About this Blog

This blog is dedicated to a research expedition to the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica. Through field mapping of geomorphic evidence, sample collection, and cosmogenic nuclide concentration measurements in the Noble Gas Lab at Harvard, we hope to better understand the behavior of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet during Miocene (~23 to 5 million years ago) and Pliocene (~5-1.8 mya) times. The Early Pliocene is the most recent period in which global temperatures were significantly warmer than the present, therefore providing us with a potential analog for a warming climate. This research is generously funded by the NSF Polar Science Program.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Christchurch Part Two and the Case of the Faking Duck

Hello to all our faithful readers. Despite the fact that we aren't in Antarctica you are still reading this blog, and for that I commend you. After one night in Christchurch, the group dispersed; Robert headed to Akaroa with an old friend, Jenny caught the first plane north that she could, and I lazed around Christchurch. Although I'm sure my day would be the one you would least like to hear (at least from first description I think it sounds the most potentially boring), I'm the one with the Internet connection. So tough luck.

It's summer down here! Yes, this was in theory known while we were in Antarctica, but when it's sunny and 29C (85F), this fact hits home a little bit better. This, of course, was part of the reason I wanted to stay in Christchurch another day before heading back to inevitably colder and drearier Boston or Cambridge. So, after walking around to pick up a sandwich, I decided it was just too hot and plopped myself down in Victoria Square Park in central Christchurch. Jenny so kindly left behind Bill Bryson's "In a Sunburned Country" for me, so I amused myself with that. Yes, it is about Australia, but I'll call it close enough. I would recommend the book to anybody who wants to go to Australia, and if you didn't already it will make you want to roadtrip the Outback.

As I was sitting in the park I pulled out my tasty chicken sandwich lunch. Within minutes a couple ducks came waddling over to beg off some crumbs. I (being infintely charitable) shooed them away. A couple minutes later another duck came over - this one was limping though, in an even-more-awkward-than-normal-duck-waddle sort of way. I almost felt sorry for it and gave it a piece of bread, but I stuck to my principles and enjoyed the sandwich myself. And as it saw me put the last morsel in my own mouth, it waddled away. Yes, waddled. It had been faking a limp for sympathy and a crust of bread. I tell you, these ducks are going to take over the city soon.

I know what you're thinking: After such a momentous lunch, how can the day get any better? Well, there was a lot more reading in the park and then dinner and drinks with some other friendly grad students who just got off the Ice as well and one of their Kiwi friends. Although it would be nice to have more R&R time in Christchurch, it's time to come home. See you all soon!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

You were right Allen, I should have started my day off right with your blog. I am glad you stuck to your guns and gave that faking duck something to think about!

Laura Campo said...

I loved In a Sunburned Country! (Not surprising since I love just about everything Bill Bryson's written.) Enjoy your last moments of summer before your flight to the frigid UK. Looking forward to seeing you soon!