Wednesday September 29 – Training

Today was training day. Learning the ropes, safety, safety, safety. Our uniforms are really comfortable, blue polos and chef’s pants. I love the chef’s pants, so comfy and polo’s with thermals under them don’t even seem like uniforms. I do have to wear a name tag, ugh, but that is just one negative thing in a hundred positive ones.

Went to a movie in the coffee house. There is a small theater in a half dome hut with wooden paneling, plush sofas and a huge flat screen that they show movies on every night. Saw Blood Diamond, brutal but it defiantly brings to light conflict diamonds. Don’t watch it unless you need to do research.

Tuesday September 28 – Antarctica

I’m here. I can’t believe it! Our plane touched down on the ice and it was smooth, softer then any landing I’ve ever been on. Everyone was strapped in but leaning over looking out the windows at our first landing site. Everything was white, clean and we knew it would be cold. When the cockpit door opened up we were fully suited up and ready to go. At the top of the stairs you were allowed to pause because you could only go down one at a time so you could take it all in. It was cold. You could feel it weaseling it’s way into every open gap and suck the warmth from your body. Like landing on another planet you look around in bewilderment. No terminal. No buildings. Nothing but a large monster vehicle nicknamed Ivan waiting to cart you home and a few stray parkas standing around. This was it. This was the welcome party and everyone looked alike. Welcome to Antarctica you tell yourself afraid that if you take anything off you’ll die of frost bite. I was warned it was cold but I didn’t know if you could lose a limb by simple exposure or how long it takes. I kept my red parka bundled up and glasses on for fear of losing something important like skin.

Huddled into Ivan we began the lumbering 45 minute ride to base having landed out at Pegasus, the farthest strip from McMurdo. There are two strips that I know of the closest called the Ice Runway. We couldn’t land there because chunks were missing and the flight before us had bounced a bit upon landing. Out the window was a plain of white with a few mountains in the background. Not actual mountains but volcanoes. Was I really here I wondered? Had I really flown more than 10,000 miles to the coldest desolate place in the world? Yes to both and I was overwhelmed by the blessing. How truly blessed I am to be here. . . .Who knew a girl from Cali would end up at the coldest place on earth.

Sunday September 26 – Day Lights Saving in New Zealand

Canterbury Museum
Botanical Garden Walk - this place was big and beautiful
Christchurch Cathedral

This morning a strange sound played shortly after I woke up and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I got ready and headed down to the lobby 45 minutes early thinking I’d get a free computer for some internet time and found out what the sound was. They’d called my room to tell me the flight to the Ice was cancelled for 24 hours and that we wouldn’t be leaving till Monday. Well I was already up and awake so I hung out for a while with others that had missed the call and then wandered the morning away with a friend looking for a place to eat breakfast. Only on Sundays in the early mornings nothing is open. We did find one place and I got a Celtic Pancake which was like nothing I’ve had before. I can’t even describe it but I enjoyed it.

Hey Mary guess what, I got to taste Iron Bru. Not that great but for breakfast this morning someone ordered a Scottish Breakfast and it came with an Iron Bru. Thought of you and the story you told me about it when you were in Ireland.

Oh hey today is Daylight Savings time here so all the clocks were pushed forward one hour. Is it the same in the States? I can’t remember?

Got back to the hotel and saw people waiting at the shuttle. Headed to the ECW for more travel funds then decided to make it a free day and wondered around doing all the things you could for free in Christchurch.

At 10am went to the Antarctic Service at the Cathedral. It was done asking prayers and blessings for all those that are going to the Ice this season. I forget that New Zealand has a station down there too. The American Ambassador was there as well as the Mayor of the City. We didn’t stay long, but the service was nice, prayers were offered, the choir sang, the band played. It felt good to be reminded of who is in control of it because sometimes I forget and fall into the manly control mentality. During the service another tremor struck and I saw small drips of stone dust fall down upon the crowd. There is nothing like sitting in a hard wooden chair when the ground rumbles and you glance up at gothic arches imagining them coming down. Nothing happened, a mere hiccup but it was a reminder yet again that nothing we do is without divine planning from above.

Went to the Art Center market for lunch and got some Thai food at the street fair they were having. Saw Kiamichi but didn’t get it. I’ll save that for South Korea if I can.

Bought a Beanie at the Canterbury museum and then realized it was a child’s size. Still fits but I feel a little ridiculous wearing it. Oh well, that will teach me to buy spontaneously for a while. Went to the art gallery and walked among the modern art that I still don’t understand the point of. By two we were all a little tired and headed back to the hotel for some rest before hunting down a place for dinner. That’s half the fun of traveling right, eating. Getting a lot of that done down here and expanding my horizons.

