Life on the Ice

Many people wonder what there actually is to do here. Well after a 12 hour work day, there are still many things to be done, and most all of its free. Here are some of the more popular and bizarre things:

~Gerbil gym. This small building is packed with exercise machines, small fogged over windows, and suprisingly little body odor.

~Main gym. A bit more of a walk, a half tube in shape, and home to soccer night, basketball night, volleyball night, Zumba classes, the annual Halloween party and a rock climbing wall.

~Bar hopping. There are two bars (Gallagher's and Southern Exposure) and a Coffeehouse (coffee, wine and whiskey). They're all next to each other, so there's not much hopping to be done. Just make sure the big red parka that you take is your own. Open days for night crews. Suitable in flipflops.

~Building 063. Recently condemned when asbestos was found after part of the roof collapsed. Used to house the weight room, a ceramics studio and world's oldest Brunswick manual set pins bowling alley in the world. Bummer.

~Science lectures every Sunday and Wednesday night, where members of the scientific community present the work they are conducting down here.

~Tap dancing classes.

~Yoga classes. Usually in the chapel, but sometimes held in the bar.

~Craft room. Haven't explored this since the hour before the halloween party.

~Movies. Shown constantly on television, often at the Coffeehouse, and occasionally in the Galley.

~Travelogues. People give presentations on the places they've traveled. I gave one on Borneo.

~Hiking and Skiing. There are about a half dozen trails around the station that one can explore. Varying in duration and difficulty.

~Scott base. The New Zealand base, which is located 2 miles from here, hosts an American night every Thursday night. They invite us over to their pub. $1.60 a beer.

~Foosball, billards, pingpong. Can be found in nearly all the lounges and at the bar. I'm specializing in Foosball, but there is some tough competition. I chaulk this up to being a rookie on the Ice. My learning curve is sharp and I am confident.

~Trails. A network of short trails around the station for hiking and cross-country skiing.