Programs Blog

March 27, 2025 

Time: 1113 

Location: SEA Campus – Woods Hole, MA 

Weather: 39°F with clear sunny skies 

Hey everybody! My name is Aimee Bousquet, and I’m a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire studying Marine Biology and Dance.  

I can’t believe there are only five more days until we depart Woods Hole for New Zealand! Things seem to be winding down slightly, especially with the majority of professors already on their way to meet the Seamans, but we still have final projects, presentations, and papers to put the final touches on. Even with all this schoolwork, we always find a way to stick a little bit of fun into our days.  

When my brain started to feel a little bit melted from being an academic weapon all day, Georgia recommended we go acquire a little sweet treat. So, the two of us, along with Resh and Jaimie hopped into my car. Chappel Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Noah Kahan were the artists of this trip, and we belted “Pink Pony Club” on our way to Woods Hole. While in town, we visited the WHOI gift shop, which we’d been hoping to do since we got here and then visited Pie in the Sky. It was a good break and motivated me to finish grinding out my assignments.  

Last night, we had our final “Soup Wednesday.” We arrived here on a Wednesday, so this marks our fourth (and final, AAH) week on shore at the SEA campus. Georgia, Henry, and Brigitte cooked a delicious Italian White Bean Soup, which we consumed from various not-a-bowl containers. I ate my soup out of a bread pan, Brigitte ate hers out of our coffeepot, and Jaimie ate hers out of a frisbee (YAY ULTIMATE). Charlotte’s vessel, my favorite, was an empty Party Mix container. 

Henry started a fire for us, and we all ate around it, cracking jokes and enjoying being in each other’s company. There is something so wonderful and community-building about eating together as one big group. Grace dropped some wisdom (as always) about what our experience on the Seamans will be like, and a quote from SEA President Rick Hopper came to mind.  

“It’ll be the hardest experience you’ll ever love.” 

I’ve never done anything remotely like what I am about to do, sailing through the Pacific Ocean on a research vessel surrounded by people I just met a month ago, but here I am, about to do it. There are so many emotions running through me right now.  I will admit, I’m kinda terrified. I’m a bit sad about leaving the bubble and routine we’ve created here, but I’m so very grateful for all of the friends I’ve met here and know they’re not going anywhere (literally, we’re going to be stuck on a boat together). Special recognition for my A House peeps and especially my amazing roommates Jaimie and Georgia.  Though I have these other emotions, the main one I’m feeling is excitement about the new adventure that awaits onboard the Robert C. Seamans.  

Shoutouts time! Let’s GO!

To Mom and Dad: Thank you for being such good parents, showing interest in my research journey, and instilling enough confidence in myself to even apply for this trip.  It’s been absolutely amazing so far. I can’t wait to see you this weekend! I love and miss both of you so much! 

To my Hubbard 3.2 Friends: I miss you all so much, and love hearing that you’re still going to dinner at 6 every night. You’ll have to catch me up on EVERYTHING that has happened while I’m gone.  

To my SEA peers, thank you so much for making this trip so wonderful so far, I can’t imagine sharing it with anyone else.