Mail

Current conditions:  Con 3, Temp -18F (-38F with wind chill), overcast.  Population: 277

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays 

these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

It appears the Antarctic Circle does prevent the swift completion of appointed rounds.

No planes come into Antarctica from April through Winfly (usually in mid-August). The 130 or so people who over-wintered on the ice have seen no mail, no fresh foods and no new faces (not to mention no sun) for four months.  Consequently, they have all been anxiously looking at the television screen where flights are posted, praying for the five delayed Winfly flights to come in.  Then, when they did come in, again disappointment rapidly spread through the base.  Because we were so late getting in, the USAP decided to fill the first two planes (mine and Dean's) with personnel and with little cargo.  Personnel have priority since we need time to get up to speed so those leaving from winter crew can get home.  

This week, the last two Winfly flights arrived and the tone of the camp completely changed.  The place felt more bouncy.  The kitchen was filled with "freshies"--lettuce, greens, mushrooms, bananas, oranges, kiwis, apples, and even fresh tuna--and plates were spilling over with food. Then, the mailroom starting listing names of people with packages on the intranet.  Those who had placed online orders in March, were finally seeing their goodies.  As Dean and I walked up to the mailroom, we saw people staggering out, piled high with Amazon boxes.  Ironically, some have waited all this time, only to be are going home next week.

Personal mail has the lowest priority of all cargo, particularly this year.  The NSF is rebuilding McMurdo and construction material takes priority, followed by scientific materials, then medical supplies, then anything else for base infrastructure, and finally personal flat mail with packages even lower on the list.  Planes are limited and ships even more so.  Consequently, lots of mail is still stuck in the Christchurch mail facility.  The Peet's coffee I ordered in early August has not arrived nor the letter that Lauren sent me.  The eczema patient who just ordered his emollients from Amazon will progress to extensive disease before anything arrives. We've had to intercede by contacting our med liaison in New Zealand.  They'll see that his creams are purchased and hand-carried to the next flight (it's not uncommon for people to run out of their meds and we simply don't have enough in our formulary to replace them).  

Also, as you can see above, the hours of the post office (where you send mail) and the mailroom (where you receive it) are pretty darn limited.  Although the hours will pick up once flights are more frequent, right now, if you snooze, you lose.  

So if you do have the fortitude to want to send something, here is my address.  

Julie Parsonnet

PSC 769 Box 700

APO AP 96599-9998  (APO serves as the city and AP the state on order forms)

Be aware that flat mail, but no packages, will be accepted after October 15th.  

I do not recommend at any time sending a Rolex or a stinky cheese.