Turf in Antarctica?: I am still here!

So sorry for the delay in posts. It is hard to believe just how busy one can be at the bottom of the earth. I have been here at McMurdo Station 1 week now and all settled in. I am learning where things are a little more each day and getting into a routine of things. We have been working 9 hour days for the past week which does help to get used to life. I really shouldn't say working as it was more training than anything else. There have been times that I was able to work and help out with newly received cargo, helping other coworkers out on learning the equipment that we use down here, doing a little snow shoveling but there has been a lot of standing around trying to figure out what I could do or should do to help out.

Life here I would say is like living pretty much anywhere else in a small town of 1100. Everyone has their own responsibities and in the end we are all dependent on each other to succeed here. The food has been good, there have been a few items that have been a little less than desirable but other wise its good food to eat. There are 2 bars here with cheap beer so when you get a chance to drink and relax one can. I went last night to Scott Base which is run by New Zealand for American night which is the only night we can go over to their bar and drink. Scott Base is much smaller than McMurdo so we are restricted to when we go over.

I found out that I will be starting on night shift first at the airfield starting on Sunday night. I am looking forward to being out at the airfield working and getting to see the aircraft come and go along with working around them. The team I am on seems like a good group of individuals to work with. It is a small world down here when my supervisor graduated from the same high school I did, just 2 years earlier. I seemed to have gotten lucky with the living situation here. I have 3 roommates and we all seem to get along very well. 2 of my roommates flew in with me so I have gotten to know them very well.

The weather this week has been crazy. Sunday it was cold and windy but the sun was out, Monday was calm but cold, Tuesday and Wednesday it was very windy and cold. Some new snow fell on Tuesday and for a while we were placed under condition 2 weather which means poor visibility, cold temps and high winds. It was fun working out in it, today on the other hand is so nice I am wearing shorts walking around out side.

I hope that this finds everyone well and I hope to hear from you all soon.

Tim