Social and Antisocial

Since this place is so incredibly isolated and mostly cut off from the outside world… let me try that again.

The culture built here came from isolation and being cut off from the outside world. In the recent years internet has become more available and given those here a connection to things not Antarctica. Even with the limited connection we have things here hold some traditional value.

Meaning, people here intertwine in unique ways. Some of us work closely together. Some of us live closely together. These two groups generally don’t cross over. As an example, I work for Fleet Ops. We have about 30 people in our department working in several different locations. We have main town which is just called town; McMurdo. Several people operate loaders, motor graders, cranes, etc. for what is needed in town. Road maintenance, ditch maintenance, snow removal, water mitigation, ice pier construction, container movements, and the list goes on. Out in the shelf Fleet Ops has a few locations; Phoenix Airfield, Williams Ski-Way, and LDB (NASA’s Long Duration Balloon). We also do random other things on the shelf and the sea ice.

Those of us roomed together don’t work directly together. I don’t believe by design, just by happenstance. But I’m not 100% sure on that. I am grateful I don’t live with the people I work with. My roommates however are from different departments. One is a “fuelly” he transports and delivers fuel to various places on station and the shelf. Another is a “carp” Carpenter. He does Jesus’s work!! Ba-hahahahaha!! The other is a kiwi. He’s from New Zealand and works for a kiwi contractor that’s been building the new dorm building. He’s a painter, but apparently does other drywall stuff. Kiwis sound like Australians but talk with a slightly different accent and so fast I need a translator!! Think of an Aussie auctioneer!!

For social activities there are plenty of things to get involved with. People put on forma l and informal classes. The scientist and outdoor people will talk about outdoor survival, local wild life, do tours of the sea ice, etc. The informal stuff is put on by people working here. There are sewing classes, yoga, weightlifting, volleyball, witchcraft, Sunday church, etc. basically anything you can think of someone puts on a class or group for it. Even underwater basket weaving. There was only one of those classes. They all froze to death! Just kidding!!

There are dozens of social activities each week. So, not meeting people has been my own doing. I still don’t have the desire!

BUT, I did go out last Friday night to one of our bars. The station has to bars, but since some people can’t behave, it’s all BYOB. They sell mock tales and NA beers/drinks but the alcohols sales have ended. AND soon hard alcohol will no longer be sold here because people still can’t behave themselves. The few ruin it for the rest; happens here too.

I went out because one of my coworkers plays instruments and it was his last time playing before leaving here shortly. Musically talented people here puts band together and play. From what o heard that night, event the musically non-talented play and sing!! Think full band karaoke night!! Some wrote their own songs. Others play covers. The two bands I listened to were a mix of entertainment and unbearable noise. From my perspective anyway! One played parody covers. They used well known songs to play Antarctica specific music. One was about Ivan the Terror Bus that was retired last year. I have been told a little bit about this bus but I have not seen it. It was apparently on the continent for about 30 years transporting people around station. I’m assuming mostly from town to the shelf. It’s rumored to be in Christchurch. I’ll snap a photo if I see when on my return home. Long story short this band played a number of songs that people who’ve been here a number of years could relate to. Another of their songs was about the birds here called Skua. Apparently they get bold, like seagulls and will dive bomb if they think you have food or if you are near their nests. I heard someone talking about a Skua that years ago that attacked someone and they hid under a vehicle until the bird went away!

The other band with an unknown name played loud and obnoxious punk music… I left!! Not because punk is bad. But the mix/levels of the instruments was bad.

Come New Year we will have “Ice Stock” the annual summer party where many of the stations bands play. I’m excited for that; Pneuma will party again!

Not sure if I mentioned it last post but another cool thing that I haven’t done is the “Ob Tube” (and didn’t do before the ice got too thin). A tube put through the ice into the sea water below so people can climb down and see what’s below. I have seen photos of what was seen under the ice!

There are a number of very cool things available here. And the isolation helps people get creative and do different things and think differently. It’s like going back in time before everyone stared at their phones.

But, I have recently started creating music. More specifically taking ideas I’ve had and putting them into various LLM sites to help write lyrics then plugging those into another LLM to help write the music and put it all together. So basically I’m the spark and prompt writer. So far I have a few bangers!! Once they are polished I’ll see if I can share them here. As a forewarning; they will be adult themed and funny (for me anyway)!! And that’s for the most part. I might include some more personal things; but humor is my goal. As a hint I’ve created a song about how I got ban from Antarctica. I’ll let your noodle bake on that for a while!! And once I have the ability it’ll get posted! And if I can’t post I’ll try to link. If I can’t link then sucks to suck!!

It is interesting though how this place is in modern times but also still has aspects of the past (especially the equipment!). Meaning our limited internet lets us connect to the outside world. And that limit also forces us to do things differently than the rest of the world. An almost village mentality where we create our own entertainment rather than sitting in front of the television and rotting our little brains!

While I remain anti social I still talk to people and get to know them and have wild weird conversations, and I like them. Maybe that’s why I don’t talk to many people down here. Many of them seem rather timid to my humor and personality. So, no sense in making people dislike me!! Especially in such a small community.

Very soon, December 16 marks my half way home date. Meaning I’ve got my half way point for being on the Ice McMuado. But, I’ll elaborate on that soon! My travel home may include a few days in New Zeland for personal recovery and a slow integration back into the real world. And if possible a stop in Texas to get my PQ (Physical Qualification) done for next year. At the moment, I’m planning on returning for another summer. There are more factors that may change my mind, so I’ll keep you all apprised as things move forward.

This website isn’t only about Antarctica though. I’ll have to post some other Pneuma in the future!!

I’ve gotten feed back on a few songs from one person. I’m glad she enjoyed some of them. I’m going to continue “prompting” because I am making stuff I like! Very selfish I know!!