May I be antarctica bound?

[Bobtheduck]

Well, I have been talking to a friend about antarctica... It seems that you can actually get a janitorial or food preperation job at one of the research stations, and according to one person, you get paid for every hour you're there (that would mean almost 7500 in 2 months) and free room and board. If I go during the summer (December and January, I figure) or even during the spring and summer, or would it be summer and fall (half the year, whichever is passable by plane), it will simply be like california in the winter (if I'm on one of the outermost stations) and I'll get a lot of money, free room and board, and a beautiful landscape to explore (Though it's true, a lot of people may not consider a tundra "beautiful" I love the mountains and antarctica is full of them)

I thought he was crazy when he first started talking about it. Whenever I had heard about Antarctica before, it was always the people who died in the expiditions there... I didn't realize how many people actually lived there, and it's very nice, though probably a bit boring for the support crew (repair people, janitors, cooks, etc...)

This pic isn't the one I was looking for (I wanted one where the snow was gone, but that is probably rather rare) http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/scenic/mountains/antarctica_mountains_8.htm

Maybe the subject was misleading since I don't even have any definite plans, and I definately haven't applied for any positions yet... It's just something I'm thinking about...

If I can only go in periods of 6 months or larger ( the winter crew has to be there for 7 months because there is no way out until summer, I guess... I wouldn't do that, I need sunlight!!) that would make it harder for me, but I would still consider it.

I really hope the "paid for every hour" thing is accurate... I could actually use that to put me through college, and wouldn't THAT be something to have on your resumeé or application. "I last worked... In antarctica!!" That would be awesome... Anyhow, what do all of you think?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

wow... now im interested O.o

[Slater]

you wanna know why they pay you for every hour you're there?

btw, I'm related to Richard E. Byrd.

[Ryupower]

You can actually be vegetarian there... if you eat algae

That's interesting, because the other week I was also studying Antarctica!

I was looking at a entry in Wikipedia about it (both, in German and in English).

It turns out that they actually have a currency down there...and you can take tours from south america there! :O

[c-girl]

>"< Wow! That's really cool! I never knew Antartica was actually such a beautiful place. I didn't even know people lived there, at least not for that long.. All I ever hear about Antartica is people studying animals there.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Bob, that would be an awesome experience if you did go. Pray about it and see what God says.

[Alice]

That sounds intensely cool.

It would be neat if it worked out. But probably hard, too, or the pay wouldn't be that good. ^^

[Azier the Swordsman]

Sounds interesting. Can I come with you?

[Ingemar]

>"< Wow! That's really cool! I never knew Antartica was actually such a beautiful place. I didn't even know people lived there, at least not for that long.. All I ever hear about Antartica is people studying animals there.

And monitoring climate change ^^;

Anyway, look at any current map or globe of Antarctica and you'll find no shortage of settlements in the periphery. Of course, there are no "countries" is Antarctica and all the settlements are owned by other countries all over the world. The only place, it looks, that is completely uninhabited is the center of the continent.

You'd better have God's favor on you for this, Bob. They don't call Antarctica the coldest, driest place on earth for nothing. Also, because of its extreme lattitude, days and nights will last MONTHS. Trust me--I've been to Anchorage (which isn't really that far north compared to the rest of Alaska) and I couldn't stand the three-hour-long nights (it was summer then). Of course, your circadian rhythm still functions well even without the environmental cues--just ask any seaman who goes on deployment and doesn't see the sun for weeks.

[Azier the Swordsman]

I would imagine it would be a tough place to live. That's why they pay so much.

[bigsleepj]

I hope you enjoy it. Strangely Antarctica is one of those places I feel attracted to visiting. But I'd much rather see Siberia first.

[Bobtheduck]

I just don't want to get "slotted" or caught in a whiteout, which I guess happens a lot... Man... I'll stay inside as much as possible...

[bigsleepj]

I just hope it includes an internet connection.

[termyt]

Sounds like a great summer job. Well, winter for those of us north of the equator. As long as there's internet.

[Bobtheduck]

Yeah... I'm sorta wondering how they'd do internet... It's pretty much impossible to get a geostationary orbit that close to the pole... I mean, that may be part of the high pay... No communication with the outside world...

I can guarantee you that cell phones don't work there...