A couple weeks in

It is bewildering to believe that I have been living in Antarctica for over three weeks.  In all honesty it does feel like I have been here longer.  I have finally figured out my way around the station.  Gotten into work routine. Gone on a few adventures.  Enjoyed the social scene.  Furthermore, I am making new friends along the way. 

 

This season there are only about 400 people on station which is a third of the normal size.  When I walk down a hallway in the main building on station there are times that everyone I walk by knows my name and I know theirs.  Everyone is intentional and inclusive.  Pretty much everyone who is down here have interesting stories of how they got here in addition to the remarkable things they have done with their lives. 

 

Take the other janitors.  In the other times of the year they do very different jobs.  One is a chef, one taught Biology at a collegiate level, one is a respiratory therapist, one is an accountant, one is a hair dresser, one is an archeologist, one worked in finance, one worked in food and beverage and then there is me…the boat girl.  It is fun to be working with such a variety of people. We all bring something different to the team.  We are all crazy, wacky, and unique but that is the type of people Antarctica attracts. 

 

It became apparent in our first meeting as Janitors that we were here to have fun while cleaning the station.  Doing the same tasks every day can get tedious so we do a variety of things to spice things up.  Here are some quick and easy ways you can have fun in Antarctica being a Janitor: 

1. Have a word of the day.  The more absurd the better.  Use as often as possible during the day.  Some examples are octothorp, nates, conglobate and defenestrate.  

2. Do Mad Libs daily.  After lunch all the janitors get together for a creative time creating Mad Libs and laugh our way to our afternoon tasks. 

3. Dress Up.  Every Wednesday is Whacky Wednesday.  This means that while we clean the main building in the afternoon we dress up in a costume of sorts 

4. Share Jokes. I have started writing up jokes on the mirrors of the bathrooms I get to clean.  

Some examples:

 

Unsafe acts will keep you in stitches.

 

I don’t trust stairs.  They are always up to something.

 

I was addicted to the hokey pokey…but I turned myself around.

 

I sold my vacuum cleaner; it was just gathering dust.  

 

When not working there are a variety of things to do.  In the past three weeks I have been able to hike, go for runs outside, play soccer, take a swing dance class, learn Muay Thai, do yoga and pilates, sing karaoke, attend an open Mic, visit the New Zealand Base over the hill, participate in a cribbage tournament and have stimulating conversations over meals.  It is a great place to try new things because everyone is so accepting and non-judgmental.  I have been able to put my philosophy of “Carpe Diem” to practice here often. 

 

Hope things are going well in your world!!

 

Lots of Joy, Gillian