What is your name? Chrissy van Hilst

What is your job on the ship? SSSG Tech (Shipboard Scientific Services Group)

How long have you worked on Atlantis? About two months!!!

Where are you from? Grew up in West Virginia

What is the most unusual thing you have seen on a cruise? Difficult?? The surreal environment down in Antarctica, an octopus from the vents on the Juan de Fuca ridge, an upside-down abandonded sailboat in the Atlantic.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten? Some of the food in Peru was weird, but I can’t figure out why my mom fed me cow tongue when I was little — she claims I liked it! I am dubious.

What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you? Being in a tent in the Peruvian jungle with a major storm raging and trees falling all around. The next morning was beautiful and amazingly clear. When I was a kid (4^th grade) I was in a bad car accident — that was terrifying.

If you didn’t have this job, what would be your next job of choice? A question I ask myself often … there are too many things to experience in life… I would love to teach kids. I think it is important to instill in our young people today that the world will soon be in their hands and that they can make a difference. It is important to give something back to the community. I would also love to run a cool, funky bookstore.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to endure? Watching and caring for a loved one fighting cancer. He won!!!!

Where’s the coolest place you have ever been? Why? It is a toss-up — Antarctica was pretty amazing. There are so many places I want to go. I hope they just get cooler as I go!