Adelie Penguins, Cape Bird, ANTARCTICA

During the summer that I spent working in Antarctica at Scott Base, I got two helicopter trips – a perk that does its rounds through the staff list, so that someone could take advantage of a spare seat if it became available.

Just before I finished my season, I was given a trip to Cape Bird, about 20 minutes flight from the base. Ive always loved helicopters but in a massive army like 212 chopper flying is just so much better! With pristine air and virtually no noise pollution, you can always hear the choppers well before they come into view, which sounds so amazing. There was half a dozen of us that went, taking supplies to the small team of scientists based at the cape, who study the Adelie penguin colony there. We flew right beside the famous Mt Erubus to get to the cape, and though it doesnt look particularly 'mountainous', its massive when you're beside it. We also saw open water!! First time Id see any all summer. I was hoping for sightings of orca whales and the large emperor penguins, but it wasn't to be this day.

What we visited was an Adelie penguin colony. We could have walked along the beach to the colony as soon as we landed, but I was assured by the science team based there that they could show us a way better way, after a coffee and catch up - ok! So it was. We'd had a sharp uphill hike to their 'cabin', which wasnt unlike a typical kiwi bach inside, and when we set off to see the penguins we climbed more and got to the hilltop, and were presented with the most amazing, breath-taking view ever! Pebbly beach, open water, an enormous iceberg sitting just offshore and penguins – penguins, penguins, penguins! The whole beach was a noisy, moving wave of black and white, with the occasional brown of the ever present skuas, the Antarctic's own seagulls. But these guys don't fly in circles over the sea waiting for fish – they are scavenging, opportunistic predators, praying on penguin eggs or young chicks and, protecting their territory from humans! Skua's are partical 'kleptoparasites', they'll chase other birds to 'steal' their catches and the larger Skua's regularly kill and eat other adult birds. They're big, menacing looking and swoop down onto potential threats (like me, walking past them) like the territorial magpie.

Rules state that you're not to approach wildlife in Antarctica, up to about 10metres is fair, but the curious Adelies make sticking to that difficult because they come right up to you to investigate, or you're literally walking amongst them. They're used to human presence because the scientists spend many hours with them, but even those I saw outside Scott Base weren't bothered by human presence at all when we got amongst them with cameras. Adelies are the smallest penguins in Antarctica (about 70cm tall), distinctive with the white rings around their eyes and feathers at the base of the beak, hiding most of the red colour. So called when a French explorer, in the 1830s, named them after his wife. They dont drink water but eat snow, and have a gland in their nose that takes salt out of any sea water they swallow when feeding in the water.

Their nest building and guarding were incredible to watch. They build their nests from small, round pebbles and no penguin is safe from the opportunistic thieving beak that cant walk past an 'easy' stone. And the outcry when the stealing happens!! Its game on to get the stone back! They usually lay eggs in November, which hatch about 35 days later, so visiting in early January meant I saw the odd egg or two, and a couple of tiny chicks – peeking out from under a protective mother. After the female has laid her two eggs, the male then takes over, keeping the eggs warm with either his feet or laying on top of the eggs. During this time the female goes to feed, returning three weeks later to help with the chicks. Parent penguins teach survival to their chicks by making the chicks chase them for food, often only one chick will survive. Of all penguins, Adelie chicks grow the fastest.

We must have spent about 45 minutes on the beach, and it wasn't until the walk back to the helicopter that I had my first experience of a skua attack! Well, I wasn't actually hit by one, but it came close! I so wanted the perfect picture of it coming into swoop, but of course, it was too hard to do, and I ended up flapping my arms about for a break and making a bee-line for the chopper instead.

What an amazing trip to have my last weekend on the ice.   

Weddell Seals - ANTARCTICA

Its been years since the ice fully melted in McMurdo Sound, as far up as Scott Base. Apparently, thats typical of sea-ice, some years it melts, others not, regardless of global warming. Ive talked to people who saw killer whales from the base, 'back in the day' when there was a big melt, but with that not happening nowadays, its Weddell seals that come up through holes in the ice and laze about for days on end, like immobile, overweight sunbathers. We were able to watch them for most of the season because their pups are born during September and October. Around the 2 month mark the pups are weaned and by this time will have learnt how to swim, hunt and haul themselves out of the water so will be ready to go it alone!

