first impressions
i got a mail requesting my first impressions of antarctica. i'm going to try my best to put down in words what it's like. the air/cold aspect of it is somewhat refreshing for the first short while then it turns mean and the cold will assault any bare skin you have exposed. that experience is multiplied by 10 when you're walking inland and the wind is blowing. for instance, it's 0 degrees outside right now but with the wind chill it's 14 below zero. in that kind of weather, if you're just going from one building to another close by it's not all that bad...but, if you're making a long haul to a building further away, it can start to beat you up and make exposed parts numb. i had gone out the other night at 10pm to shoot the panoramic photo in the entry below. i was ill prepared when i did so and only had on my fingerless gloves. big mistake. not only did my video camera freeze on me but a burning cold pain quickly set in on the exposed fingertips which turned me around rather quickly as i headed for the warmth of indoors. when i got inside, the pain continued for a few minutes as my fingers thawed out.
the smells down here are nill or only those of the surrounding vehicles or buildings. being that there is only ice/snow/dirt around one's sense of smell is useless for the outdoors and natural smells. instead, we smell exhaust from constuction vehicles or the greasy food aroma pouring out the back end of building 155 where the galley is located. i've also noticed that each building has it's own particular funky smell somewhere between stale and mildew. i've quickly learned that people bring down air fresheners to fool themselves that the place is actually kind of nice. i've seen candles, insense, stickups, pot pourri and probably a few other methods of introducing the illusion of a clean fresh environment. i was pleasantly surprised when i went into the animal room down in the crary building where they keep the ocean animals. the smell of salt water and the ocean was a welcome smell in what is otherwise a really dead and odorless place. i'll be cleaning the crary building which is also known as building number 1. that's the most important building down here, the building where all the hard core science happens. it's my understanding that at one point the crary lab building was the most expensive building on the planet and that was mainly due to all the costs of getting the various materials down here. it's a very impressive building and i've got my work cut out for me with regard to cleaning the 45,000 sq ft behemoth.
i'll report on the colors of things once i get the chance to go for an extended hike outside. i still need to attend a safety meeting before that can happen.
there are other creative people here, creative people of all kinds actually. there's barbara who works in laundry. she makes little dolls for people and dresses them all in little red parkas. there are also musicians galore down here. i met one of them, a guy named sean who is a street musician from oakland california. he had struggled with the decision as to which instrument to bring. ultimately he chose his banjo which was a good call as there are many guitar players down here. i also understand there will be a video art contest of some kind and as soon as that gets rolling, i'm sure to be involved in that in some way. will keep you all posted on how that unfolds.
i was asked how long the days are down here. well, the sun is finishing up it's setting phase so for the most part, the sun is up all the time. it dips low to the horizon and depending on where you're standing, it'll duck behind a hill from time to time. the days though seem non-stop. it'll be interesting to see the dark again.
and yes, there are women down here...lots of women actually. they take up jobs across the board too. you name it and there is a woman doing it right alongside the guys. in fact there is a disco party tonight and i'll probably go to shoot some footage of the event. should be an interesting event. people are stoked for it and have been checking out costumes all week.
as a reminder (because some people have asked), here is my address down here again:
my address
in antarctica:
(10-7-04 to 02-25-05)
G. Oliver, RPSC
McMurdo Station
PSC 469 Box 700
APO AP 96599-1035
if anyone has any questions or is curious as to how to go about coming down here themselves, please feel free to get in touch: junk@i8bozo.com
the smells down here are nill or only those of the surrounding vehicles or buildings. being that there is only ice/snow/dirt around one's sense of smell is useless for the outdoors and natural smells. instead, we smell exhaust from constuction vehicles or the greasy food aroma pouring out the back end of building 155 where the galley is located. i've also noticed that each building has it's own particular funky smell somewhere between stale and mildew. i've quickly learned that people bring down air fresheners to fool themselves that the place is actually kind of nice. i've seen candles, insense, stickups, pot pourri and probably a few other methods of introducing the illusion of a clean fresh environment. i was pleasantly surprised when i went into the animal room down in the crary building where they keep the ocean animals. the smell of salt water and the ocean was a welcome smell in what is otherwise a really dead and odorless place. i'll be cleaning the crary building which is also known as building number 1. that's the most important building down here, the building where all the hard core science happens. it's my understanding that at one point the crary lab building was the most expensive building on the planet and that was mainly due to all the costs of getting the various materials down here. it's a very impressive building and i've got my work cut out for me with regard to cleaning the 45,000 sq ft behemoth.
i'll report on the colors of things once i get the chance to go for an extended hike outside. i still need to attend a safety meeting before that can happen.
there are other creative people here, creative people of all kinds actually. there's barbara who works in laundry. she makes little dolls for people and dresses them all in little red parkas. there are also musicians galore down here. i met one of them, a guy named sean who is a street musician from oakland california. he had struggled with the decision as to which instrument to bring. ultimately he chose his banjo which was a good call as there are many guitar players down here. i also understand there will be a video art contest of some kind and as soon as that gets rolling, i'm sure to be involved in that in some way. will keep you all posted on how that unfolds.
i was asked how long the days are down here. well, the sun is finishing up it's setting phase so for the most part, the sun is up all the time. it dips low to the horizon and depending on where you're standing, it'll duck behind a hill from time to time. the days though seem non-stop. it'll be interesting to see the dark again.
and yes, there are women down here...lots of women actually. they take up jobs across the board too. you name it and there is a woman doing it right alongside the guys. in fact there is a disco party tonight and i'll probably go to shoot some footage of the event. should be an interesting event. people are stoked for it and have been checking out costumes all week.
as a reminder (because some people have asked), here is my address down here again:
my address
in antarctica:
(10-7-04 to 02-25-05)
G. Oliver, RPSC
McMurdo Station
PSC 469 Box 700
APO AP 96599-1035
if anyone has any questions or is curious as to how to go about coming down here themselves, please feel free to get in touch: junk@i8bozo.com
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