Comments on: What’s so great about Antarctica?

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:09:38 +0000

hey there,

nice blog! i am a fellow portlander and about to deploy to antarctica for the first time. i’ll be a janitor at mcmurdo. i am really excited but also pretty nervous so it’s great to read a post about all the things that you love about it down there.

if you have any general “tips” i would be happy to hear them, although i realize that’s pretty vague. is there anything you really wish you’d known before heading down the first time, or anything really important to pack/not pack besides what they tell you in the deployment packet? also, how hard is it to get unemployment when you leave?

anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

-Lauren

By: eli

eli — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:18:58 +0000

I’m not really sure where Liopard is coming from, but I think that sounds awesome Kirk. Good Luck!

By: liopard

liopard — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:27:27 +0000

i totally disagree with u how dumb

By: kirkfwatson

kirkfwatson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:11:06 +0000

Heyup Eli,
Sounds great the stuff your doing and many of the things you like about Antarctica are similar to myself. I have seen a bit of Macmurdo through the Werner Herzog film. I am at the British base Rothera at the moment and winter is three weeks in. I hope to make a film like Werner’s one day but here I am keeping a video blog of what the antarctic winter is like for our small base of 21 people.

Have fun
Kirk

By: Andyman

Andyman — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:41:57 +0000

I can totally relate, because it sounds a lot like camp. We worked probably 70-80 hour weeks, but since we were accompanied by other cool, active, “interested” people (the other counselors) and also working with kids, it was great. The community was awesome, and the landscape (mountains of colorado) was awesome. It is very believable to me that Antarctica is awesome. Although I think working with kids, playing games, might be more fun than washing dishes–although your experience is much more unique and adventurous overall. I mean…you’re in Antarctica for crap’s sake.

By: eli

eli — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:25:06 +0000

Sharon! I’m so happy to hear that someone’s on the same page as me. I’m still thinking about that post and what I want to add. I might turn it into an informational page or something. Thanks again for the kind words.

By: Sharon Heilman

Sharon Heilman — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:59:08 +0000

Eli, you painted a perfect picture of life on the Ice. I totally agree with you. I spent 6 seasons, 2000-2007, first as a DA, then as a shuttle driver. I reflect on the Ice EVERY day of my life. McMurdo life even pops up in my dreams. You said it so well!

PS – driving Ivan is really cool! As are driving the Deltas and the airporters (if the wheels don’t fall off).