Monday, March 26, 2007
IPY
Welcome to IPY 2007-2008!! IPY stands for International Polar Year and is something arranged by two different organizations which focuses on studies in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It will involve over 200 projects with scientists from more than 60 nations. There was a lot of talk about it when we were on the Ice.A Tour of the Nathaniel B. Palmer
One afternoon there was an opportunity to take a tour of the Nathaniel B. Palmer, a research vessel operated by the National Science Foundation in the Antarctic waters.The ship docked at the Ice Pier.
This was a crack in the Ice Pier that I photographed from the top of the ship.
Lisa sitting in one of the chairs in the room where they steer the ship from.
Explosives on board?? That's right up my alley!
Walking down off the ship. Those nets on either side made me a little nervous.
Learn about life on the ship by clicking on this link.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
December's Housing Department Fun Day
A fun day is two hours off one afternoon, arranged by my boss Amanda, to boost morale for the group. We usually had them once a month. In December, a tour was arranged for us to visit the Power Plant, the Waste Water Treatment Plant, and the Water Plant. I was a good little tourist, and I took notes which I can't find right now... so one day I'll post them for educational value.This is my friend Matt working in the Power Plant as a mechanic.
Standing above vats of waste water at the Poo Plant.
Ana Bell standing next to what's leftover after the liquids are taken out of the waste water. Little plants start to grow from seeds that make their way to the top. These containers are all shipped back to the States (or at least New Zealand) on the vessel in February.
Looking up at my co-worker, Peter Tucci, standing on top of a drum in the Water Plant.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Roxanne and Katie - Before and After
Roxanne and I at the beginning of the season at the Housing Hut 10 party.
And five months later, Roxanne about 40 pounds lighter and me between 25-30 pounds lighter. They could see an increase in the number of returning workers who want to be janitors (usually there might be one or two returners a year that work as a janitor).
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I Promise...
... I'm coming back. I have a lot of entries to post on here, and they will get posted. I'm just extremely busy right now between trying to get ready for the next month-long adventure and working and visiting with everyone in the area. Keep checking back!!Friday, March 09, 2007
The Long Journey Home
It all started the day before I left Melbourne.I was scheduled to leave Melbourne on the 6th of March, which left me one day at the US Consulate to arrange for an emergency passport. I had called the week before, so I had printed and filled out the paperwork I needed to turn in. I stopped at the pharmacy on the way to get some photos done. They wouldn't let me wear my glasses or smile (not that I wanted to smile).
Went in to the US Consulate, located in a random office building. First I had to go through a metal detector at the security desk downstairs, and I left anything I didn't absolutely need upstairs in a little cubby. As the elevator opened, there was another security desk where I had to sign in and then go through another metal detector. They put my wallet and paperwork into a tray and x-rayed it in another machine. I took a seat in the area reserved for American citizens and waited for my number to be called. Ten minutes later, I was called to the window and handed them all of the paperwork and the passport photos. They spent the next half an hour researching me I'm sure. Then I was called back up to the window and was told that someone would have to give me an oath before I finished signing the paperwork. Another five minutes passed, and I was called up to the window again. I thanked the lady who was there to swear me in, and she said "Oh, no problem. I don't mind helping anyone who borders the Upper Peninsula." Turns out that she's a Yooper (what we Wisconsinites like to call anyone from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan)!! I convinced them to have my passport ready by the afternoon instead of having to pick it up on my way to the airport the next morning.
