by – 11:40 AM
I woke up at 7:20 AM this morning to the sound of a wave crashing against the side of the hull. The sound reverberated through the cozy stateroom that I have called home for the past week. I slept in the bunk above Chris Aramanetti, the First Mate and second-in-command of the R/V Endeavor. He had already risen and was getting ready for another day of navigating our course to Bridgetown, Barbados, due south of our current position.
Like many of the past mornings, I found my body rocking from side to side at regular intervals from the movement of the ship, as she bulldozed through the ocean swells. By this point in the trip, I had found them to be quite soothing when it was time to go to sleep. The swells were much stronger today, however, requiring me to stuff a pillow between myself and the wall while I took some time to fully wake up and think about the awaiting day.
Our 8:30 lecture from Joe Montoya, one of the chief scientists on the cruise, marked the beginning of our last full day of sailing on the vessel. Afterwards, we broke off into groups and continued working on the projects that we have been undertaking since setting sail from Morehead City.
Carissa and Ashley made up the first group, which is taking a geological approach to understanding some of the happenings in the ocean environment. They are focusing on sedimentary samples to draw conclusions about the geological timeline of the earth under the seabed. The second group consists of Matthew, Michael, and Nathan, who are using data collected by the CTD, one of the heaviest pieces of equipment on board, to analyze and draw findings from measurements of depth and temperature of the ocean water we have been cruising through. The final group consists of Betty, Mariah, Paloma, and me. We have been using water samples collected with the CTD to study and measure the population growth of phytoplankton in the presence of varying concentrations of vital nutrients. Performing the experiment has allowed us to predict what limits the accumulation of biomass in certain regions of the ocean. The whole process has been incredibly interesting so far, and I look forward to seeing what the other groups have discovered.
At 1:00 PM tomorrow, we will present our findings and interpretations to each other, the onboard scientists, and any interested crewmembers that wish to hear about the work that we have been conducting and helping out with. We will be arriving in Barbados in the subsequent evening.
– 6:00 PM
The whole day has been bittersweet. I worked with my group and went throughout the day feeling both excited and disappointed that we would be arriving in Barbados so soon—the past seven days have gone by in a blur of early mornings, educational lectures, and late-night cardplaying sessions with my fellow STEMseas students—now good friends. I have been dedicating much of my time to reflecting on how much fun and joy the cruise has brought so far.
It is difficult for me to list all of the new concepts and processes that I have learned about from the scientists, crew, and technicians onboard the vessel. I’ve found that a week at sea is nowhere near enough time to learn everything about what occurs on a research vessel, but I have found comfort and reward in every experience so far. Being and working on the ocean has revealed to me numerous thought-provoking and important discoveries. For one, I’ve found that calling a ship like the Endeavor your home requires you to sacrifice several months of the year, per trip. For more dedicated employees, this translates to an abundant amount of time that cannot be spent with family, friends, and the many other comforts of terrestrial living. Patience, and an ability to endeavor through homesickness and the natural elements for long periods of time, are key parts of living at sea.
Despite this, the rewards seem to outweigh everything. It is easy to see why. The crewmembers of the vessel are constantly moving from port to port, traveling the world, gaining the opportunity to visit different cultures and expose themselves to experiences that the majority of the world may find difficult to recreate on a regular basis. The work environment is peaceful for the most part. Jerome, one of the chief engineers that we spoke with one late evening before a sample run, told us that the tranquility of the ocean is one of the things he likes the most. I’ve seen him sitting at the back of the ship with a cup of coffee, observing the horizon on multiple occasions. It is difficult to find a location more ideal for watching sunsets and stargazing. The full uncensored beauty of the night sky has never been more beautiful.
In addition to all of this, the food and pay are good. The people that the work attracts seem to be even better—numerous group photos in the hallways, during celebrations or holidays, showcase the crew in costume or gathered in the bridge. Their smiles and observable banter in the mess hall and library reveal deep friendships. Just last night, Michael and I strummed around on a guitar that a past crew member had left as a reminder of gatherings out on the deck, floating on calm seas, with soft music playing over the waves. My guess is that they help each other overcome the long days and rough seas. Every interaction I have had so far with the crewmembers has resulted in laughter or introspection, and each member possesses life experience and valuable advice.
– 11:34 PM
As on the first day of setting sail, nausea and fatigue have been rampant among the group today. The increase in rough waves revived the seasickness, this time with a vengeance. I had to take a tablet of anti-nausea medicine a few hours ago and lie down for a while to try and feel better, and am overall very tired from the events of the day. I look forward to presenting our findings tomorrow afternoon, and later setting foot on land and regaining the ability to immortalize the photos and videos I have taken.
The night comes quickly in the tropics. The enclosed space of the bed carved into the wall, along with the plastic tube of fairy lights that Chris has winding along the walls, makes for an incredibly comforting resting place. Like in the nights before, I anticipate a quick slip into sleep, with the knowledge that 4,000 meters of seawater float by underneath me.
