On board the Roger Revelle

We build my new home with the sweat of hairy men and hoary women: loading of the Roger Revelle has commenced. Yesterday, the ship put into port after two months at sea, having just finished traversing the South Pacific. During today’s loading frenzy, I harrowed the hairy men with constant filming, and they would say to me, “Where are you from?” And I would gently offer back, “Los Angeles!” And they would say, “Well, we just came from San Diego.” Long story short: out with the old scientists, in with the new scientists, calloo callay.

I have been assigned a modest cabin on the lower deck of the ship. It’s a good bit roomier than my expectations, and, more concretely, than my freshman year dorm. It’s also much less smelly with the regrettable absence of Mr. Banka. Man that guy poops a lot! Plus, I’ve got my own toilet—on boats they’re called ‘heads’—it’s to the left of the photo. Cabin 2-22-3 is quite nice, overall, with the main drawback being the neighboring sonar, which generates a zesty ‘ping!’ noise every few seconds.

This is the main corridor, facing the front of the ship. To the right (starboard) is the main lab, to the left (port) are a series of smaller specialized labs. I’m still getting accustomed to seaman’s lingo. I will have to ask what the ‘larboard’ side is.

Here are a few photos of the ship; first from the port, second from the gangway (in the lower left corner you can see Joseph, the second mate), and third from aft deck facing Dunedin, New Zealand. As you can tell, the boat is rather large and luxurious; I am reminded somewhat of that ski resort in The Shining. Just wait until I post some photos of the kitchen and mess hall, the huge food storage locker, and the humungous ballroom. And if I went crazy to boot, that would be such a creepy coincidence.



I will update with more photos and words over the next few days; we set sail on Sunday. I will be rather busy these next few days drinking as much liquor as possible. SIO vessels do not allow beer, ale, wine, vodka, rum, champagne, whiskey, smirnoff ice, hypnotiq, white russians, or long island ice teas on board. In fact, no alcohol at all is permitted.

And a last thing... just something I’ve noticed about New Zealand: I’ve never before seen a sky so cliche.