Snow Craft 1

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday at a training called 'Snow Craft 1'. The two-day training was about what one should do if one was to get stranded somewhere away from campus. There were 15 students in my class. We mostly listened to a lot of lectures and then set-up camp and spent Tuesday night out on the permanent sea ice. We set-up tents, built walls out of snowblocks to protect us from the wind, dug a kitchen area that allowed us to cook out of the wind and such things. Some folks dug trenches to sleep in, but I just found a spot in a tent for myself. The weather ended up being super nice, which made me happy. The sun shined all night with almost no wind. The low for the night was 14F. I had a little trouble falling asleep due to the 24-hour daylight.

Wednesday morning we packed up camp, listened to more lectures, watched a couple of training videos, and were finished. I made it to my room by early afternoon and was happy to get a quick nap in before meeting Alex after work.

I didn't take my camera to the training (couldn't find it), but was able to get a few pics from other folks. This first picture is of the camp, it's early in the day, before the wall to protect us from the wind had been built. The teepee looking tents are way old-school, it's the same tent design they were using on the first expeditions to Antarctica. They are still quite popular here.



I spent most of my time hanging out in the kitchen, though I didn't make this next picture. We dug the hole and built the wall for wind protection and so we could cook standing up.



I will see if I can get some more pics.

6:00 am

It's just a little past 6am, on Monday morning. (Noon on Saturday on the east coast, I think). Alex switched to the morning shift. We had breakfast together, then her shift began at 6. My work day doesn't start until 7:30, so I've got a bit of time to myself. Campus is significantly quieter this early in the morning (we were doing breakfast ~6:45).

Our weekend was super chill. We hung out at the wine bar on Saturday night and spent most of the day on Sunday sleeping in, watching movies, surfing the Internet, reading books and Alex spent some time knitting. Not so much different than what we would do on a cold winter's day in the states. Except that it's summertime here and the weather was relatively nice yesterday. We are both just tired; Alex's job is physically demanding and I spent a lot of time working outside last week, which just wears me out.

I get this Saturday off (my Thanksgiving holiday), looking forward to the two-day weekend.

Coffee House Mornings...

I am sitting with my friend Brian at the coffehouse on campus. I just had breakfast with Lucas; and Brian has just gotten off work. I am working on my first cup of coffee; he is working on his third glass of wine and drawing as anatomically correct of a human form as he can after three glasses of wine-- He has had a full day of life as he is a night shift worker or [aka] midrat (also in the dining hall) and I have barely began my day...Bob Dylan is playing on the stereo and the lighting is just right if you've just gotten off work or have just woken up. This is the first morning I have come to the coffee shop and I really like it.

Kevin and Jen, who ran the camp that Lucas worked at in North Carolina when he got back from Scotland, walked in just a minute ago. They are also midrats and our next door neighbors at MMI.

Yesterday, Lucas and I were talking about how we've been here for what would constitute a while. We haven't just gotten here anymore. On my way to the coffee house, I realized that I have gotten used to McMurdo's energy--to all the people everywhere all the time...

I finished a book about fruit flies and the history of genetics and molecular biology...and I'm almost done with my scarf...I love being married!

A few days ago, the mail gods and goddesses were so kind to me... I got THREE LETTERS--two from the best pen pal in the world, Sabrina Beth Bazin, a birthday card from my wonderful mother in law, a reimbursement check for over one hundred dollars AND an awesome package from my friend Lorena! It can't get much better than that! All my love to everyone--alex

Wednesday, November 19th

On hot days, like today, steam rolls off the frozen ground. It's neat. I didn't really experience the steam too much last year, as I was working at night (the sun is still out at night but it isn't as directly overhead) and didn't spend as much time outside. I like the idea of campus thawing. There are puddles all over campus and significant amounts of water running down the streets. This is the beginning of the muddy season. When we first arrived, everything was frozen and snow covered most of the ground. After the snow is done melting and everything dries out, we will begin the dusty season. And shortly before we leave, everything will start to freeze up again.

The muddy campus suggest the end of the frozen-ness that was here as we arrived; like the first trout lilies signaling the end of another Appalachian winter.

I've spent the entire day working outside the past two days. I definitely feel more worn out after being in the cold all day. My plan for tonight is to shower and sleep.

Wishing everyone all the best.

Monday Morning

Alex and I did most of our Christmas shopping and watched a couple movies over the weekend. We have one store on campus and the New Zealand base, just 1 1/2 miles away, has a store as well. The selection isn't much, so one ends up looking at everything multiple times.

It's snowing a bit this morning, which isn't so common. We like the snow, it makes this place look prettier.

Saturday

It doesn't feel like it should be Saturday yet. Time feels different down here. Last weekend feels so long ago that I barely remember any details, but, at the same time, the week just flew by and I can't believe it's Saturday (the start of our weekend) again. I think it's a combination of the long work hours, the endless social opportunities and that you don't really have any traditional chores to do after work hours (no driving, no cooking, no washing dishes, no cleaning bathrooms, no shopping, no walking the dog and no errands to run).

I like the time issues. I like the novelty of it.

I just ate lunch, it was these awful hot dogs that were too salty, overcooked asparagus and Oreo cheesecake (that was pretty tasty).

Alex was filling the juice machine. She has plans to hang out with her girlfriends afterwork at the coffeehouse.

The weather is calling for a high of 24F today, which is super hot for this early in the season.

We are both doing well.

Tuesday, November 11

The alarm goes off each morning at 6:20. Sometimes Alex joins me for breakfast (more than you would guess, if you know how much Alex enjoys mornings). Alex eats lunch with her co-workers just before she starts working at 11:00. I get off work at 5:30, eat dinner and have a few hours to myself before Alex gets off work at ~8:30. We then have just a couple (1 1/2) hours to hang out before I start thinking about heading to bed.

We have both been sleeping a lot and barely avoiding getting sick. Alex finds time to journal, read and knit. I can't say I've been doing much of anything productive with my free time, mostly napping and socializing. Alex has made a few friends at work; most of my friends are pals from last year.

Alex and I both get Sunday off. We've done a few hikes and gotten off campus some. We've seen a seal and a skua (a skua is a sea gull type bird, but bigger and comes to Antarctica this time of year). Alex (and I too) commented on how nice and warm the weather was yesterday, the high was ~18 degrees F. Alex got one of those sunburns that you can only get in Antarctica.

We both seem to be feeling more comfortable with our job and are starting to get the hang of things. Today, I finished the fire suppression system report I've been working on for at least a week. Alex was getting ready to refill the ice cream machine last I saw her.