On my flight from Melbourne to LA, I get an aisle seat, but the TV screen doesn't work. This is a key factor in getting through a 14-hour flight... ON DEMAND MOVIES! The flight attendants do a little switching around for me, and I finally have a seat with a working TV screen. The flight goes pretty quickly. I get into LA and figure I have about 4 hours to wait before my flight to Chicago. After three hours, they start delaying our flight numerous times until they finally cancel it. Then everyone makes a mad rush to the counter nearest our departure gate where two ladies attempt to make us all happy. I waited over half an hour, and by the time I got to the front of the line there were no flights available to get me to Chicago in time to make a connection to LaCrosse by the end of the night. I started crying. Yep! I couldn't help it. I was just thinking that I must be cursed or something. Lose my luggage on the way there, spend 3 months filing paperwork to be reimbursed, lose my passport on the way home, and then have a cancelled flight. The poor lady behind the desk was trying to console me, "I know you just had a very long flight and are probably very tired, but I need to know whether you'd like to stay in LA overnight or in Chicago." OH, LADY... you don't even know!!! I did decide to stay in LA since I didn't have any clothes to keep me warm in Chicago. She was great actually... booked me into the airport Hilton and got me a bunch of meal tickets. As I stumbled out into the corridor, I walked right into Scottie ("cAn you imagine?") who worked in Fuels at McMurdo. He gave me a big hug. I felt kind of bad that the last time I'd probably ever see the guy I'm bright red, puffy, and my cheeks were covered in salty tears which I probably wiped on his jacket.
The next morning I was at the airport at 5am and finally arrived back in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to find both of my parents had taken off of work again that day to pick me up. It was a great reunion, and I was sooooo happy to be home! I think I figured I had been in 5 time zones in less than 2 weeks!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Home
I'm home. Finally. I don't want to go into details about the last leg of my journey right now, but I will update more tomorrow. Now I'm going to bed.Sunday, March 04, 2007
Lost Passport
It's missing. I'm hopefully getting an emergency passport tomorrow, which will in turn create lots of drama when it comes to getting a new one plus an Azeri visa in the three weeks I'll have at home.I'm hoping to return home with at least a few things I actually left with.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Two More Courses and a Random
I have spent a lovely two days with my friend Mark at his family's vacation home in Anglesea, a city on the Great Ocean Road. We drove down to Anglesea almost as soon as Mark got home from work Thursday early evening. We haven't seen each other since my last visit here, and we're getting very excited for our big adventure in Azerbaijan so we had lots to talk about. Yesterday we went on a little road trip to Lorne, and Mark gave me a lesson in coffee. Don't worry... I didn't drink the stuff. We wandered the streets and had a look at the surf. I was a little nervous to have my first surf lesson in front of such a large crowd, so we hopped in the vehicle and drove a bit closer to Anglesea.I had a quick lesson in the sand... how to "pop" up on the board when you're riding the wave. I did a few practices, and then we were out in the water. On my first attempt I was able to kneel on the board and ride the wave! I was able to get on my knees on the board another time, and then we realized his board needed some repairs and that was the end of my first surfing lesson.
We grabbed some chicken souvlaki for lunch at ate on a bench in town, and as I was telling Mark some story from Antarctica, I looked up and a guy who worked in Carpenter Shop Supply walked by me - for you Ice people, it was Chris (long dark ponytail, tall guy). I just kind of stared and pointed at first. Mark told me to go up and talk to him but since we'd never been formally introduced on the Ice, I didn't know if it would be awkward or not. Then finally I saw him sitting in a restaurant with his girlfriend and he looked shocked when he saw me. I went in and asked him what brought him to Anglesea. Turns out they were just driving the Great Ocean Road and happened to stop in Anglesea for lunch!! What a coincidence!! Mark couldn't believe it! But now he realizes why I didn't want to spend much time in New Zealand surrounded by Ice people.
Last night, Mark's girlfriend Jess, Mark's brother Dave and his girlfriend Nessa, all made the trip to Anglesea. We made up a big dinner and had a few drinks and lounged around. I got the third degree on life in Antarctica and was bombarded with questions; a few times I was really overwhelmed with which question to answer first. But it was a great night.
Today all five of us went out to the beach to play a little cricket and attempt some more surfing. We made a cricket field with two bodyboards as wickets and using a bat and tennis ball, we each took turns batting, fielding, and bowling (similar to pitching in baseball). After a few turns at the bat, we decided to try our luck at catching some waves. Luckily, the other girls are still learning to surf too, but they were all surprised that I was already riding on my knees! The waves stopped coming in big enough to ride, so we went home and had lunch.