Where we live, eat and play

November 15, 2008

To whom it may concern,


You are about to read our first journal. This journal is written for many reasons. The main reason is for the families back home to see what we are doing day to day. The other reason is so next year we have something to look back on. First part of the post will be for the families, second part will be boring work talk.

I am writing from Antarctica. We are in a world that not many people know much about. This is McMurdo station, our new home. The big white building almost in the center of the picture is 155. This is the heart of our town. Inside is the galley, store, computer lounge, dorm and many offices. Most of us sleep in this dorm. To the left is a group of 12 buildings these are all dorms. The pink building to the right of 155 is Medical. The blue roof below that is Gallagher’s this is one of 3 bars on station. Don’t worry they serve none alcoholic beverages, because here at McMurdo we don’t drink. If you believe that I have some ocean front property in Ohio I would like to sell you. The big grey building is the Crary labs the science lab. This is the reason were here, to support science.

Now that you see were we live let me tell you what we do. We work for a company called NANA, contracted out by Raytheon to do all the dirty work. NANA takes care of the housing side of the operation. We are a small group of people within NANA, 22 people to be exact. We are different nationalities, we have various beliefs. Half the group is male the other half female. Then we have Eddie were he falls into both categories. We all have many ways we are different but we all have at least one thing in common. We all chased our dream and it brought us here. Except for Eddie he came for the surgery (enough jokes about Eddie). Even though we are a small group of people, we came here for a job. We are the janitors of McMurdo and it’s not a glamorous job. Yes we scrub toilets, we sweep floors and tons of trash, and we do it with a smile. Why, because were here in Antarctica. We are proud to be were we are. We are proud to do what we do. We work hard, long hours, long weeks, short weekends, and with small checks.

We didn’t come here to get rich, with money. The memories of this experience and the friendships we will acquire will last a life time. For generations our families and our kids will be looking at our pictures, wishing they could go were we have been. In years we will look back at this time of our life and be amazed that we were at Antarctica, and that is priceless.

Follow us on our journey. Let us be your eyes to a world not seen. Read our stories, feel our pain of being away. See what we go through at McMurdo. Support us in what we do. You might not like the fact that your little girl, boy, husband or wife traveled so far from home. Doesn’t mean that you can’t help them get through it. Love them for who they are, love them for what they are doing. Tell them you miss them. With out your support it just makes this a lot harder to deal with. And please if Eddie has a family please take him back we don’t want him here any more.

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Todays weather: mostly clear, -10c/+14
What was for lunch: Hot Dogs
What was for dinner: Chicken Parmesan with Marinara sauce

Our family is now complete. The last Jano, LaVonne flew in yesterday, today she will start working. Jeff and Nate were off for Sunday run. The station is running out of simple green, we just ordered the last 5 gallons