How can you find out what it’s really like in Antarctica?
If you’re in Miss Kerry’s Year 7 English class, you can ask Ray Bouche, who’s just headed off on a working trip to Antarctica.
The class have been studying ‘fact-ion’ writing, a blend of fact and fiction writing, where students research an Australian historical figure and write from their perspective. As an example, the class have looked at Australian Antarctic Explorer Douglas Mawson, and together researched Antarctic exploration.
So when they discovered that a friend of Mrs Mulaney was travelling to Antarctica for six months, the class took the opportunity to get in touch with Ray before departing, and have since been kept up to date with his training and preparation, the two-week long sea voyage from Tasmania, and his recent arrival in Antarctica.
The class has plenty of questions which Ray, an electrician, fireman and tradesman, has been answering with the help of the ship’s captain, on-board ornithologist, geologists and other specialty crew. Students have also enjoyed receiving daily updates on icebergs, rocky seas and wildlife spotting while travelling on the ship, Aurora Australis.
Soon they can expect many more answers to their questions about life in the coldest place on Earth, as Ray arrived on land in Antarctica this week.
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