Back on the Ice
The first year I came down, 2008, I was scared spit less. I traveled 1/3 of the way around the world to a cold, frozen, barren, wasteland with people who I have never met before. With in the first 48 hours I was sleeping out on a 300 foot thick ice shelf learning how to survive out in the cold. What in the world have I gotten myself into?
The Second year I was so excited for the opportunity to go back again. Fear of budget cuts and reduced staff had me fearing for my job.
This year several times I found myself falling right back into the routine and habits that I had formed over the past two seasons. I am walking down the streets of McMurdo and feel that it has become so commonplace, kind of like I had never left. I do like my job a lot and would not give this up for just any other job, but I am surprised at my lack of the excitement I experienced the first time I was here.
The flights down were fairly uneventful. The LA to Sydney flight was on a HUGE Airbus 380. A double decker plane with touch-screen TV’s on every seat. The food was not that bad either. It was a longer flight than the LA to Auckland NZ flight that I had flown the previous two years but that’s extra frequent flyer miles in my pocket.
The time in NZ was pretty tight. Not too much time to shop around. The longer flight took some time away from that. I did get some shopping in, picked up a new football (Rugby) jersey, I am getting quite a collection of these things.
Some things never change though. The ability for people to gripe and complain about the dumbest things is pretty amazing. Down here is no exception; in fact it is a very competitive sport down here. They should be in the Winter Olympics! I try to avoid this activity as much as possible, but still get caught up in it a little.
All in all I am glad to be back to the routine of the daily life in Antarctica. It is an amazing place to have a daily routine and I would not change it for anything.
Photo Opp! There be whales here!
I will try and get some soon. Right now I am in temporary housing and most of my stuff is still packed. I hope to get out soon and snap a few photos.
Feel free to email or comment questions, I appreciate the feedback and the knowledge that the rest of the world has not fallen off the other edge of the world.
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