Archive of September 11th, 2007

Log for Tuesday September 11

Today I went exploring all over the ship. I found a library with computers set up to send e-mails, that is how I am writing to you. There is a dining hall, a weight room, a laundry room, some conference rooms and a lounge. The lounge has a whole bunch of those giant arm chairs that two kids could sit in. Every night the crew chooses a movie to watch.

The work part of the ship includes a machine shop, engine room and other spaces I will need someone to show me. I will be assigned a room with a roommate. We will have bunk beds and a cupboard, a few drawers and a desk. The coolest thing about our room is there is a monitor that you can turn on and it shows you all the vital statistics about today- longitude and latitude of the ships location, wind speed and direction, water temperature, traveling speed and other things. Change a few channels and you can see what movie someone is watching in the lounge, change a few more and you can watch the work of the boat crew by closed circuit television.

The boat is very stable and is good for our work. I do not think I will get seas sick here. I notice that all of the scientific equipment is bungee corded or bolted to the counter tops. This way all the expensive equipment will stay in place if the ship suddenly lurches. I have so many questions about this.... I am sure you do to. Send me your questions and I will go find out for you.

Presented by the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii, with financial support from the National Science Foundation.