Weddell seals live the furtherest south of any mammal and are known for their deep diving – up to 700m, and able to stay underwater for up to an hour at a time. They do this by lowering their breathing rate and forcing air out of their lungs, which collapses them. They can look for food -fish, squid and krill, with deep dives, or spend the time underwater looking for cracks in the sea ice, which can lead to new breathing holes.

The seals stick to the ice-shelf side of the pressure ridges – where ocean meets land, causing the ice to push up into varied sizes and shapes of natural icy sculptures. So while easy to see from base, which was higher than the ridges, you couldn't really access them when you walked around the pressure ridges, however, just before I left I went on a walking trip from the base to get a closer look at the seals. It was late season, so being allowed to walk on the pressure ridges was no-more for the real threat of falling through thin ice, but as per usual with all organized trips, we had the safety aspect covered with a field safety member leading us. We all kept an eye out for cracks in the ice and any that did show up on our path were probed if they needed double checking. Luckily, we had a marine scientist at the base for a project he was working on, so he came along to. I'd sat with him the night before at dinner and had a great chat with him. Not only was his marine science background interesting but he'd worked a lot with the late Sir Peter Blake, what an inspiring conversation we had!

After our pre-trip safety brief we set off, seal bound. It took around half an hour or so to get near to where the seals were, and we weren't disappointed – there was at least a dozen of them. They barely noticed us, as they lay snoring and dribbling in their sleep. Such little movement from these obese 'pinnipeds', except for the one we saw coming up for air in the one available breathing hole.

In the past they were hunted for oil, food and skins and though their numbers are stable now their mortality rate is naturally high because they use their teeth to scrape away ice when they're making breathing holes, so once their teeth are worn down, they struggle to survive though lack of food.

We spent about an hour observing the seals before following our tracks back to base. Yet another amazing day out, especially as it was my last day in Antarctica.   

Cape Evans - ANTARCTICA

One of the best things about working in Antarctica, for the New Zealand base, is the ability to get out and about off base. From organized days out, to simply the ‘freedom’ to roam about on-foot or skis, it was these varied experiences that really made my time there more amazing.. And the second weekend there, a small group of us set off to make the trip to Scotts hut at Cape Evans.

Cape Evans on the western side of Ross Island, was used as the headquarters for Scotts 2nd Antarctic Expedition in 1910-1913. The hut, built by the expedition team, still stands, with many of the items used by the expedition still inside, in the same state they were left in - including glassware, bunsen burners and an emperor penguin, awaiting dissection. Among the team were a number of scientists (mainly biologists and geologists) who carried out basic studies.

The hut's big - 15m long and 8m wide with stables attached for the 19 siberian ponies that were used to pull the sledges (like the explorers, the ponies didn't fare too well either).

Antarctica has it's own system for grading weather, from level 1 tolevel 3, with 1 being the worst. Im gutted I never experienced a 1 – so bad it comes with a ‘no one allowed outside’ policy. With a 2 you can be outside but only on base and a 3 is no worries. Visibility is the main issue, Antarctica is so dry the snow gets whipped up into a white blanket with strong wind. You could literally lose yourself within a foot or two from the white-out disorientation. The day we visited Scotts Hut the weather had deteriorated to a ‘condition 2’ while we were out, a perfect setting for visiting such a site.

Once we were inside the hut I was amazed at the ‘insulated’ feeling - both of warmth and lack of noise. The screaming wind was shut out once we shut the door, and though not hot inside, you could definitely imagine that the team staying there did manage to get the hut nice an warm. They insulated with seaweed, sewn into a quilt and then placed between double-planked inner and outer walls. The roof is a sandwich of three layers of plank, two layers of rubber ply with more quilted seaweed enclosed inside. With acetylene gas they had lighting and the heating came from the kitchen and a supplementary, coal fuelled stove.

