Whoa! So so so amazing! Looking forward to your stories. Safe travels.
There are jobs in Antarctica?*
*Apologies if this has been mentioned before. I haven’t read the thread.
Shoveling driveways
Do they allow smoking at all?
If so, smokers might have to go outside…where there’s an awesome incentive to quit!
On the North Slope there are places with a no smoking signs on the exit door. As you are leaving. They do not want people flipping cig butts on the ice as there is a supper strict no littering policy. Smoking is indoors only for the most part.
Your OP made me think of This
If anyone hasn’t checked it out before, there’s a wealth of information from the perspective of Antarctican workers at Big Dead Place. Watch out for anyone with a hammer.
Really, really excited for you, that you’re getting a dream job. I’m also a bit envious that you’ll be seeing Antarctica.
Hi fifty-six, any updates? May 8th is right around the corner. Are you doing anything now, that you won’t have the chance to once you deploy?
Ugg. I am so tired of talking about the PQ process. I was waiting till I was done with it to offer any further updates. But I will fill you all in with a few details.
I had to take another urine test. Not a drug screen but one that tests for bacteria because they felt the sample was not a clean catch or there was some sort of contamination along the way. I shoudl get the results back for that today.
For dental I got a scary letter saying I was NPQed for a lower third molar. After a mass email campaign form multiple parties including one of my dentists I found that I was able to get a waver to leave it in as it is healthy. The waver process involves and required me to get a Notarized form and fax it and my contractor to fill out forms and another doctor in Texas to sign it and the it is sent off to Washington DC. I should know the results today. I was advised to leave it in if I can but we are close to the departure date and I made an appointment anyhow to get it pulled tomorrow if the process gets held up . Here is one part of the whole tooth conversation.
Hi Michael,
After talking with our dentist, she mentioned that technically, your
third molar is healthy in that it does not have a cavity or periodontal
disease.
The National Science Foundation however, has set guidelines not made
available to the treating dentist regarding different conditions in the
mouth. One of their guidelines is that the applicant is “Not Physically
Qualified” if the following condition is present: “Lack of opposing
occlusion in the case of a nonfunctioning third molar.”
Basically, what that means is that his lower right third molar has
nothing to bite against. Unfortunately, the only reasonable “cure” for
this is to have it extracted.
V. LEE SOMBITO
Coordinator I
Antarctic Support Contract (ASC Medical)
The PQ process has kept me super buzy. Looking back I should have just flown to Denver and used their doctors. My town has all the capacity and skilled dentists and Doctors but no once place can do it all. I have been driving around faxing some forms that need faxing scanning the ones needing scanning making appointments at 2 separate dentists and a clinic and the hospital. And the Small Native clinic has made a few mistakes by missing lab results and inability to preforn certain tests. And now I will have to fill out a ton of forms and get my 15 bills together to get reimbursed.
I am not bitching. I didn’t post an update because I was concerned I would sound that way. It has been fun and exciting I am however getting a little anxious and tired form the PQ process. I am ready to get my tickets and if I have to pull a healthy wisdom tooth tomorrow morning I will.
I am fully PQed!!!
Hell Yeah!!
I am officially going to at least three US Antarctic stations and all seven continents. I am about to embark on a endeavor that is even better than my dreams. It has been a tough ride through life and I have done everything I have ever set out to do and more, sometime much less. A wild rollarcoaster ride. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
Last job was in the Aleutians now off to Antarctica and wherever.
I decided quite a few years ago that I was done cooking. I just really got board of it and saw no future. I took one last breath and decided if i could find some adventure in it. And I have.
I am sorry about the gloating but I have really worked toward this for a long time and to be able to pass an NACI, get a passport, have a valid drivers license, all physicals and dental work and pay for the thousands of dollars it took out of pocket, have a stellar resume, have my family taken care of and in order, be able to fax and scan documents and answer phone calls and emails promptly and properly is a testament to the change of direction I have taken with my life.
My family and children are happy for me. The will miss me but the lengthy time off I usually manage is wonderful. I get to pull all my energy into them and be fully available when I am home. I think they are proud.
I will probably open up a new thread about my travels and experiences to Antarctica and other places as the current title is no longer valid. I have the job. that is if the board is interested. It will be ten months worth. I do not have a good idea of a proper title. Antarctica travels?
