I mainly listen to music that reminds me of home. I have also downloaded a lot of South African music, which is very uplifting and is a great way of connecting with the crew onboard.
I also write my own music and play the guitar! This is something I really enjoy doing in the evenings for fun. I take my guitar up to the top of the ship, overlooking the Antarctic horizon, and sing to my heart's content with no one listening to me!
We had a Weddell Sea Expedition table tennis (ping pong) tournament! We all paired up with a crew member and played doubles. I won three out of my four matches!
I just finished reading a novel by an American author named Taylor Zajonc. He is also a member of The Explorers Club! It was a thrilling and gripping tale of a historian who gets invited to explore an ancient cave in rural Tanzania. I will not give away the plot line, but it is an exciting tale of strength, survival and endurance. I highly recommend it!
There is a gym on board the vessel and my friend from the University of Cape Town has been organizing cardio classes called "Cardio with Kat". These are very fun because we work out to really upbeat, fun music. It is very important to remain active while on the ship, otherwise you can start to feel "cabin fever". This is what you call the feeling when someone starts to feel cooped up and claustrophobic, spending too much time in one place without much physical activity.