I think the thing that struck me most was the lack of ‘age-ing’ - no cobwebs, dust, mould or decaying, except for slight rusting on the metals. Seal skins stacked up neatly between hut and stables, still with blood and lots of visible fat, not to mention the smell.. a box of eggs, never did find out from which bird, but looked far too big for chickens eggs, tools hanging on the wall, clean and ready to go - things left as they were found, as if the guys could walk back through the door again any time soon and pick up where they left off.

On a second visit to the site, in nicer weather, I was able to see more of the outside, including the panorama from the memorial cross standing on the hill just outside. Completely different concept and view, nice to get a sense of direction and placement.

Must also make a mention of the amazing work the team from Antarctic Heritage Trust are doing in their pledge to restore and record the Antarctic huts and their workings, a truly remarkable piece of history.

The huts are protected and kept locked – how lucky are those who get the chance to visit such a slice of history! And this day in age, we are visiting such places with things like GPS, ultra warm clothing of the latest technology, vehicles – especially built for the terrain, radios, thermos's of hot coffee, pizza made fresh at the base that day etc! I wonder how they'll be doing it in another hundred years!  

Kandovan, IRAN

Situated 60km southwest of Tabriz, capital city of Irans northern province Azerbaijan - Kandovan is a village steeped in history, (800 years of it) and wonder, and it functions still today - all be it with the added ‘luxuries’ of the little things in life like power, dvd players and tourist dollars.

Formed from volcanic activity, Kandovan is the plural form of the word ‘kando’ which means ‘bees nest’ so called because of the bees nest like ‘houses’ carved out of the natural, rocky formations - and its this architecture the village is famous for, aswell as its mineral water, which is said to dissolve kidney stones.

It was my first day in Azarbaijan, and being taken to Kandovan was an Iranian highlight. We managed to get a look inside one of the ‘houses’ - inhabited by mother and daughter. The main room that we were shown was the ‘house’ - bedroom, lounge room, storage and kitchen rolled into one, although the mother did tell us there was a bigger kitchen downstairs.

It is said that the original inhabitants of Kandovan moved there during the Mongolian invasion, and hid in the caves, later carving them into houses so they could remain.

The main sources of income are from agriculture and animal husbandry - with various hand crafts and foodstuffs available for the tourist dollar.

We met a small group of western tourists on a package tour of Iran.  They had bought 'supplies' with them to give to locals - all taken from hotels they stayed at: toothpaste, slippers, soaps, shampoo and conditioner.... advised to do so by their guides.  It left me with mixed feelings, I think its more of a cheap act than an act of the heart.  

Il never forget how cold it was this day, the wind was so strong and every gust distributed sand and dirt into your eyes, nose and mouth.  And the toilets.. wherever I go, I never forget toilets I can smell before I see them, such was the case here.  They were in a small room at the end of a row of shops, on the one main street.  True to Iranian style they were a hole in the ground with indentations for feet on either side, didnt have toilet paper, instead the bog standard washing water in a plastic watering jug next to a tap - so you can refill it for the next woman.  And as a foreigner, I had a small group of women watching and waiting for when I reappeared.  It was all I could do to enter, pee, wash my hands and get outside again on one inhalation, desperately gasping for air outside, drawing even more attention.  Actually this day, I was over being looked at.  I had tried so hard to blend with my dress, but still, I stood out.  I had my mandatory purple scarf tied over my head, and on top a heavier, bigger black scarf, which i took to wearing like a burqa - but with my black sunglasses over my eyes, ha! It even sounds western talking about it now!  I dont know HOW Iranians cope without sunglasses, rarely did I see anyone wearing any.  Must account for the 'desert eyes' you see, like something off a cover of National Geographic.. amazing eyes, deep, dark, bright and intense, so beautiful.

On our way home, we stopped off at the site of another village, this one with all its houses underground though.  No-one lives there today, but it was amazing to see how the houses were laid out, including rooms for livestock and ventilation over the cooking areas, stoic examples of ancient, practical and effective design and building methods.  I love seeing this sort of history in my travels.  :)

Working In Antarctica

Applying for a job in Antarctica is easy, like any job positions are advertised on the internet and in papers. Getting a job isnt necessarily so easy, but its not as difficult as many people think. Id heard things like Id have to have my appendix and tonsils removed, that no-one gets accepted the first time they apply.... (from people who'd never been there) etc!! No, none of that. The process is application, selections, interview, final selection, testing (medical, dental and mental), training, final preparation and then departure – may the fun begin!

