Orientation V.2

The US Antarctica Program Building, Christ Church
Today was originally our "Ice Date", the day we were to arrive at Antarctica.   We knew two days ago, though, that we'd be delayed.  To use our time efficiently, today we had our "On Ice Orientation" here at Christchurch.  

A few quick factoids:  In the winter season, there are 500 people living in all of Antarctica--an area 1.5 larger than the US--at the thirty permanent international stations.  At McMurdo, the largest station, there are currently 150 people.  At peak in November and December, 5000 people will call Antarctica home,  900 at McMurdo.  The weather right now is still quite harsh and it is dark, dark, dark.  Yesterday, the current doctor wrote: "You missed the first sunrise today.  I mean, so did we with the storm that blew in".  He then requested I bring down gummy candies :-)   We all have our needs.

All dressed up and nowhere to go
In addition to many other facts, I learned that I'm no longer cut out for hours straight sitting in a classroom.  It didn't help matters that much of the orientation involved things that have little relevance to me like how to use heavy equipment, how to pick the right ladder for the right job, checking out vehicles before driving, and why you shouldn't MacGyver fixes to the power grid (unless you really have to).  There was a heavy emphasis on Quality Assurance, i.e., resisting the urge to use duct tape to solve all problems.  Despite my restlessness, though, I did hear the overall message loud and clear.  Antarctica is dangerous, there is little leeway for error on the job, and attention to safety is critical.  Two firefighters died last summer (CO2 poisoning in an enclosed space) and those deaths, not surprisingly, weigh heavily on management and the many people returning to the Ice.  A repeat this year would be devastating to the program and the staff.  

So about the staff, Dean once told me that McMurdo Station was like an NIH research institute married to a lumberjack camp.  Ironically enough, Dean and I are on the lumberjack camp side of the family.  Since the medical staff are hired contractors rather than scientists (more commonly referred to as 'grantees"), we arrive early with the carpenters, firefighters, waste disposal unit, cooks, heavy machinery workers, etc.  It's a burly crew of about 30 people, 3:1 male to female, with an average age in the 40's. Dean and I are not the oldest but we're up there.  To really fit in, Dean will need to grow a heavy beard or hair down to his waist.   Really, think lumberjack.  Yet, I have to resist pigeonholing this motley ensemble.  One waste disposal guy I gabbed with is an acupuncturist in NYC in his other life.  There's a lot going on under those beards.

The highlight of the day was getting our Extreme Cold Weather gear (ECW).  You can see the many layers provided. I found wearing it suffocating but I imagine I'll get used to it.
The layers






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