Groundhog Day

Submitted by Julie Pollard on Thu, 12/03/2009 - 16:47

Have you ever seen the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day? The one where he relives the same day over and over?

In some ways, being on the ship is like that. I don't mean it in a negative way at all. It's just that I seem to have lost that distinct feeling of one day ending and another one beginning. I don't know if the people on other shifts have the same experience or if it's just me. When I wake up to start my shift, it doesn't feel like "morning" - it's just time to get to work. The meal where they serve most of the breakfast foods is 6 am, which is my second meal of the day. I try to eat cereal and fruit when I wake up so that it feels like "breakfast", but then sometimes I end up eating breakfast food for lunch. Then in the early afternoon, I head off to read and go to sleep. It's almost like one long day punctuated by naps.

In the movie, Bill Murray uses the time he spends stuck in that single day to learn lots of new things. It turns out I'm doing the same thing (not that I consider myself "stuck") - learning more every shift. Today one of our physical properties scientists, Daniel, showed me how he runs tests to determine the strength of the sediments and let me help a bit with them.

I'd love to hear from others on the ship, or who have been on the ship in the past - is this a common feeling?

Comments

So, you feel you live the

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 15:17.

So, you feel you live the same day over and over again? Is it a little boring? Marcos and Cesar

The days

Submitted by Julie Pollard on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 15:44.

It's not so much that I do the exact same thing every day because I don't. I think that the reason it feels like one long day is because it's the same DATE when I go to bed and when I wake up. For instance - I'll go to bed in about 4 hours and it's Saturday the 12th here. When I wake up at 11 PM to eat and get ready for my shift, it will still be the 12th. It's still Saturday. I know it turns into Sunday an hour later, but it's just not the same as it being a new day when you wake up. I don't know how else to describe it....it's truly strange

Indeed

Submitted by Doug LaVigne on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 09:27.

It was very much like that. And I happen to love that movie. ;)

Just wait until it is all over and you are at home. There were some days that I just felt lost because my routine and structure had been taken away... it was a bit scary. Of course I got used to normal life soon enough, but for a while it was touch and go!

Groundhog day

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 02:06.

Hi Julie,

I envy you. I'm organising the education and outreach around the JR visit in Wellington which is exactly one month away and boy oh boy wouldn't it be great if there was just a little routine but instead the excitement and the workload is just building and building... holiday progame for students (aged 12 and up), VIP tours, media release, media conference, formal welcome and speeches, science talks, food, drink, tours of the ship for kids, students, scientists, posters, flyers, email, email, email... be strong, kia kaha, see you soon. Chris Hollis, NZ IODP Coordinator

Busy Busy

Submitted by Julie Pollard on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 08:23.

Chris
That sounds like my "routine" trying to get ready to come on the expedition! I saw some of what you're describing at the Australia port call, and I can't even imagine having to organize all that! I bet it will be fantastic, and I'm looking forward to being back in New Zealand, even if it's for a very short time!

Deja Vu

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/03/2009 - 17:49.

Hi Julie,

Your description was perfect and I thought I was having deja vu, except that 6:00 a. was when my shift began and so it really was my breakfast. They served a lot of nonbreakfast food though, and so I always went for the fresh whole wheat bread and peanut butter.

I love the Groundhog Day comparison and I hope you'll share more soon about the drill site and sediments there. What ages are you getting into? What do they look like? What kind of gas was that in your video?

Sounds/looks like you're having a great time :)

Leslie

Next blog

Submitted by Julie Pollard on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 08:25.

That's a great idea Leslie. I'll talk about where we are geologically in my next blog. I'm glad to know it's not just my internal clock that seems to take a vacation at sea!