February 20, 2012 Life at McMurdo Station

Life at McMurdo Station

Wow! It's hard to believe my time in McMurdo is coming to an end. From the moment I stepped off the plane it's been like a foot race - hurrying here, hurrying there, and trying to get everything done! In fact, it's been so busy, I've missed the 'Welcome to McMurdo' orientation tour -- not once, but twice!

So, what have I been doing - you ask? Great question! Join me as I share a bit of my McMurdo experience!

During my first month here, I've spent the majority of my time (on station) in three places:

My Dorm
The Galley
Crary Lab

A little taste of McMurdo Station. Home sweet home!

Here's a little taste of each:

Dorm Life

It's been quite a while since I've spent any time in a dorm (college days to be exact) but my transition back to dorm living went smoothly. There are over 12 dorms at McMurdo; mine was dorm #203C, room 107.

In front of my dorm room - #107.

I had two roommates:

Kim Goetz whom you've met in previous journals. She's the PhD student from UCSC.
Amy - who was my roommate for only a few weeks.

Roommates - Alex and Kim

Talk about tight quarters - not much room here! There were three twin beds (with one set of bunk beds) and guess who got the top bunk? Yep! Yours truly! Of course I didn't mind though because hot air rises and being next to the ceiling I was 'toasty' warm at night.

My dorm room and 'toasty' warm bunk - before it was made.

Galley

All of our meals were eaten in the galley - building 155. It is centrally located and very easy to spot. It's the big blue building!

If you go hungry at McMurdo - it's your own fault... because there is NO lack of food at the station. In fact, it seemed that every time I turned around it was time to eat - and what I found myself eating most of was baked goods. So I went in search of who was behind all of this 'yummyness'.

Ari and Heather were the culprits!

Heather making a scrumptious chocolate cake with vanilla frosting - with cookie crumbs on the side. Doesn't that look delicious!

Ari stands next to the rack of cornbread she has just made. Next to her is Brian - who was from Memphis! Yea Memphis!

Crary Science and Engineering Center - or just Crary Lab

The laboratory is named in honor of geophysicist and glaciologist Albert P. Crary (1911-1987), the first person to set foot on both the North and South Poles. It has five pods and houses a state-of-the-art research facility. The largest section - Biology - is where the Weddell seal team has called home for the past 6 weeks.

Crary Lab

I've come a long way from my basement office at the Pink Palace - where I have no window! Here I have a spectacular view – I must enjoy it while I have it!