Depending on whether you are going for a year, or just for summer, everyone undergoes mental and medical testing – the 'winter over' peoples testing is a bit more detailed, ie MRI scans. There's also 'pshyc' testing, which isn't a 'pass or fail', it just gives more of a background to the chosen few. A years stint goes from October to October, summer is October to February.

Also, whoever you've put down as a character reference is called for a telephone interview, one of my referees told me he was on the phone for 45 minutes and felt like HE was getting psych tested... Apparently that is pretty normal.

The training course is 2 weeks in Christchurch, home of the New Zealand (and American) Antarctic programs. The first week was pretty much 'Scott Base 101' and week 2 was fire-fighting – the kiwis are their own fire crew, and its an integral part of training for obvious reasons. And its the 'for real' fire training! We werent given a softer version! From blacked-out masks while crawling through drains, to making your way (with a blacked out mask) through a purpose built building that has the heat cranked right up, to using fire extinguishers and on the last day crawling through a burning fuselage to put out a fuel fire, it was a full on week and I was pleased when it was over.

Everyone gets 'suited and booted' at the headquarters during that first week. Four layers of clothing including the outer 'ECWs' (clothing for 'extreme cold weather'), 3 pairs of gloves, goggles, socks, sorrell boots and 'mukluk' boots – big and solid, looking more like something for a lunar walk than to get around in in Antarctica!!

By the end of the training weeks we were a fairly tight knit bunch of base crew, about 34 of us in all (mechanics, engineers, snow safety, cleaning staff, computer technicians, chefs, plant operators etc..) and departure day soon comes around – but the guys heading off for a year leave first. Us summer dwellers went to the airport to watch them leave, exciting stuff because you know your flight is coming soon! Well, weather permitting! It's a bit of a nervous time because until you're past the 'turn around point' you never know if you're actually going to get there or not let alone before you've left Christchurch. We were lucky in that our flight was delayed by four days but at least we got the early call to tell us to stay in bed! And when we did leave, we got all the way down. Check in is done at the American base and its around 5am that it starts, makes for a big day!

The flight down is only 5 hours from Christchurch, in a US Airforce C-17. We were given a packed lunch to take onboard and the seats werent too bad! There were only 4 small windows in the whole of the plane, but exciting to look out of when we were flying over 'bergs. Everyone got a chance to go into the cockpit. I was rampantly looking for coffee and thought I might have been able to sweet talk my way to one but no, wasnt to be.. dam!

As we were coming into land folk were getting all their layers on – for the flight you have to have all your issue gear on / with you. I got ready to disembark, expecting frozen nostrils and frost-nip but NO! There was not a breath of wind, so it wasnt that bad to step out into. We were fairly hustled into NZ's waiting 4 wheel drives, and set off for the base. Drove to Scott Base via McMurdo station, the american base (and also past one of Scotts huts on the peninsula next to McMurdo) and tried to take everything in!

Straight onto base for a guided tour and then finding your rooms – which are assigned before you leave. I still think I had one of the best ones, and my room mate was cool, double bonus because the rooms are not large! A set of bunks and a wardrobe. We had a reasonably sized window which was nice – of course you cant open windows but it adds a nice touch. There were wooden shutters on it and with a bit of duct tape around the edges we could have 'instant darkness'! The base has two sleeping quarters – one is for staff the other is for visitors

There's a small type of sunset phase when you arrive in October, but it doesnt take long for that to end and then its constant light. You just get used to it, so it was never normal or abnormal, although I did notice the light seemed at its best at around 4am. And the sky, its so changeable, especially over Mt Erebus, where amazing cloud formations can happen at any given time.

