Coffee Career

Now you all know how much I love coffee right. How I drink it all the time, love the taste, the smell, the warmth that it plays across my tongue. Right? - Wrong. I can’t stand coffee. I have enough addiction to sugar I don’t need to add coffee too it. So I stay away from the stuff. Here it is like a drug that people should really have done intravenously the way they consume it. Regardless of my opinion, being a barista can come in hand in future employment, so I’ve volunteered to become one in the Coffee House here on station. Imagine that in a interview:

“So have you ever worked as a Barista?”

“Yes, but it was a small coffee shop in Antarctica.”

Do you think I’d get the job? Anyways, I’m learning the finer art of espressos, cappuccinos and mochas. I think of you, Luke and Robin, coffee connoisseurs that you are. When I visit, I’ll have to make you an espresso now that I know how. I’m still really shaky on the foaming milk, I think I’m burning it too often, but people are too nice to say anything.

I had one quick over the counter training session in the beginning and then was turned lose. I know I’m not doing it right, but learning by trail and error is still learning. Most of the time the Coffee House is quiet, no one really stops in on my shift. Without customers, I get to blast my music on a wonderful sound system and surf the internet, while sipping Licorice tea (found out its good for inflammation and with working as often as I do, it’s good for the joints - no to mention is an intriguing aftertaste). I like doing it, and I’ve made a few espressos and mochas so far. I’m learning, or at least people are tolerating what I’m making, and I’ve even made a few tips. Again something to build the resume and a skill to impress friends and family when I get home . . . . should we ever get an espresso machine or I work for Starbucks that is.

Video Vixen

I’m getting paid to do the Video Counter this winter. Two hours every week I help with inventory, folding and checking out videos. I like it. It fills in the time and I’m less likely to fill in the hours with sluggish habits. I meet a lot of the community outside of the Galley and find folding clothing meditative. I often think of you Mary, working at Kohl’s folding all those clothes from the changing room. Difference is, there is not time frame for mine. No pressure to finish it. I just do as much as I can in my two hours and then leave it for the next person. So that’s one job I’m doing over the winter for a little extra travel money and socialization.

Volunteering in the Library

I get to continue volunteering in the Library over the winter. I’m so pleased. It is one of the few places where I walk in and immediately relax. It is warm, I know what I’m doing, and most of the time there are only a few quiet people doing puzzles, reading, or surfing the internet. Low stress, low demand, low noise and the place is all mine for two hours. Again, something productive to do over the winter, and to keep me in a routine over the winter. That and I get great access to all the books, and there are tons. I’m not sure where I’ll start, but I now I won’t run out any time soon.

POC of Gear Issue

Do you ever do something and then wonder if you should have? Well, I did that with Gear Issue. Now you all know I was working it over the summer, one hour a week right. Now I’ve asked, and been granted, the position of Person Of Contact (POC) for Gear Issue. In short, I’m running it over the winter. Not sure what I was thinking, but now I’ve done it. The place is a mess, things were just shoved to the back with the close of summer, and now I have to go organize it. Not that I made that part, the problem is there is just too much stuff and not enough space. Even my minimalist self is being tested and nothing is ever removed. We have bike helmets from 1987, games from the 1970’s, and broken equipment just lying around. I’m the worst person for this job because I would just go through and remove, but there are channels to follow, people to contact . . . . So I’m doing that this winter, forming a crew to run the shifts, so it can be open to the community, monitoring return dates and gear movement. I’ve spent the last several weeks just trying to clear a path through the ski forest, but I’m seeing carpet now so there is hope.

Surrounded by Icebergs

The permanent ice shelf has not turned out to be so “permanent”. Remember the pressure ridges, the beautiful formations that are created where the sea ice meets the shelf, well the ice has melted beyond that. It has not melted that far in over 10 years. It has melted so far that our road the runway has cracks and they have to talk a detour around them. What if it melts entirely away so we can’t access the runway people thought. People worried.

Regardless, giant icebergs have continually floated by McMurdo, back out to the major ocean, and to see them is amazing. Such straight edges, like they were cut with a laser. Like puzzled pieces that will fit back together once they bump back into each other. They look like floating platforms that you want to jump from one to the next, like lily pads. You don’t dare, slipping into the water would be deadly, but the child in you longs for such fun. Even our old ice pier has floated away, you’ll see black and red flags on a single iceberg as it floats by and realize that you were probably walking on that piece not too long ago. It is mind boggling how quickly things change, shift, and break away here. One day open water, next day 5 foot think ice skin that you driving a Delta on.

Another stark lesson that proves life is not permanent, and neither is anything around it. Makes you thank God that he allows us each and every day. Because you never know when the solid ground you’re standing on is going to give way and float away or melt beneath you. Nothing is solid except his hold on us, and even then we are the ones that sometimes push him away preferring to leap from iceberg to iceberg in fear, instead of standing on solid ground in his care.

Adeles in Residence

A group of Adele penguins have decided to take up residence not too far outside of McMurdo. I went out today to watch them waddle around and molt, squawk and shake. I staid till I got cold, but enjoyed watching them as they continued their normal routine within my view. I think the novelty of zoos is going to be hard to over come when it comes to Antarctic wildlife. I’ve enjoyed watching God’s creatures without the glass or the bars. Without the tourist traps and cement walk ways. Even in Costa Rica, with the howler monkeys and the vibrant lizards, just watching them move while you stood beneath them, reminded me of what the Garden must have been like. What early man must have experience living among all that was created, great and small. Such awesome respect was give to us, such responsibly for us to look after them, and here I see that. Don’t harm, don’t harass, just watch and admire. Just leave them alone and you’ll be able to witness the beauty of nature. Man does not need to get involved in everything, because there is already a perfect plan in place.

Stranded

Standing out in the cold, surrounded by chattering voices, holding crystal glasses up bubbly, we all waited. Straining to see the runway in the distance, the buildings no more than small specks on the horizon. The time was 1pm and we had gathered to toast the last flight out. This was it, no turning back now. Our last chance to leave was taking flight, and we were all glad to see it go. No more waiting for the winter, it had started. Now the base, filled with 151 people was complete, these were the inhabitants of the island for the next seven months. Friends, foes, crazy, sane, loud, quiet, no matter the personality they were going to be my community for the next 28 weeks and it was thrilling. I was staying the winter. No more doubts about passing tests, losing contracts, or changing minds. Things were settled. Finally.

Suddenly over the radio, a voice broke through “The plane has lifted off.” Silence blanketed the crowd as we all turned and saw a small pill raise into the sky. The Airbus was taking off, and a sit made it’s ascent across the sky, we raised our glasses, and with laughter and good cheer was toasted it away. Good by Summer, hello winter. And now it’s back to work.