From trekking around the world to shooting for the stars, via the South Pole (or close enough).
I always tell my friends that what feels like home must be somewhere in the middle of the oceans, as I was born in Belgium but grew up in the vast expanses of Quebec, Canada. I studied biochemistry in Quebec City, then moved back to Belgium to study medicine. I trained all over the south of the country in general internal medicine and then intensive care, but quickly once again had the itch to try a new place. So I ended up across the Channel in London. Three years down the line, having now started to train in expedition medicine, another adventure awaits…
I have always been more of a night-owl… Since I live a mirror life, I thought I might as well literally go and live upside down for a little while… Antarctica it will be! I will be “wintering-over” on the French-Italian station Concordia, one of the only 3 inland bases.
Through this blog I hope to share a little of this amazing experience, one that not many people get the chance to live.
I have trekked throughout the world, and loved every moment of it (blisters apart!) but through this voyage I hope to get closer to the stars. I will be doing research for the European Space Agency, as Antarctica is also called the “White Mars” and is a great space analogue. In Concordia, located on Dome C, our crew of 13 will see no sunlight for 3 months, the mean temperature will be -50°C (the coldest temperature recorded is -83°C without the windchill…brrr!), and we will have no possibility of evacuation for 9 months…
Adventure here I come!!!
Antarctica
Snow and ice as far as the eye can see
The winter-over team, ready to start!
75 Degrees South 