Everyone (staff, scientists, visitors, VIPs etc) has to undergo a night in a tent as part of survival training, and its usually done within the first couple of days of arriving. Time to get familiarized with what the survival boxes carried in vehicles have in them, how to use various things, how to put a tent up etc. (the tents are still 'polar tents', heavy, durable canvas like material and in the shape of a teepee) That night in the tent was utterly miserable, Ive never been so cold in my life! My watch was starting to lose battery power at -27 C, apparently it got as low as -34C. We had been instructed to dig a small 'trench' between us for keeping the stove and the food box in, for easy access. Well, as much as a hot drink would have gone down superbly, neither myself nor my tent mate had the balls to sit up and make one, it was far too cold, plus! there's always the 'toilet thing' to keep in mind – using an FUD in a sleeping bag?!?! Ok, so I did have to do it and I did it!! Was a wee bit tricky getting the length of hose from my 'P' bottle because I was worried about spillage, but I prevailed!

We also did arresting work with ice axes, used radios and built shelters. To drive any vehicle on the ice you need to be put through training – for the 4W drives thats a cruise over to McMurdo and back. The day I went the weather was deteriorating, and as it is I dont drive a manual, but I passed. I rarely did manage a drive to McMurdo without stalling at some point early on.. The cars need to be left in neutral with no handbrake on and plugged into the 'hitching rail' (a purpose built rail with power cords attached that plug into the cars to keep the engines warm) at the early, cold part of the season, and the back seats pulled forward – its set up to keep the cab warm.

Two firemen from the training centre in Christchurch come down during that first two weeks to run drills. I was a BA person (breathing apparatus) and I think the drills must be the same each year because one day I was informed where the 'fire' would be and what would be 'on fire', from my BA partner who had been down before.. He was spot on to! The last day of fire drills they go hard out and blacken out a room the size of a hangar, used for storage and has snow safety gear and offices, the gym etc... This is the grand finale of fire drills, where the Americans are radioed to come over and assist. There was no mistaking their arrival in the smoky dark – flashing lights on their helmets, radios and a massive sense of urgency!! They pretty much took over but it was all in a days training..

Then its back to base and the next day your work starts. Its a 51/2 day week, although as chefs we didnt get the saturday afternoons off that other staff get after their mornings work and mandatory base meeting. Our kitchen hours varied from the usual 8-5pm that most roles get away with and I still think my 2pm-10pm was pretty sweet.

Scott Base has a gym, a bar, kitchen / dining room, internet room, movie room, library, laundry, shop, sauna, drying room etc and is fairly well spread out, but all buildings are joined together – great if the weather deteriorates and you're not allowed off base! The American base (about 3km away) is like a mining town, with up to 1200 people working there during summer. They have a library, church, yoga, alcoholics anonymous, cinema, 2 gyms, cafe, bars, night club, huge science lab, internet cafe, shop, bowling alley, climbing wall, ceramics classes, band room.. Us kiwis are allowed over anytime to their base, but Thursday nights are the nights the Americans can visit our bar – always very busy the first half of the season and then it really died off.

Flights south from Christchurch are frequent, so fresh food comes in regularly also. Its really not as 'backwards' as some people imagine it, there's no living off tinned food or rations. It was a rotational diet – fish, pork, lamb, beef etc with a roast dinner on sunday nights. Breakfast was various cereals, tinned fruit, yoghurt and toast, lunches an array of salads with a couple of hot dishes also and a dinner of meat, vegetables and a dessert every second night. Everything is made on the base – bread, pastries, all baking infact.

Perhaps the worst thing for me was the constant static electricity! You get shocks ALL the time because its the air is so dry. I dont like shocks so it freaked me out, but, wearing a lot of natural fibre helps, and rubber shoes in the kitchen – it was always at the back of my mind though. I saw blue arcs of electricity jumping off metal to zap someone, and changing your bed really gets things charged up. Next to each telephone on base there is a metal pad to discharge yourself with, a big enough shock can throw the whole phone system out.

