Ambassador Snowball

Kia ora,

I'm Snowball Hopsalot and I am very protective and friendly. I like meeting new mates. I'm five years old and it is important for me to remain in temperatures below 0 at all times. I enjoy eating fish and sometimes shrimps and other aquatic creatures. I love exploring and diving but am always cautious of predators. I can't wait to explore Antarctica and hopefully meet some of my cousins.

See you soon,

Snowball.

Thursday 23 November

I have been looking forward to this field trip for so long now. I can’t wait to head south and try and catch up with some of my cousins. We all have to wait one more day though, because terrible weather in Antarctica has delayed flights.

Everyone got kitted out with clothing for the ice but I don’t need any as I’m designed to survive seriously cold weather.

Flippers crossed that we fly tomorrow.

Snowball.

Friday 24 November

I couldn’t believe it when I received the news early this morning that our flight had once again been cancelled. I was so disappointed and frustrated, but the other ambassadors reminded me that these delays are part of travelling to such a cold, windy place and we all need to stay positive. Maybe penguins like me were not supposed to travel such a long way from home. I hope I can make it back to my homeland!

Hopefully I will be able to share better news on Monday.

Talk then,

Snowball.

Monday 27 November

Kia ora,

I was so excited to hear that we would finally be heading to Antarctica. We left Christchurch at 10am this morning and didn’t arrive in Antarctica until 6pm. I was surprised by how noisy the plane was. We all had to wear ear plugs. These planes don’t have many windows, so we were lucky enough to be able to head up to the cockpit to get a better view out over the sea ice.

I hadn’t realised how much I have missed the ice until now. Walking off the plane into the frozen wilderness of Antarctica was incredible. I am so excited to be here and can’t wait to get out and about.

See you tomorrow,

Snowball.

Tuesday 28 November

Kia ora,

It was so cool to wake up in Antarctica this morning. I feel so lucky to be here and have been looking forward to my Antarctic Field Training (AFT). Everyone has to complete field training before they are allowed to leave Scott Base. I learned how to survive the intense cold and pitch a tent in an emergency. I also learned how to recognise hypothermia and frost bite. Luckily us penguins don’t suffer from the cold.

Tomorrow we are going to find out more about how Scott Base works to reduce its impact on the environment.

See you then,

Snowball.

Wednesday 29 November

Kia ora,

I have not met any penguins on this trip, but I have met some seals. We saw Weddell Seals outside Scott Base. They seemed friendly, but I wasn’t about to get too close to them.

We looked at how Scott Base makes freshwater from sea water today and how wind turbines produce most of the base’s electricity.

Tomorrow we are off on a special adventure.

See you then,

Snowball.

Thursday 30 November

Kia ora, 

We went exploring today and it was so much fun. We put our Antarctic Field Training Skills to the test and hiked up Ob Hill. The views were out of this world. We could see all the way out to the open ocean to the north and across the Transantarctic Mountains to the west.

I haven’t seen any penguins on this trip, but I have made lots of new friends at Scott Base and had an amazing time. I can’t wait to share my adventures with you when I get back home.

See you soon,

Snowball.