The pins on the map are where I am planning to spend the night(s).

[I will be updating this post as things progress]

The plane ride from Sydney to Honolulu was a breeze. I had an entire middle row (3 seats) to myself, so I got some sleep. The vegan meals were great (I love Qantas for that reason alone), and there were these 2 kids sitting in front of me, maybe 16 years old, watching surfing videos on a laptop for at least a few hours. They were total surfer dudes, just brushing up on some “tape” before the big game on the North Shore.

The bus ride from the airport to Waikiki was all set to be completely uneventful, but then this super duper crazy got on the bus. Immediately she started going on about a restraining order against these guys that got on right after her. She said they mugged her, but they didn’t seem to know what she was talking about. Then she said a few things about people getting killed by the “Japs” during World War II right before she picked up a glove and waved it in the air while saying things I couldn’t understand. Just before her stop she said the word “rape” about 15 times and then, “Be accurate. You were either with ‘em rapin’ or you weren’t. Be accurate.” When she got up to leave I noticed one of her bags: UNIVERSITY OF PINK. That’s me!!

Finally the bus pulled up to Waikiki beach and I departed. I found a hostel within a few minutes and made my way out to the beach. The sun was shining through big puffy white clouds and a light breeze kept everything nice and cool. I soaked up the sun.

Ahhhh.

I rented a bike around 4:30 and went in search of cellphone service. I found what I was looking for, but the store was closed. I’m going back tomorrow and getting it all straightened out before Robin gets here (around 4pm) so we can just grab her shit and get our asses to the North Shore!

The fun has only just begun.

[side note: The computers at my hostel are in the front office, and the dude behind the counter has been listening to old school Metallica (To Live Is To Die), Pantera (Fucking Hostile), and now I think he's finishing it off with some Priest! Can you feel the rage?]

Friday night I went out to Cinema Paradiso to see “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” on a whim (it was wonderful, by the way). I got to the theater with plenty of time, so I called and talked to Meredith and Christine for a bit. Then I ran into some people that I’d hitched with earlier that day (who were wait-listed for the movie) and ended up talking with them until the last possible minute. When I finally got into the theater I took the only available seat up front and was instantly surrounded by a rowdy bunch of British girls. I asked them what their story was: they said it was “her birthday” (pointing to the girl at the end) and then they asked me if I wanted to help them “move house” the next day.

HELL. YES.

A lot of people in the world hate moving. I love it. It’s a time to really, ruthlessly, go through your crap and simplify. It’s a time to figure out what is important to you and trim the fat. It’s a time to see how big the “goodwill” pile can get. And on top of all that, you get to spend quality time with friends. Sure, there might be some drama, tensions are high, tempers are short, and it’s not completely 100% fun 100% of the time, but that’s all part of the awesomeness. There was absolutely no way I could refuse an offer to help these girls move.

I got to their house (just down the road from the hostel) a little after noon. I packed things, lifted things, drove things, folded things, joked things, and broke things (jk) until about 5pm. Honestly, it was like we were best friends.

At one point a few of us went to get a bed from some other house. We loaded it up in the van and I rode back to the house all by myself in the back, rolling around on the mattress. For a second there I was completely in the moment, for a second there I forgot that I had just spent 5 months in Antarctica, and for a second there I was just helping some friends move.

For a second there I wasn’t a tourist anymore.

That’s right. I’m back for another season on the Ice. This year I’m a General Assistant to the Plumbers, which is SO much better than working in the Kitchen. If you feel like sending me a postcard or something, you can send it to the following address:

Eli Duke, RPSC
McMurdo Station
PSC 469 Box 700
APO AP 96599-1035

If you’re sending a package, use a padded evelope (it’ll get here faster) and don’t use packing peanuts. If you’d rather communicate with me electronically you can keep an eye on this blog, follow me on twitter, check out my photos, or chat with me online at 5pm on Saturdays (PDT).

UPDATE! I got a pager! You’re probably wondering what’s so cool about that (I mean, it’s almost 2010 for crying out loud). Well, first off, it lets my friends around town find me if they need to, but more importantly it allows people back home (like you) to send me little messages. Just fire up a new email and put your message (200 characters max) in the subject line only (nothing in the body) and send it to 738@pg.mcmurdo.usap.gov.

One source of concern for me before I arrived was my living situation. Last season Meredith and I lived in MMI and I totally took that for granted. It was so awesome having a window and only 1 roommate to deal with rather than 3, which would have been the case if I lived in 155. This year I’m flying solo, so I thought for sure they would throw me in 155 with the rest of the rabble rousers. When I finally got my room assignment after the arrival briefing, I sorta freaked out a bit: I was SO excited. The craziest part, though, is that I don’t even have a roommate. MMI is usually reserved for couples, and they threw me in there by myself, at least for now.

