Day -1: What is this all about? One day before heading out...Boots!

I am embarking on a 11 day expedition sponsored by National Geographic and Lindblad expeditions.  The journey will be in the Arctic Svalbard, an archipelago north of Scandinavian countries.  The experience is aimed at getting geographic educators to enhance their teaching skills by participating first hand in nature.  I teach physics at an urban city school with diverse and large populations.   My expectations are to create lessons and experiments that I can use to enhance my teaching skills and experience for my students.

I am packing light for this 11 day extravaganza above the arctic circle.   My carryon weighs 22.6 pounds and my mid sized backpack is still a work in progress.  One challenge faced in packing for the trip is the issue of boots.  I am to take large rubber boots, made for Alaskan fisherman called XtraTufs.  I borrowed my sister-in-law's (Rainy Butler) boots (she has the same size feet) for this occasion.  (She was an alaskan fisherwomen last summer).  They are brown, and therefore sort of a challenge to coordinate ensembles in a fashionable way.   The XtraTufs are large, and have trouble fitting into luggage.  Therefore, I have resolved to solve the problem of the boots by wearing them on the plane.   This is an interesting choice since they are warm and possibly tricky for security to handle.   But on the up side, if I have to walk through any water, I should be fine.