Sundays at SB are a day off for most of the staff, and so trips of base are usually arranged – Ive been to both Scotts huts and one of Shackletons, and New Zealand also allows base staff trips out in the helicopter when seating permits, so that all staff get an outing.. I was on one of the first flights, across the ice-shelf to Black Island with the Telecom technician and then again before I left I went to Cape Bird, an amazing Adelie penguin colony, to drop off gear to the scientists based there for summer. Sundays are also 'brunch' day at the base, and usually follow a big Saturday night. Antarctica's an incredibly social place with parties most weekends, some famous 'annual' ones and yes, people do hook up and have ice relations – and it can make for some HOT topics, who's doing who, what, when or where! There is a 'social club' at McMurdo, those staff spend their summer working as 'party planners'!! The best job? A couple of us thought so.

Because of its sheer size, the Americans can't just step off base for roaming like the kiwis can – what a shame! I enjoyed cross-country skiing, on kilometres of groomed ice shelf, walking / running (the road to McMurdo is gravel) and going out to take photos.. To go off base you firstly need to get someone to cover your role if you're on fire duty, and then sign out with details of where you're going, if you have a radio or not, and the time you're due back – if you're not back ten minutes from that ETA then Search & Rescue will be instigated. There was only one instance of that happening, bit of a mistake over who signed who back in after a party at the American base – guilty party was found 'shacked up' with a member of the opposite sex over there. No-one gets too upset though, the desired outcome is that the person is alive and well. All staff staying for a year had to do SAR training, while secondary SAR was voluntary. I wasnt involved in either, and on the really crappy days outside, secretly? I was relieved..

Everything done on the ice is in the name of science – and the bases operate to support scientists. Because there was a drill team staying at SB the year I was there, our base numbers were around the 65 mark, usually they'd be around 40 – everyone else is a visitor, and usually has one or two nights each side of their stay at the base. There were few visitors who spent all their time at the base. The scientists that go there are the leaders in their fields, and there's lots of opportunities to learn more about what they get up to as most of them give a talk at least once, free for anyone to attend. I worked the afternoon/ evening shift, so missed most of these but I still managed to have some great chats with people there – its amazing who I'd find sifting around the corridors at night..

Christmas Day was fun – everyone picked a staff members name from a hat and had to get that person a gift. One of the boys dressed up as Santa and gave out everybody's presents. And we had a huge spread for christmas dinner. Its up to the individual whether or not they make their birthday known, if it isnt a secret then tradition has it that you will be given a gift from the 'skua bins' at McMurdo. Skua's are the antarctic seagull, notorious, ruthless scavengers – the 'skua bins' are like recycling bin found in most towns, there's also a building with clothing and bits and pieces in it. Some of the items I saw given as gifts made me wonder what people were thinking when they brought such things down, makes for a hugely entertaining time though because the rule is you have to put on the clothing you've been given.

Another entertainment factor on the ice is urinating, in the field, especially for women. It's against regulations to go to the toilet anywhere on the ice – so everyone is given their own 'P' bottles, that hold around a litre. Women are given a 'Feminine Urinary Device' or 'FUD' – a thin, anatomically shaped piece of plastic to fit over your 'bits' with a small hose attached. I first used it when we were doing our survival training, and I used it in the toilet tent, standing over the 'P' bucket. Because survival clothing is specifically made, the zips on each layer go right under the crutch and its way too much of a hassle, and too cold to take layers off. From that first time, I was hooked! Sometimes I suffered from 'performance anxiety', like trying to go in the back of a vehicle while the boys were all waiting outside in the cold, and there were a couple of times I felt I was going to over-flow my bottle but luckily, I didnt. All drinking water at the base is processed sea water, all rubbish and recycling is flown back to New Zealand for disposal – food scraps, sewerage (whats left of it after processing), all recycling etc. Keeping Antarctica clean is a major priority, a necessity, from all bases and everyone who goes down there.

And no, its not impossible to spend money down there – not only is there a souvenir shop, a bar at Scott Base (and a bigger shop and more bars at McMurdo) there's also the internet! Any mail can be sent to the Antarctic Christchurch address and it then gets put on the next available flight. Its not as technologically behind as people assume – except there's no cell coverage (yet?).

It certainly gets into your blood when you've been south, and I think I met only one person who decided it wasn't for them. Its a lot of fun and crazy times with life-long friendships formed because of the experience. One day, I'd like to go back and do it all again...  

