157 degrees of latitude in 64 days

[ceph]

So on Monday I leave for Svalbard, which is a territory of Norway way up in the Arctic--78 degrees North. I'm doing some sea ice optics research with a colleague of mine, who invited me along after I borrowed some artificial sea ice from her cold lab. It's going to be awesome.

Comments

[willworker]

Hug an armored bear for me!

Steve

[maggiedacatt]

I think they might find that sort of thing undignified.

[canis_ridens]

Actually, there are bus tours you can take there to go see the polar bears. I'm planning on Norway for my next major vacation (... pay me more, work... ), and that's definitely on the list.

[ceph]

Ooh, neat! If we're [lucky/unlucky, take your pick] we might see a polar bear while we're out on the sea ice doing fieldwork. But if we don't I might try for the bus tour...

[maggiedacatt]

I think the way you're approaching luck etiquette is actually very good.

"Yeah, sometimes I feel like I've won the lottery. But in this case, there are actually lots of opportunities to [do thing] if you're interested in [doing thing] too. Do you want me to send you a couple links?"

[porfinn]

There is also a perspective thing to keep in mind: I have no desire to ever have my feet be as cold as your toes probably often are. I consider it incredibly lucky that you like doing what you do so there is not even a remote possibility that I would ever have to. What you call "undeservedly fortunate" is actually enabling people like me to not have to do what you are doing-- keep up the good work! (but I do like hearing about it : )