Category: Antarctica

For seven years, from the mid 1980’s until the early 90’s, I worked at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This is the Antarctica I saw working in a kitchen feeding 1200 people in summer, and 200 in winter. Antarctica records the tics and quirks of a world of compulsion – military personnel were sent without choice – and abdication. For many civilians it was an exile of ready money and fled responsibilities. It’s not completely truthful. Some of what occurred is so bizarre as to be not credible and has been omitted. This is one person’s story. It’s not a film. It’s a series of still photographs. The first three posts are scene setting. Because we were all very young – names have been changed – youth provides both an excuse and explanation for what later may cause cringe. Anyone who was there will recognise these obvious contrivances.

Antarctica

Entry/Exit

Posted on September 21, 2015September 21, 2015 by tq1695

The lurching stops
eager first timers stand up
one final lurch tosses me sideways.
Sophomores and greater, laugh
“ fin gees,” echoes through the cabin.

fng
[ fin gee]
noun
Antarctic slang : abbreviation for fucken new guy.

The man says, “ bags ain’t ready man
go to chow
bags might be dragged den.”
Where to collect them ?
“there man …… .”
he smiles and walks to an empty space
“dey be here …. when dey here.”
He is tall, beautiful and black, with fabulous teeth. And rhythm
the women can’t keep their eyes from him.

In the mess hall everybody stands in line
aluminium tray in hand
shuffling slowly forward
fans waiting admission to the game.

“ It’s not months
it’s not weeks
it’s not days
IT’S FUCKING MINUTES.”
A man rushes up the in corridor
and down the out corridor
holding a wrist watch aloft and pointing at the hands.
“Going home,” says the person behind me
“ winter does that to people.” For the backstory click Backstage

Antarctica

Bipolar

Posted on September 18, 2015September 17, 2015 by tq1695

In the second month of spring
Every year for seven years
flight to the cold
Antarctica
heroes and memories. Mistakes and ghosts.

The aircraft – squat and huge
lands on frozen ocean.
Displacement
at the bottom of the world
order is undemocratic.
Ice makes the rules.

Experienced old hands
saunter to waiting transport.
Newcomers scan the horizon
capturing for the first time
a sight seen many times
the historic peninsula
surrounded on three sides by water
and three dimensions by legend.
To the south the fabled landmark
object of the famous trek to immortality.

History is a subdued bystander
to drinking
to pool playing
to first year university high spirits
to looked away from reality.

Most come for the money and to escape
from cul de sac lives
unhappy apartments
rust belt unemployment.
Each year’s arrival will be the last
each year’s departure the penultimate.

For the story behind a story click Backstage

Antarctica

Credentials

Posted on September 16, 2015September 22, 2015 by tq1695

The clothes are heavy
instructions explicit
ECW clothing must be worn on embarkation
ECW: Extreme Cold Weather.

Identification is presented
admission granted to departure hall
“ Place all baggage in front of the line.
Stand in line, behind the line ”
the tone says : you’re part of the military now.
“ Any contraband may be placed in the amnesty box”
I wonder : has marijuana ever last chanced the box?
“ Do not interact with the dog”
interact : military speak for pat.
Not guilty.

“Proceed to the bus”
an 800m drive to the tarmac
it is forbidden to walk.
Hurry up and wait
a hundred people are penned – literally.
Waist high wire barricades form quarantine.
newby’s find one another and huddle
old stagers mull together murmuring nonchalance.
A confident hand is thrust forward
“ Steven……….your first time?”
“yes.”
I ask the reflexive question
“my fourth.”
Conversation scrambles for loose change of trivia
it doesn’t matter
he has gone.
Mission accomplished.

For the story behind a story click Backstage