Another thing I wasn’t to sure of until the day I arrived was what I’d actually be doing this season. Sure, I knew I was gonna be an FEMC GA (Facilities-Engineering-Maintenance-and-Construction General Assistant), but what exactly would I be doing? Turns out I’m gonna be a plumber (at least for now), and it’s awesome. I’ve had 2 days of work so far: it’s really laid back and the rest of the plumbers are a bunch of hilarious, crusty old men (Walter, Doug, Tim, Tom, etc). I’m really enjoying being the new guy.

They should have sent a poet.

Also, I think I had an epiphany tonight: we are science-fiction. It ties together so many of the thoughts. I really think that THIS is the book that I will right. I know that I’ve said that before, and I really hope I’m not calling sheep here, but this time I feel a closer connection with this concept because it is one that is based in reality. It’s not a story of make believe, it is a look at truth from a different perspective.

We arrived around 11am this morning and we’ve got the rest of the day to relax and let some of the stress out. I unpacked a bit at the YMCA, took a shower, and then got sushi with 2 deployment buddies. From there we stopped by New World to get a few groceries and I ran into Evan (you know, from before), and he and I walked back to the Botanic Gardens and had a picnic by the river (hummus, avocado, and tomato sandwiches; apples; tangelos).

Tomorrow afternoon we’ll all shuttle back to the CDC (clothing distribution center) to be outfitted with our ECW (extreme cold weather) gear. The rest of that day is ours as we see fit (maybe we’ll hit up Sumner Beach), and then, if all goes as planned, we’ll be shipped off to the ice the following morning (the 13th).

It’s a short stay here in CHC, I’m gonna do everything I can to appreciate the stars while I still have them.

Well, here I am, a year later and hours away from reliving that experience from the other side of the coin. This year I’ll be one of the veterans, I’ll be the one telling the fingies [newbies], “Yeah, I was a DA last year,” and they’ll be the ones thinking, “Man, what was it like last year? What would it be like to come back for a 2nd season?”

It will be surreal for a few days, just like it was last year, but within a matter of weeks I’ll have settled into a routine and things will seem totally normal: just another summer in Antarctica.

after that we’ll drop shane off at the airport, and then meredith and i will check out the north end of south island for another 2 weeks before heading to australia for 1 week. after sydney and the surrounding area, we’ll fly back to seattle for 2 days (23 march – 25 march) before leaving again for a month in thailand (26 march – 25 april). after that, i’ll be back in seattle for another week before heading to denver to record with the legendary beep beeps for a month. from there i’ll hitch home to indiana for about 2 weeks and then hitch back to seattle by the 1st of july.

needless to say, i’ll be pretty damn busy for the next 3 months, and i won’t be blogging or flickring very much (or at all). so, the best way to know what i’m doing RIGHT NOW is with twitter. check it out!

twitter.com/elisfanclub

or, you can give me a call on my new cell phone. incoming txt and calls are completely free for me, so txt me or ring me up anytime and i’d be happy to chat.

the first 2 numbers are the NZ or Thai country code, the next 2 are my area code, and the following 7 are my local number. i’m not an expert on making international calls, so your guess is as good as mine as far what you need to do on your end.

I’M BACK IN THE STATES!! so now i have a new “local” US number (bookis’ old number from utah), so feel free to call or text all you like. i’m still getting the hang of the “slide”, so if i hang up on you just call back.

801 953 7114

just tears.

and then i distance myself even further because i know that if i get any closer i’ll completely break down and start sobbing, uncontrollably. then i won’t even be able to see their faces one last time because my vision will be clouded with tears. so, i say what i can, hold back the rest, and hope that it’s good enough for them.

* * *

last night, just before bed, i saw the sun set again for the first time in 117 days. it was only for a few seconds, but it was exactly what i needed. i watched it glide past Mt. Discovery, swinging low on the horizon, as meredith and i climbed Ob Hill once last time. it hugged the edge of Black Island, as it swept south of the station. then, all of a sudden, it disappeared behind the tallest peak right in the middle of Black Island. for a moment it was gone, for only a moment. i tried so hard to remember all i could at that point, to remember everything about this place and why i love it so much. and then, before i even had a chance to think, it poked it’s head around the other side. i won’t see another one of those for a long time.

* * *

we’re all packed, our room is in order and we have a shuttle to the airfield in about an hour. we just ate brunch for the last time, and right now i’m sitting down in the computer kiosk on Highway 1 for the last time. all day yesterday we kept talking about our last “this” and our last “that”. our last dish and our last crap… in Antarctica.

i really hope to come back here again next season, hopefully in the Carp Shop, but maybe somewhere else if that doesn’t work out. i hope that my friends make it back as well.