Australia Antarctic Interview

Australia, Sydney, for a job interview with Antarctica Australia.  Fantastic! count me in!  

After a phone call, and letter (which arrived on the same day) to advise me Id been short listed for the 'Aerodrome Camp Support Officer' role, I had a 3 week wait until Id be Sydney bound, for what would be a 3 stage process, over two days.  Slightly extended for me, due to direct flights only leaving in the morning, once a day. 

Whats an aerodrome camp support officer?  Exactly what it sounds like!  The Wilkes Aerodrome is 70km from the nearest Aussie base, Casey.  Because its an aerodrome, it operates only in summer, with a small crew of 8-10.  Apparently, the weather is notoriously bad, with horrendous winds and blizzard conditions, and on a good day, theres nothing to break the flat, white of the horizon - fantastic, I wanna be there!

If I get the job, Il be cooking for the crew as well as various other duties - ie runway work, baggage handling, snow clearing and driving - including the re-supply trips to Casey.  

Sydney....

we were staying at a hotel near the university.  We was 15 of us, I was the only female, and no one else was there for the same job as me.  The rest were varied - chippies and plumbers mainly, and predominantly 'aussie miner types', which isn't intended to sound 'segregational', sexist or judgemental - I believe, there certainly is such a man!  

Monday morning, 8am and I was off to my 'Technical Interview'.  Thank God it was one-on-one, which makes me nervous enough, but a panel can be torturous for me.  I was with the guys getting our individual photos taken for future reference, when my interviewer came to get me.. okay, so he wasn't exactly unattractive....  I had made some jokes about 'Australia's Next Top Model' when we were getting photos done.. as the weekend progressed it did feel a tad 'reality show', with half a dozen staff from Antarctic Australia making notes on us, as a group and as individuals.. Life is a catwalk, walk tall :-)

So, 'usual' question and answer session, and a bit of an insight into the third session of the day, the 'Selection Centre'.  For me, it was to be myself and Id be fine.. great!  Next up was to be the Psych Test, a multiple choice questionnaire conducted by army personnel, however, no-one showed up to conduct the test, so we had a spare two hours.  Coffee time!!  The coffee at the hotel was decidedly average, so we headed for the local (dare I say it) McDonald's!  Hey, they do soy and at least it was espresso coffee..

Then, we started our afternoon sessions of the 'Selection Centre'.  Basically, our group was given countless scenarios, predominantly involving drillers or drilling, and ample opportunity to come up with results, outcomes and ideals - be it individually, as a large group or as a smaller group.  I guess I did feel like 'little voice' at some points, but in saying that, not all of the guys were loud or conversation hi-jackers, there was definitely one though, isn't there always?  

The scenarios were... scenarios, lots involving drilling, drillers and drill rigs.. all relevant from an 'isolation and small community' aspect I guess.  Its quite interesting to see who comes up with what,  how each person interprets a certain situation.   The days activities finished after drinks, dinner and conversation.  It was midnight New Zealand time, and Id been awake since 4am (6am New Zealand time), my starched hotel bed was a welcome respite from the busy day.

Next morning, another 0745 start, for another scenario - the last on the list. And, thankfully, when the scenarios had been put to rest, we were given a chance to have a final say, on a) how we felt we came across for the selection centre, b) qualities that may not have been shown and c) why we should be chosen for the job.   I was so grateful for that final opportunity, because I, like some of the others, was wondering about my technical interview and selection centre, and hoping Id come across as Id wanted to etc.. So, after a final wee speech.. its a waiting game now.  

The overall interview is made up of four stages 1) Technical Interview, 2) Selection Centre, 3) Medical Exam and 4) Psych Test.  To get a job offer, you need to pass all four.  I guess now Im awaiting a call up on the medical / psych side of things, unless they've decided not to go further with me.. but Im not even going there as an option, I want the job too badly, so thinking that way instead.  Positive vibes, meant to be 'n all.

Made some great friends, and it was definitely an experience.  And as an added bonus, I had an extra night in sydney, so caught up with my brother and one of my best-er-est friends who I haven't seen for ten years!! (Apparently I haven't changed a bit).  Mind you, I didnt think he had either.