Oh I leave probably the 4th of May.
I am not bringing my large camera. to bulky. I am gonna buy a Fuji X20. I hope that will suffice.
As of now I will probably only post about Antarctica here. I really do not like the blog format.
I keep imagining a taco truck in Antarctica. Congratulations, man. You’ve earned it 
Watch out for the 20 ft. electric penquins!
This is so exciting! Looking forward to the new thread.
I just got my tickets.
10182 miles just to get to Palmer station from Homer,Alaska. 642 of it is Nautical miles traveling through the Drake Passage. Then I have to get back and then to McMurdo and back.
I may need a reminder but I will do it.
**[/B
April 11 2013
Journal entry excerpt:
We passed through The Straights of Magellan earlier this evening and are now well into the infamous Drake Passage. We have hit a few rough spots but overall the sea has been kind. So Far.
The night prior to departure I visited the Statue of Ferdinand Magellan in the Plaza de Armas. Punta Arenas, Chile. A beautiful darkly oxidized statue with a bright toe.
Local legend says that rubbin’ Magellen’s toe will assure that you will return to Punta Arenas. I rubbed it indeed. Was it in hopes of just the return home or to have another chance to return to Antartica, a land which I have not yet seen?
As a cook timing is everything. Well, I suppose it is more than that as one can not eat time. But I have lost track. Homer-Anchorage-Seattle-Denver-Dallas-Miami-Santiago-Porta Mont-Purto Arenas-Magellan Straights-Drake Passage, and finally Palmer Station, Antarctica! I left home exactly a week ago Alaska time. We have several days left of travel. The days have at times dragged on peppered with new thrills and excitement. Time has lost much of its normal meaning. Events that took place just several days ago seem like months. Details nearly forgotten. I think the rocking and vastness of the seas change perspective. Even on a well charted course my experiences at sea have suggested that once out of site of land time goes adrift. It has nothing to make its grasp. No sure footing to march forward at its standard pace. Meandering much like the passengers of a rocking ship. Or maybe time is doing what it always does and it is me that is ebbing withing its constant flow. But most likely I am just tired and rambling.
I am volunteering with the science crew tonight. I took the midnight-4 am shift so I would be forced to sleep in small shifts throughout the day and not miss anything. I am launching data collectors into the sea. It is quite an interesting project. It seems there will be many opportunities to help with the science. Something I am really looking forward to.
A few notes on the travel.
My wisdom tooth developed dry socket and the pain is starting to ease after being nearly pushed to insanity on the Denver flight.
The Oxtail Stew at a Cuban restaurant in South Beach was fantastic and memorable.The Flan added new meaning to perfection. I found the place using my time honored food radar. Without Yelp at hand go to a popular hotspot. Go a block or two away from the action and ask a local. There must be no view or gimmicks. It should look kinda old. Ask the server what the popular dishes are. South Beach itself was exactly like a circus freekshow from the 30’s except the genetic mutations are uncomfortably favorable and the only cost to stare is your self esteem. The Chilean lamb at La Luna and Punta Arenas was fantastic coupled with a locally brewed beer. I payed for an upgrade on one of my long flights then promptly won 150 bucks on a scratch off. it payed for the upgrade then the flight got canceled I got refunded and issued complementary upgrade. Leaving the southern tip of south America. From one end of the road to another. I have been trying to make a play on Tom Bodett’s book “As far as you can go with out a passport.” As far as you can go with a passport? As you can see I am coming up dry.
5-13
Side note. I am about to pass lat. -59 my hometown is lat. 59. an item of person interest.
I have very limited communications. Just though would use a few of my valuable 20 MB allotment per day to share a journal entry.
Glorious!
Someone please tell me that I’m not the only one who thought that said debt collectors (the idea of it gave me the giggles something fierce!)
Thanks for sharing that with us! I can’t wait for the next update.
Well, I didn’t think that said debt collectors, but maybe others did.
I like fifty-six’s time-honored food radar. Thanks for sharing that.
I hope the wisdom tooth doesn’t give you troubles.
Thanks for the update. Looking forward to more. May you have fair winds and following seas. Oh, and BTW, I finally will visit Alaska in July - my final, 50th state! I am excited about that. Hawaii was my 1st state - I was born in the Philippines.