I went to Antarctica for study abroad

On a typical day on Ohio State’s campus, it seems as though everyone is always rushing from place to place trying to make it to class on time, finish that last homework problem, or find the best happy hour to meet up with friends. However, even with all this rushing, there somehow never seems to be enough time in the day to get it all done, and we end up losing sight of what is important.

It took me travelling to the driest, windiest, and coldest continent on the planet to open my eyes and see that life is more than just the passing of time.

My journey to Antarctica began like most courses at Ohio State: with a lecture. Each week, our study abroad group was required to watch live video lectures delivered by various professors from around the world that have direct experience in Antarctica.

These lectures ranged in subjects from the exploration of Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty System, climate change impacts, and many others so that we would be prepared for our journey to the continent. Along with these lectures, exams, writing assignments, and research papers were also assigned like most courses, so time was still a main priority.

As the semester quickly came to end, it was finally time to begin the journey. I left Columbus looking out the plane window at a landscape illuminated by thousands of tiny lights and moving cars, and woke up four days later to ice covered mountains and not the slightest hint of civilization.

The last glimpse of Columbus as I began my journey

This is where time stopped.

The first glimpse of land at Danco Island in Antarctica

I felt like I was entering a completely different universe as I stepped foot onto the continent for the first time. There was no noise except for the squawking of penguins that completely surrounded us, which made me realize that I was now stepping into their home and it was up to me to respect it just as I respect my friends’ houses at Ohio State. I saw how the penguins struggled every day for survival by fending off predators, protecting their nests, or hoping they would find enough food for the day. It made studying for finals look like a breeze.

Since it was summer in Antarctica, there was no real night but just an endless sunset that happened around 11:00 pm to 3:00 am, so it seemed like time had actually stopped. With no Internet, cars, or cities, I found myself immersed in the beauty of an environment that was untouched by humans, and time was simply insignificant in such a world.

During the summer, there is no darkness is Antarctica but the sun just continues to set for hours

Although the landscape was essentially free of human influence, this 10 day trip made me understand the impacts that my daily life in Columbus can have on areas as remote as Antarctica. While on the continent, we studied our greenhouse gas emissions and how this is contributing to the reducing ice mass on Antarctica, which is affecting penguin populations, the rising sea level, and an overall increase in atmospheric temperatures.

I became aware of how the simple things I do on campus, such as leaving lights on when I leave a room or turning up the thermostat, can contribute to changes in an ecosystem thousands of miles away. This trip made me realize how it is not always important that we get the highest grade on a midterm or are involved in so many activities that we barely have to eat. It made me understand that one of the greatest benefits we can have on others and ourselves is to slow down and appreciate the small beauties in life.

Ohio State students show that buckeye pride is known even in Antarctica