First team session

Yesterday we had our first session with the complete team.  The technical staff has been here for about a month but the scientists only joined us yesterday.  Listening to everyone's story of how they got to this point in time kindles a weird kind of respect.  Maybe the fact that we are all in this together come rain or shine demands a different relationship from what is normal.  Maybe the fact that you can choose your friends but can't choose your expedition members puts them closer to the category of family...as you probably know you can't choose family either.  It might sound as if I have reservations about my team when I say you cannot choose them, on the contrary, I am very fortunate to be part of SANAE 51.  I am looking forward to this chapter of my life with all the joy, wonder, awe, heartache, turmoil, sweat and tears it will probably hold.