Hello Everyone,
Here's the report from McMurdo Station. Currently it's snowing out with temperatures in the upeer 20s (28 F now) with light winds - 6 or 7 knots.
1. Physical everyday
life here - eating, sleeping, etc.
2. Antarctic Lingo
3. Transportation around Antarctica...
1. Physical everyday life here - eating, sleeping, etc.
Some of you have asked about my everyday life here. Where do I eat, or sleep? Well, allow me to give you a better idea of daily life at McMurdo. McMurdo has a galley for meals. Located in the Navy's old "personnel building #155" in the center of "town", this cafeteria styled galley has an "O" and "E" sides. Yep, Officers and Enlisted sides. When the Navy was on station here (and Army) that was the rule. Of course, scientists and contract folks can side on either side. Now, I'm not so sure it is adhered to. However, I do noticed most of the Air Guard and US Coast Guard folks are on the "E" side.
As for sleeping -
McMurdo offers several dorm rooms. This year, for the first time since
coming here I have a very nice spot in the newer dorms that are much like
any college dorm room. Prior years, I stayed in the
Mamouth Mountain Inn - the very first very small "dorm" built
at McMurdo (prior to that folks stayed in quonset huts or jamesways -
modular or canvase temperory structures). It is a very good, for Antarctica.
Other places are not as accommidating....especially if you go camping
out on the polar plateau. In fact there is a group now out at "AGO-6",
an automated geophysical observatory located at 77.23S/123.50E (for those
of you keeping track at home :-) Tenting out on the polar plateau I'm
told is quite the experience.
2. Antarctic Lingo
There is another interesting aspect to life here that I thought I'd mention. Language. McMurdo has like any community its own vocabulary that is worth mentioning. Here's a list of common terms used here that you might not find used the same back in the States:
Bag Drag - This refers to bring your bags to the MCC or movement control center at McMurdo to "check in" for your flight to South pole or a field camp or back to Christchurch
Beaker - The term for scientists here on station
Boomerang - The act of having a flight from Christchurch to McMurdo get turned around back to Christchurch due to weather or another problem
Bumped - If a flight is too "heavy" or has too many people manifested, passengers are "bumped" off from flying
Bunny boots - The bright white rubber boots that are issued as a part of extreme cold weather gear
CHCH (Cheech) - This is a slang term for Christchurch, New Zealand (Pronounced cheech)
Crud (or the mcmurdo crud) - Refers to a cold or flu that often affects many on station.
Daisy Picking - a couple of times a year the station goes outside to "pick" any trash and loose garbage around the station.
DV - Distinguished Visitor (such as congressman or generals visiting the station)
ECW gear - Extreme Cold Weather gear - the clothes for survival in Antarctica (~35 pounds for a typical issue)
(the) Ice - The term for Antarctica
Freshies - A term for fresh fruits and vegatables, when they are flown in from New Zealand
(I hope we get some soon!!!) :-(Happy Camper School - A slang term for snow school or snowcraft school. This is a class that teaches survival skills in the snow (my colleague is there today!) It last 2 days & 1 night.
Herbie - The term for a storm - wind - snow that blows from the south toward McMurdo - often from what is know as "Herbie Alley" which lies to the south, southeast of McMurdo Station.
Hollywood Shower - A term for showering back home - here in Antarctica for many years, you were required to take Navy 2 minute showers. Thus it seems luxurious to have what you might consider a normal shower. Since water here is more plentiful, there is less concern for sticking to 2 minute showers (but we still take very short showers.)
Kiwi - Term for a New Zealander
Mac Town (or The Rock) - Alternative terms for McMurdo Station
manifest - A list of passengers to be flying on a plane.
Medevac - Medical Evaculation. If anyone ever gets seriously hurt and can cannot be treated on station, they are "medevac'ed" In fact, Dr. Jerri Nelisen (sp) was Medevac from South Pole this past October since she was suffering from breast cancer.
PAX - A military term for passengers manifested to fly on a plane.
PQ'd - Personally Qualified. A term for those who pass their medical exams to come to Antarctica (also known as "medically cleared")
PSR - Point of Safe Return (like boomerang)
Weather Guesser - A term for us Meteorologists! Yikes!
That is the scoop from here - sorry this is so short, I've got things to get back to. Talk to you all more tomorrow.
Best Regards,
Matthew