During the summer campaign, we share our rooms by deploying the bunkbeds. As my boxes have not yet arrived (I will only be reassured on January 4), I can’t really “move in”, and decorations are kept to a bare minimum. The amount of storage there is in each 9m2 room impresses me though; they have been well designed! My room is unfortunately right next to the stairs, the alarm box, the ironing room and the 2 toilets, but I like the orientation which means I get sunlight all afternoon. For the first month I am with Claire from IPEV; it will then be Aude, a summer campaigner working on magnetism programs, and finally Laura, from the DC13 crew. There are up to 8 women living on the station during the summer; the logistics of having 1 shower for 8 of us involves some careful planning, especially as for cleaning purposes the living quarters are “off-grid” in the morning. However, it is nothing compared to the 3 showers for 30 men, only one of them being in the “bâtiment calme” where the rooms are! But then again, despite the fact that millions of tons of ice surround us, water is a scare commodity here, as we must burn up very precious fuel to thaw it. Long showers are definitely out of the question (and the smell of the water during the summer campaign ensures we do not get tempted…)!
To decorate my room I get a little unexpected help. I am incredibly lucky to receive more than 10 parcels as well as dozens of letters and postcards from friends and family, all at once at the end of January on one of the last planes. I preciously keep these to open them throughout the winter, knowing they will bring me so much comfort!!!
75 Degrees South 