Xmas in Antarctica

While we're cruising through waters that are green with phytoplankton and
littered with ice flows (with more phytoplankton growing at the base) we
are getting ready for Xmas. Weeks ago the "last Xmas" was already playing
on the bridge and from Gert's speakers (and I thought I could escape that
going to Antarctica...). Then, people started making snowflakes from folded
pieces of paper. First, we made snowflakes, and cut out penguins and crabs.
Then, nerdies as we are, we made Phaeocystis, diatom (phytoplankton), and
copepod (critters that eat phytoplankton) "snowflakes". It turns out that
the Danish are most craftful in making shooting stars and braided hearts
(with more penguins). The "E-lab" where all the people watching monitors
are, looks awesome, with all these crafty decorations. There are also fake
Xmas trees in most of the labs with all kinds of colourful flickering
lights. I brought our holographic Xmas tree, thinking to be original, but
there is another one on the ship! The tree in the galley fell over when we
hit some heavy ice the other day. Luckily the decorations survived. Now,
some Danish Xmas songs are playing while Sanna and Rasmus wearing Santa
Claus hats while sorting through their zooplankton over a lighttable.

For Xmas we will "look for" a stable iceflow, where we can raft up to, and
have a party on the ice. Since we cannot drink alcohol on the vessel, we'll
go on the ice to have a beer. That should be a special way to celebrate
Xmas, and it 'll sure be a white Xmas.