SO233 Cruise Experience

An der Expedition SO233 haben auch zwei Gastwissenschaftlerinnen aus Namibia teilgenommen. Eine von Ihnen, Josephine Itengula, berichtet heute über ihre Erfahrungen während ihrer ersten Tiefsee-geologischen Expedition / Two visiting scientists from Namibia participated in the expedition SO233. Today one of them, Josephine Itengula, writes about her experiences during her first deep-sea geological expedition:

 

First things first, sea sickness is a real life sickness! I came onto the ship with sound belief that sea sickness affects only some, and I would not be one of those. If I told my brain that all was well and I was not on a moving vessel, I was going to be just fine. My brain was set, it is sad to say my body was not. Thus, the first two days of the cruise were quite eventful. The sea sickness lasted only those two days, and so the adventure slowly began.

Josephine Itengula. Foto: Nina Furchheim

Josephine Itengula. Foto: Nina Furchheim

I met Kaj during a presentation he was giving in Windhoek (Namibia) sometime in October 2013. I showed interest in the Sonne cruises, and after a few formalities, he and Reinhard offered me a spot on the SO233 cruise. I was ecstatic at the idea. My interests in SO233 were vast. For one, I sought an adventure, but most importantly I was interested in getting to see and study actual volcanic rocks from the deep sea. It is one thing to see basalt on land; it is a whole other thing to dredge for volcanic rocks on the sea floor in the middle of the SW Atlantic. Each dredge brought forth excitement to the prospects of obtaining a different type of volcanic rock (and sometimes sediments) from a new dredge station. It was also quite interesting to see corals for the first time. Other than the rocks, I got to observe plant and animal life brought up by the TV Grab. The work was new to me, all the more exciting and a great experience.

Life on board the vessel was not all work and no play, as I got to play my first game of ping pong!  I would not call myself a ping pong professional just yet though. It was good fun. The internet and email service allowed me to keep informed with current events in Namibia, as well as to stay in touch with family and friends. That was a definite upside. I saved the best for last, i.e. the food and the people. Although the food was very German, it was delicious! I feel like I have been dining in a hotel for a month; nothing can beat that. Last but not least, I have to say that I have not worked with more friendly individuals than those on the SO233 cruise. The crew and my fellow scientists were both kind and hospitable.  They all made my fellow Namibian and I feel welcomed, and a part of the team. I give my thanks to both Kaj and Reinhard for awarding me this wonderful opportunity, to truly experience an adventure.

Josephine Itengula