As much as I would like to say that I am mentally prepared for the adventure I am about to embark on, I have to admit I am unsure of what to expect from the next month aboard the USCG Healy. However, there are a few things I do know: I know that this will be unlike any experience I have ever had and I know that I will be working with a crew of brilliant scientists and highly skilled Coast Guard members on a project to understand the relationship between the circulation and ecosystems on the shelf and continental slope in the Beaufort Sea. I also know that I have high hopes to see beluga whales and polar bears and experience the delicate marine Arctic ecosystem before it disappears as a result of increasingly changing climate. Most importantly, I know that I am eager and ready for the challenge of expanding my knowledge of the Arctic in a real time and hands on way, as well as learn new oceanographic technical skills. Finally, I know that I have five days before I leave for the next chapter in my scientific career and what I really need to do is buy myself some warm socks and plenty of motion sickness medicine.