My Trip to the Frozen Continent

When I first signed up for this trip, I had no idea what to expect. Being in the business school, I had only learned about Antarctica growing up and I can confirm that most things were inaccurate. As the trip grew nearer, I felt an overwhelming sense of stress that outweighed excitement which soon changed the moment we embarked on our 20-day voyage. As we progressed through our first sea day and trip to the Falkland Islands, I soon realized that I was going to take away much more from this experience than I expected.

I was most surprised, as I’m sure most of my fellow cohort members would agree, with South Georgia. Our first excursion was a zodiac cruise because the landing was not possible due to an excess of wildlife on the beach; I personally cannot think of a better reason to cancel a landing. Nonetheless, South Georgia’s beauty brought me to tears nearly every excursion we went on. Being able to see the wildlife completely unaffected by humans was truly amazing as well as eye-opening.

Nothing will ever compare to the first landing on Antarctica. Finally being able to be on the continent after so many months of preparation felt like such a relief and a blessing. The hikes and cruises were filled with beautiful views and amazing wildlife, however the best part was being able to spend it with the people on the ship.

I did not know what to expect on this trip, but I know I did not expect to make lifelong friendships. I was nervous to spend the holidays away from my family for the first time, but when the time came it was one of the best Christmases and New Years I have ever had with what felt like a family. The expedition crew and staff also played a major role in my experience. Listening to their stories about how they ended up touring Antarctica truly inspired me to try new things in life and not be afraid to alter my path and to never say “no” to opportunities that life throws at you, even if you were not expecting them. It is hard to put into words just how much this trip changed my life, but when I first arrived, I was excited to experience the trip of a lifetime, and now I refuse to believe that I won’t go back.

Jaeden Beimer
Accountancy