Saturday September 25 – Boomerang and Back Again

First class Seating - Flying in Style
Number 39 - That's my military boarding pass after I was weighed and allowed to travel
Antarctica View from the Window
And another view . . .
and another . . .

Today was flight day. Shuttles arrived at the hotel at 6am to pick us up and we were at the ECW by 6:20 suiting up and doing final weighing of our gear. We were allowed one carry on that fit into a wooden box the size of an Amazon postal package, one boomerang bag that could weigh no more than 25lbs and then our checked luggage. Big Red has over 23 pockets so veterans suggested if we couldn’t fit it in, we could probably stuff it into one of the pockets. Geared up in bunny boots, snow pants, with goggles, gloves and beanie stuffed into big Red we waited outside the terminal dedicated to Antarctic travel as the military geared up for our departure. Drug dogs sniffed our luggage and our legs as we weighed our items, having been strictly warned that weight limits would be enforced. First our boomerang bag was placed on a scale much like the ones you’d see in the grocery store and then when it passed we were moved to the next point where all our checked luggage was weighted. I got nervous here because I thought with the ECW gear I’d be over weight, but the attendant didn’t even bat an eyelash. I smuggled out a sigh of relief. Next I was weighed with my carryon. I’ve never been weighed as cargo before, but luckily it was in kilos so I couldn’t get too upset not knowing the conversion.

Given a boarding pass we wore around our necks like security clearance badges we moon leapt over to the Arctic Center which is a tourist attraction where we got to eat breakfast and then head back to the briefing room where we watched a short video and then boarded white school buses.

Giddy with excitement and fully suited up we saw the white non-descriptive plane sitting on the runway and then spilled out as the strong wind blew. Handed brown bag lunches and bottled water, we boarded the plan via ladder one at a time, careful of the moon boots and tripping. A wonderful surprise awaited me as I turned into the main body of the plane. Business class was empty and I quickly grabbed the next open seat. A full 4 and a ½ hour trip in Business class. Oh the luxury. Full leg room, wide isles, you name it. Once we were settled in we took off and were sailing over the water at cursing altitude.

Time flew by as we read, chatted, even were invited up to the cockpit for a pilots view. The flight team soon became family as we chatted and hung out standing in the isle. The cockpit door was left open I would occasionally peek in to see what was going on and wonder what each dial and button did on the control board. Soon the first peeking of white mountains appeared and we all ran for the windows to snap shots of the natural formations. Such pure white snow, a blank canvas of sharp peaks spread out below us and I felt like we were seeing the world from outer space.

When the captain announced we’d be landing in 30 minutes, you could feel the excitement in the cabin as we all geared up, putting on parkas, lacing up boots, adjusting goggles. As we started to drop in elevation I kept looking out the window and then suddenly there was a shift and I saw blue sky.

“I’ve just been informed there is fog that has rolled over the runway on the Ice and we will not be able to land.” Utter shock filled the cabin filled with disbelief. Surly he was joking. The sky from here was clear and we could see the Ice. Everyone waited, hoping it was a joke, a prank but when the captain came back on we knew. “Well everyone, it looks like we’ll be doing a boomerang.” Groans from the veterans mixed with muffled murmurs from the newbies as we headed back to Christchurch.

Well folks they always warn us that it is possible, but I didn’t think it would happen. Disembarking after a nine hour flight, we got our boomerang bags, thankfully I’d packed well for once, were given travel funds, returned to our hotels with instructions that we’d try again tomorrow.

So as of tonight I’ve seen Antarctica but not actually been to it. Perhaps tomorrow. Tonight we went out to this place called Dux Lux and while we were dining outside, three large aftershocks shook the patio in less then twenty minutes. Everyone felt them and some of the locals even cheered like it was ride. The ground trembles here and people cheer. I must say this place feels more and more like home every day.

Friday September 24 – Cold Gear

Early this morning as I lay wide awake suffering from 12 hour time alteration, a tremor rocked my bed and I smiled. Fond memories of home flooded my mind and I was able to drift off back to sleep for a little while. They warned us when we landed that they were still suffering aftershocks but normally those warnings are just safety precautions. Not so, oh so not so!

Later that morning we went to the ECW, which stands for Equipment Control Warehouse, or something like that. Everything is turned into an acronym so I’m just warning you ahead of time. On the shuttle we all asked who had felt the aftershock and those that hadn’t were strongly disappointed to have missed it. Seems odd that people would feel such a way, but I guess growing up with them leaves the thrill lacking.

