New Work Schedules

We've just passed the midpoint of our summer season and tomorrow is SUMMER SOLSTICE, the day with the maximum amount of daylight possible. Considering that the sun last set some time in October, we aren't having longer days, but after tomorrow, we will be moving closer to our next sunset in February.

Along with solstice, this time of the season brings upon a change in work schedules. I now work the nightshift in Passenger Services and my work schedule is 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. With all of the daylight, the difficulty is not with the light, but with the fact that most of the members of our community sleep during regular night hours. It is always a little weird to wake up and encounter people drinking post-work beers.

Fortunately, Michiel's boss was kind enough to get approval for him to work on special projects during nightshift. Michiel and another Materialsperson work 7:30 pm to 5:30 am. It is a great relief that we can be together now and it has proven to be really nice to work nights, as the community is smaller and we have the chance to actually get to know our co-workers and fellow night-shifters.

In other Antarctic news, the Russian ice breaker ship that has been contracted by the National Science Foundation to clear a channel through the sea ice to our station has reached the ice edge and should arrive at the station on Christmas. Once there is a clear channel through the ice, the re-supply ship can get to McMurdo to deliver next year's food and supplies and remove the waste we have generated over the past year.

Nearly 60% of all of our waste is recycled and everyone in the community is expected to sort their trash into several categories - from paper, plastic and glass - to bio-waste (blood- or bodily fluid-stained), food, wood and cardboard.