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» Go to news mainChukwuka's reflection on his first sailing experience (in Pidgin and English)
In June 2022, Chukwuka participated in the TReX Deep 2 mission onboard R/V Coriolis as his first oceanographic cruise ever in his life. Originated from Nigeria, Chukwuka has little experience being on the ocean. To reflect upon this unique experience, he wrote about his personal journey on this cruise in his native language (Pidgin) and in English:
Pidgin
Yes, no be lie sey this one na my first time for sea. Like we expect for any first-time experience, I dey filled with so many anxieties and expectations as I dey enter for this cruise. For the anxieties – I dey wonder how e go feel like regarding the conditions offshore, wetin offshore research and sampling go look like, and whether I go fit survive conditions offshore. For expectations – I dey look forward to gaining hands-on experience of sailing as it concerns research vessel, deploying CTD, hunting tracer, sampling, and general life for sea. I dey surrounded with different scientists wey different in expertise onboard be like a relief to my expectations.
As expected, I dey sick for some part of the cruise, but e turn out come be an adventure wey dey loaded with better scientific experience. As a first timer, I gain many experiences in CTD casting, water sampling, sample preparation, and onboard analysis for nutrients, total alkalinity and oxygen. Of important also na the understanding of the ship and its environment. I come know how to work on the ship and the different safety precautions. Weting matter pass for me na the opportunity to work and interact with some over-sabi scientists them wey from different backgrounds.
All thanks to the Chief Scientist on board (Prof. Douglas Wallace), the captain and all the ship's crew, and all other scientists on board.
English
Yes, indeed, it was my first time at the sea. Like every other first-time experience, it was filled with so many anxieties and expectations when getting ready for this cruise. Anxieties – wondering what it could feel like being on the sea, what offshore research and sampling could be like, and whether I will be able to cope with the rough sea and seasickness. Expectations – looking forward to gaining a hands-on experience of sailing on a research vessel, deploying CTD, hunting tracer, sampling, and general sea life. Having scientists with a diversity of expertise onboard was a relief to my worries and a reassurance to my expectations.
As expected, I was seasick during some part of the cruise, but it was indeed an adventure with insightful scientific learning experience. As a first timer, I gained lots of experience in CTD casting, water sampling, sample preparation, and onboard analysis for nutrients, total alkalinity and oxygen. Of importance also was the understanding of the ship and the working environment since this was key to a successful operation on the ship. Therefore, knowing how to work on the ship with safety precautions was an add-on to this journey. To conclude this cruise, having to work and interact with some renowned scientists from diverse background was a noble opportunity.
All thanks to the Chief Scientist on board (Douglas Wallace), the captain and all the ship's crew, and all other scientists on board. They made the cruise insightful for me.
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