16 August 2008 Reflections of the Land of the Midnight Sun

*I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
till the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I've been afraid of changing
cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I'm getting older too

So, take my love, take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring you down

If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe the landslide will bring you down

Thanks Fleetwood Mac

I cannot think of a better song for my reflection- a song that I have played on my** guitar and sang** for years, a song that always has told the story during various paths of my life.

But, anyway…

St. Mark's open house was yesterday. The kids come back to school on Monday and my head is spinning and racing with excitement. Where do I start with them? What do I teach them first about my wonderful, life changing, life enriching expedition?

Thursday, Alex (grade 7) was in my room helping me and asking questions about wooden bird eggs that I brought back from Barrow. I told him I couldn't tell him about my top secret lessons – he would have to wait. Of course he kept the questions going anyway- are there chicks in here? – are they going to be able to live without an incubator until your lesson?…TBA

Wednesday, I had the amazing opportunity to speak to 600+ Palm Beach County Science teachers. It was such an honor to represent PolarTREC and NOAA. I loved being able to share my experiences.

It was rewarding to be able to retrace my trip with photos. I could have talked for hours about each slide. I relived every detail as I spoke.

My students have aroused interesting, thought probing, stimulating questions on Ask the Team – What was your most interesting part of your trip (hard question)? Did you miss the warmth of Florida (NO!).

As I reflect on the trip now I have to say that the most rewarding part of the trip was learning so much more about Carbon. Yes, it is true that this Zoology major loves animals **the most. **But where is the challenge in always following a passion? Thats easy right?

Learning about Carbon was not only challenging **to me, but also so **interesting. It is the hottest (no pun intended) topic on our planet right now. I have known the basics of Carbon for years. I know that when I study organic chemistry it is all about the Carbon and when I breathe I exhale Carbon Dioxide, CO2 and expel Methane CH4 when I … well lets not go there…

This trip gave me the ability to go beyond what I already knew, but I have to be honest – not too far beyond what I knew. Carbon brings about some tough concepts for me to digest. Not Carbon alone, but all the different ways that Paulo was looking at it and how it all has such a role in the "hot" topic of climate change.

I am sure I have been driving him nuts too **with all of my emails as I continue to try to understand what he wants to know about Carbon. In my heart I would love to be an expert** of his research. My head thinks my heart is crazy! It would be such a reward to conquer that challenge! Did you know that when Carbon is released in watery areas it is released as Methane, but when released in dry areas it releases as Carbon Dioxide? Of course if released as Methane once it reaches a certain place in the atmosphere it could pick up some Oxygen and loose some Hydrogen, thus making it Carbon Dioxide again.. AHHHH So very many possibilities.

I also enjoyed learning about the many variables that are involved in Paulo's project. He is looking at weather – wind, temperature, water depth, permafrost thaw, how much reflection a plant gives off, plant carbon content, water samples, gas samples looking at Carbon Dioxide and Methane – 2 separate forms of Carbon.

It amazes me that Paulo finds thrill in his gas exchange. He really loves it and is excited about it. He looks forward to looking at his data to see daily cahnges.

Something that really shocked me was that I** DO NOT have any definitive answers about Global Warming.** In fact Paulo's research conclusion is far from being ready to share, he still has over a year to go with his investigation.

I cannot ever say enough about spending time with Denver Holt and the Snowy Owls or the first week in the TundraA treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs. when Steve and Kim **were still in town and we all went looking for the Ruff- which we found. It was so nice **sharing time with Kim **too! **It is so awesome to watch a friend do what they do for a living – she is a wonderful reporter.

The other research projects were amazing too – with the Ornithology group from Germany, the NuvukThe Iñupiaq name for Point Barrow and the people who lived there. project, the Lemming studies, Hiroki's towers on Point Barrow –Could I possibly have learned and experienced more in one summer?

The **people of Barrow – I love them **and have such an appreciation for their life style of living off of what roams the land! It was a huge gift to be able to partake in their Whale and 4th of July Festivals. Times, like the beach clean up, I will never forget.

But my all time favorite memory was simply walking along the board walk, carrying the uni-spec– alone – thinking, smelling the fresh tundra air, and noticing nature – flowers, birds, lemmings, having my boots on and seeing what I could see!

• I have to close this journal with the refrain to a song I already used before by the Crash Test Dummies

Here on earth i'll have my cake Gonna eat it too, make no mistake 'cause if it's a question of to be or not to be I'll put on my boots and go see what I can see

Most special thanks to Kristin and Janet of ARCUS for being such a wonderful help to me. In fact the whole ARCUS team was extremely helpful whenever needed. Of course I thank the NSF for the funds and for believing in this program.

I thank Paulo, Jose and Steve, they have all captured a chunk of my heart with their zest for life, nature and hard work. I thank Kim for wanting to come to Barrow and for her written stories which I will save. I also extend a warm heart to all of the wonderful researchers I met this summer and all those involved with BASC.

I have to thank Rob, my husband for agreeing to come to Barrow and to help out where ever he could – even if he did agree to trap Lemmings :} Also for his understanding of how much fuller and richer my life is from experiences like this.

I thank my** fellow teachers at St. Mark Catholic School, the staff, Dr. Finley and Fr. Richard for being so enthusiastic about my trip and the Polar Year we are planning at school. **Linda Lewis our librarian has already ordered new polar books and DVD's. – Thank you, thank you! I cannot wait to see how this unfolds!

Most importantly I have to thank my students, especially those who followed along – Now where would I be with out you all? – It's all about you – it always is!

Featured Bird

Reflecting on my TundraA treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs. trip from the Tropics of Lake Worth Florida

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth Eubanks