When I was preparing to come here, I had in mind the whole time Antarctica as a place. My project was based around the environment – ice and light movement, and their transience and dynamic nature in relation to glass making and object ownership. This is summer here and everything is indeed very obviously in continual movement….3 weeks before I arrived, the sea around Rothera was completely frozen, now huge ice bergs that are here one minute can either slowly drift away or let out a thunderous roar and quite literally turn upside down and implode in front of your eyes. Sea ice gently chinks together and ice drips everywhere.
Most of the scientific field trips take place in the summer, so groups of 2-4 scientists and field assistants (very clever fit young people who know how to avoid falling down a crevasse and climb mountains, ski, and generally make sure everyone stays alive) have to be transported out by little twin otter planes to remote locations where they can take measurements and collect data. Weather here changes by the hour though and plans change continually – no one seems unduly stressed by having to postpone their project though, its just part of being here.
Antarctica is beginning unravel…. it means more than just the physical environment, it's the people here that are equally dynamic. There are builders, plumbers, glaciologists, electricians, biologists, boat handlers, physicists, engineers, meteorologists, maintenance staff, radio communication controllers, pilots, chefs, divers. Every time I sit down next to someone, I learn something new. Exchanges of information, the unselfish sharing of knowledge, and the feeling of everyone working together towards a common goal in an isolated place is giving the drama of the environment some competition.
Christmas came and went….Cyril, the French chef made a brilliant dinner and gave us a Queens speech….don't ask!
Kirk took Simon, Chris,Titus and me down an ice crevasse and Ally, Matt and I built a snow rabbit with wings and big breasts.
