Whales!

There are whales in the bay!!! I just went out and saw them spraying water up through their blowholes! They didn't come to the surface enough for me to actually see them, but people saw flippers and stuff earlier today. The bay is about 1/4 open water at this point, and the whales are all hanging out just beyond the open water where there is still ice but its all broken up. Too cool!

Here are some pics :)

This is the view from my dorm (that's Mt. Discovery in the distance). Town itself isn't too pretty, but the view over the bay is incredible!



Closer up of Mt. Discovery.






More mountains across the bay-I think this looks like something out of a fairy tale.



Me with penguins! Emperor penguins!

Calm down, this post is not about penguins! (well, maybe it is, but mostly it isn't!)

Here's a little summary of general things that have been going on, as opposed to awesome seal/penguin/holiday super hero adventure stories.

I keep saying that things here are busy busy busy, and here is what they are busy with:

I've joined a dodgeball team. The team is strictly galley (kitchen) staff. I've found that I am quite nimble, but am not good at throwing the ball. We've all decided that I should be a sneaky assasin catcher (for those who don't know, in dodgeball you split the court in half. Each team has to stay on their own side, you get out if 1) the ball hits you or 2) someone catches the ball you threw. Therefore, you have to be nimble and either a good thrower or a good catcher). I've only taken one ball to the face, but its a soft ball, so it's all good. We are in first place right now and going into the championship tournament, so send good thoughts our way :)

I have also been playing indoor soccer. There was a league going on when I first got here, but all the teams were full, so I was a roaming sub. Now its open soccer every Friday, so you just show up and play. Its interesting, because we play on a basketball court, which is smaller and more slippery than a normal indoor soccer court. Here, too, I've only taken one ball to the face. Soccer balls are rather hard though, and it was kicked very forcefully. Don't worry though! My face is A-Ok, and it shouldn't effect that modeling contract I have with Gucci next summer. (For those who witnessed my ball-to-the-face outdoor Denver soccer move, this was totally wimpy).

I am taking Zumba, which is a type of dance aerobics with latin dance moves. The morning classes are usually full of the Kiwi army guys. They always make up in enthusiasm what they lack in rhythm, and the class is super fun. I just starting boxing lessons with one of the cooks and a photography class with one of the janos (janitors). I plan on coming home a Raging Bull type wedding photographer who can break it down on the dance floor when the entertainment needs a little rejuvenation. I'll have to charge double for the service.

I also just started belly dancing classes! It feels ridiculous, but we get to wear these jangly noise making belts, so thats a lot of fun! And, as of a few days ago, I am certified to use the indoor climbing wall. I thought there would be nothing to do here, but I don't think I could possibly do everything available!

I try to volunteer in other departments when I can. Its good for networking, seeing what other jobs I might like if I come back another season, and giving my heart that warm, fuzzy feeling.

And, of course, I try to get out of town whenever I can. (Here is the part where I write about penguins, even though I said I wouldn't). I got out twice recently and saw penguins both times! The first time I saw Emperors again. They were molting (shedding their feathers and growing new ones). When they do that they go far inland and stand basically still for about ten days. We couldn't get to close to them, and they just looked like statues. Still very pretty. The second time I wasn't that far from home, just a 15 minute walk to the edge of town, and I saw Adeli penguins! They are smaller than Emperors, and much more playful. They were all sleeping when we got there, but woke up when they heard us and started walking towards us! There was a large crack in the ice so they had to stop about 20 feet away, but they weren't scared at all! It was pretty amazing.

The sound is still mostly ice right now, but the ice breaker has been coming in every day, breaking up all the ice. The vessel that brings in supplies for winter is due in about two weeks, and when all the ice is gone and the boat comes in there will be much more wildlife in town. People have been talking about the possibility of whales coming in! I'm going to go out every chance I get to look.

There's only three weeks left, and I feel like I still have a lot to do. Time has just flown by! I guess that means I really am having fun :)

Icestock/Freezing Man

January is high summer down here, and as summer is the season for festivals the world round, McMurdians did not want to miss out! Enter Icestock and Freezing Man!

For those in the know, both names sounds familiar. But let me enlighten you, just in case. Icestock is, of course, the Antarctic version of Woodstock (oh yeah, that one!). Freezing Man might be a little more obscure. Every summer in the high desert of Arizona there is a music/free spirit festival called Burning Man. There they burn a giant effigy of a man, dress in wild costumes and listen to live music. Here at McMurdo, we froze a slightly smaller effigy of a man, dressed in wild costumes, and watched dances performances, as well as danced ourselves.

Icestock was on January 2nd (the day that the station celebrated the New year). Since everyone was at the show instead of stuffing their faces in the kitchen, we galley folk had very little work to do and got a few hours off to go see things! It was held outdoors and the weather was beautiful! There were people in costume, face-painters (I got my bald head painted), people selling wares they had made, and of course, a large stage from which many musicians played. After the outdoor part of the festival was over (about 7:00 pm) things moved into the bars, with acoustic and electric shows, depending on where one went.

Freezing Man was two days ago! It was held inside the "Big Gym" (not as big as you think...about the size of a basketball court-no bleachers). It was lit by black light, and even more people were in costume for this one! There were a few stage performances, including belly dancing, a play, and some badass break dancing (done by my roomie).

So! It may be cold here, it may be isolated, there may only be 1000 of us here! But we still like to celebrate the summer season just like everyone else :)



From Freezing Man.