The ECW is in charge of the clothing supplied to those going to the Ice as well as where we fly out of and travel funds. Two bright orange bags were waiting for me as we entered the room and in a short time I had pulled out more winter clothes then I have owned in the last six years. Snow pants, Big Red - the Large Red Goose Down Parka you see in all the pictures with my own name velcroed to the outside. Fleece jackets, long underwear, even goggles. I felt like I was gearing up to go snowboarding as I lumbered around the room in my heavy ten pound bunny boots. I couldn’t stop grinning and others shook their heads as I performed childish antics around the room. I enjoy winter gear because being from Cali I don’t really get to wear it, but now is the perfect time to indulge in the heavy swishy pants and fling the scarf with flare around the neck.

Once everything was tried on, exchanged and tried on again, items were separated by what was necessary to wear on the plane and what could be checked for later delivery.

Sadly I learned we were not going to go by military cargo plane, having been upgraded to a private commercial charter much like a regular airline. Disappointed but with gear in hand we returned to our hotel rooms, dumping yet another piece of luggage then headed off to explore the town. Finding the botanical gardens, I marveled at the beauty of the flora wonderland that wrapped around me. Sounds of the city turned to whispers among the trees as the chilly breeze pushed through my mussed hair and stung my cheeks. I’m in New Zealand my mind kept trying to remind me as I looked around and the idea still seemed too surreal. Truly I am blessed with such an experience and I hope to not take any of it for granted.

We made it to Cathedral Square where the giant gothic building stands as a marker for the center of town. Climbing the tower stairs we got a 134 step view of the surrounding area and relished the bright sunlight as we snapped photos of the ant people below. The church suffered some minor damage in the quake, so scaffolding still remains in the center of the building until stonemasons can get to repairing it.

Later that evening we ate at an Indian restaurant called Two Fat Indians and I found the food most delicious.

Thursday September 23 - Made it to New Zealand

Finally here in the beautiful country of New Zealand. It has only taken 38 hours, two/three days and lots of waiting. Can’t believe I’m here, with amazing people and then going to be off to the Ice in less then 48 hours. Wow, talk about time travel. Two new highlights on the trip – 1. got to set on an exit row for a smaller flight but the leg room was relaxing – 2. got a seat with a back up against the wall on the plane where the restroom were so no guilt about reclining the seat to take a nap.

Right now it is 4:30 Thursday so I’ve lost a day. Wednesday literally didn’t happen this week and those who had birthdays on the 22^nd of this month just lost them on the plane. Tomorrow is cold gear suit up day and site-seeing in the area. Then comes Saturday leaving before the moon even leaves the sky to head toward the ice.

It is chilly here with people wearing down jackets, scarves and winter clothes. I felt a little seasonally challenged with my flip flops and light sweatshirt. Pulling out some of the clothes I packed for the ice just to stay warm and shaking my head for not packing correctly once again. When will I ever get it right? (sigh)

Loving the hotel room, small, think Japan apartment with a retro modern feel. Literally a 12 x 12 bock, with every space filled with efficient storage and a bathroom that sits in the room blocked off with a half glass wall and sliding closure. I think it is amazing and wouldn’t mind having a studio like it. It does make you want to either sleep or leave, so right now I’m going to grab a nap and the head downstairs and meet up with fellow icers to grab some dinner and conversation.

Had Thai for dinner – Delicious!

Made it to Denver!

Okay, first full day of orientation is done. It was great. Everyone is so excited about going, I'm with about fifteen other DAs (Dining Attendants). They are diverse, coming from different areas, some world travelers, other's just leaving for the first time. I look around and see that we are all in this together, on a journey that other's talk about with such fondness and smiles. We too will have those stories, filled with laughter and a longing that still tinges the voices as they talk of the pristine white landscape. Sharing stories of the people they worked with and how the the most desolate place on earth changed their lives.

Funny thing happed. God balanced out my life in a very physical way. First I got my flu shot on the right arm and then later . . . .

There I was talking with the other nubies, when wham - a yellow jacket stung my under left arm. Man did that sucker hurt. I haven't been stung since I was a kid and I think my brain blocked out the pain because it really burned. Even now I have a red circle and it stings, but thankfully I'm still not allergic so I'm god.

So learned lots, got stung along the way but am still game to go tomorrow. Oh for those of you who were wondering, no SKYPE allowed at the base. Something about peer to peer software and security. Sorry to all those who had their fingers crossed. Email is still good though so send it my way. If you've got any curiosity questions feel free to post and I'll answer them as I can. OH, OH!! I was wrong yeah!!!! McMurdo is not at 10,000 feet - but SEA LEVEL! Yeah no altitude sickness, just dehydration. I'm so relieved. Now that is something that I do remember the pain from and was not too anxious to repeat.

That about wraps it up. Half day orientation tomorrow and then off to New Zealand. Perhaps my next blog will be there, who knows. Oh small side note of luxury. My hotel room is amazing, complete with a kitchen, full fridge and dishes. I could live here! Just wanted to mention that no worries about lodging here, I'm being taken good care of. Love, hugs, and prays to all - good night!