flight. I think this will be our last chance to head down to Antarctica, so I really hope the weather is better by then!
I hear there are lots of things to do in Christchurch though. Maybe I’ll go mountain biking.
Talk soon,
Sammi.
Monday 27 November
Kia ora,
The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived and the weather is fantastic. I was so relieved to hear that our flight to Antarctica was good to go. Just like when you travel overseas we had to check in early. Our bags were checked, and we watched a video about what to expect when we arrive in Antarctica.
It was hard to contain my excitement onboard the plane, especially when we caught our first glimpse of the sea ice. The best part of the day was walking off the plane on to ice. It is so amazing to finally be in Antarctica. I can’t wait to go exploring.
Catch you tomorrow,
Sammi.
Tuesday 28 November
Kia ora koutou,
It was so magical waking up this morning in Antarctica. I was surprised at how well I slept when it was light outside all night long.
Today I passed my Antarctic field training and learned how to survive in the harsh conditions that often exist here. It was fun pitching a tent in the fierce breeze and we were thankful for the shelter as the wind made it feel a lot colder than yesterday.
Tomorrow we are going to find out more about how Scott Base operates.
See you then,
Sammi.
Wednesday 29 November
Kia ora,
After all our delays in getting to Antarctica it’s hard to believe how good the weather is now. It was only about -7 degrees Celsius today, so it felt just like being in the New Zealand mountains.
We found out how sea water is turned into freshwater at Scott Base. This process uses lots of electricity so everyone on base tries to use less water than they do at home.
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day in Antarctica.
See you in the morning,
Sammi.
Thursday 30 November
Kia ora,
What a stunning day it has been. We certainly made the most of our last day in Antarctica. We headed out for a hike up Ob Hill and the views from the top were amazing. It was a great way to get exercise and challenging walking up the icy sections.
From the top we could see for miles. We could even see open ocean out past the sea ice.
I can’t believe this is our last day at Scott Base. I am going to miss this special place but I can’t wait to see you all and share my adventures with you.
See you all soon,
Sammi.
Sammi is looking forward to heading to Antarctica. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi packs her bags ready for her trip to Antarctica. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi prepares for her trip south by reading her Antarctic Handbook. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi onboard the C130 Hercules on her way to Antarctica. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi learns how to stay safe in Antarctica during her Antarctic Field Training course. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi enjoys fantastic weather at Scott Base. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi looks out over McMurdo Station. Image: LEARNZ.
Sammi enjoys the views from Observation Hill on Ross Island. Image: LEARNZ.