EQUATOR CROSSING

The big moment came when TSS and all aboard crossed the Equator. I’d never been in the southern hemisphere before so I was looking forward to the new experience. I even took a shot of the equator Through My Porthole.

Through My Porthole: The Equator 7169


Two nights later I attended a presentation by the researchers of the Mosquito Barcoding Project. Dr. Yvonne-Marie (can’t remember her last name) is heading the project, which is housed in the Museum of Natural History in London, England. Two of her colleagues from there are also onboard. They are the ones who go out during the day to capture mosquitoes and their larvae then bring it back to the ship to their labs to do DNA barcodes on each mosquito. They use part of the insect for the barcoding and the rest is mounted along with an identifying code that also identifies the person who captured it. They take volunteers along on their hunts and mosquitoes they catch have their name attached to the records and code.

Mounted mosquitoes 7172


Close-up of mosquitoes with identifying tags (not to be confused with their barcodes) 7173


Mosquito larvae (rather blurry) 7174


Dr. Yvonne giving the lecture 7177


A couple of days after the actual Equator Crossing, an initiation event took place in which Polywogs (those who had never crossed the Dateline) became Shellbacks (official Dateline Crossers). It was announced in advance by a flier that was posted in prominent locations throughout the ship.

Announcement 7192


An entire ceremony is involved – apparently it is traditional among sailors and involves some rather bizarre things and probably hazing as well – but TSS’s top administrator flatly refused for anything of that nature to take place. Swimming pools filled with fish guts through which one must swim and shaving of heads are two examples of what was forbidden on TSS. Probably a majority of Polywogs aboard participated in the ceremony. I did not. For one thing, I was working when it began and was dressed in work clothes when it was well underway and for another, I did not want to be seen by students in sopping wet, clinging clothes. It was all in good-natured fun, however, and most participants truly enjoyed it. There were a few cheats, though, who managed to get their names on “The List” without having gone through the entire ceremony, which was presided over by King Neptune and his Bride. I managed to get a profile photo of the king and bride along with a lineup of initiated TSSers who had to file past them, kiss Neptune’s ring and sign the book and become, officially, Shellbacks. They would later receive a certificate attesting to their hardened status.

King (on right, seated) and Bride (Red hair, standing) 7203


Initiates 7207


I later talked to a student who had worn a raincoat to go through the drenching process and that sounded like a reasonable way to go through the process. I have a rain outfit, pants and jacket. If, as I have been told, another ceremony will take place when we cross the Dateline again, going north, I will participate, clad in my bright yellow rain gear and become a Shellback!