information immersion

ki·wi (kee’wee)

n. pl. ki·wis
1. Any of several flightless birds of the genus Apteryx native to New Zealand, having vestigial wings and a long slender bill. Also called apteryx.
2. a. A woody Chinese vine (Actinidia chinensis) having brown fuzzy edible fruit with a green sweet pulp.
b. The fruit of this plant. Also called Chinese gooseberry.
3. Informal. A New Zealander.

RPSC: Raytheon Polar Services Company – The company that has hired me on contract.
NSF: National Science Foundation – The government organization that Raytheon provides support to.
McMurdo Station: The main US base in Antarctica where I'll be living
Scott Base: The nearby Kiwi base

Thank you for all the e-mails in regards to my new job. While reading through all the e-mail, I’ve also been getting immersed in the life of boots, fleece, wool, flannel, parkas, ice, flights, dorms, vehicles, and cold weather.

I just finished reading through “Info for New Drivers.” The amount of information was a bit overwhelming. Most of what I gleaned from my supervisor’s information letter was that people anticipate it being much colder than what it is and thus, bring far too much cold-weather clothing. While the average temps are anywhere from 0-10 F when I get there, they quickly “warm up” for the summer to 30-35F. I also learned that we drive vans for the first couple months, but when things start melting and getting muddy around McMurdo Station, we switch to the Deltas (which I pictured in the last post). There was also frequent mention of care packages (hint, hint).

REI’s big garage sale and Labor Day Sale was perfect timing. I’m in the market for a fair number of goods to make my trip down there more enjoyable. I’ve also ordered an mp3 player and have to get a wireless adapter so I can listen to music while I’m driving (from what I hear, it helps pass the time on those 12 hour shifts when we’re sick of listening to NPR or the Scott Base’s 80’s music). And, I stopped at Target for a bunch of toiletries to send to myself when I’m down there.

Crazy, huh? At the beginning of the year, I wouldn’t have thought that I would have been in New Zealand in October. Now I’m waiting for my Ice Luggage Tags (a hot commodity) and my tickets to arrive in the mail.

So, retuning to my un-ugly October theme, this October will definitely put a new perspective on the month. First, of all, when I get to the southern hemisphere, it will be spring; not autumn. After, I arrive to McMurdo, on October 10, I am hoping that Laura’s flight arrives on time on October 17, so she can celebrate my birthday with me that day! That would be a great birthday present!