Going...Down There

An-D

[whatamidoingwithmylife]
So, I'm almost done with my contract in China and I'm looking at what to do with my future. I was planning on taking the Foreign Service Officer's exam and/or the GRE, then trying to get a State Department job and/or grad school.

But as it turns out, if I take the GRE as soon as I get back this summer I won't be able to actually get into a school until the spring semester of 2012. And while I have been reading, I don't feel adequately prepared for the Foreign Service Officer's exam (this might change, my workload at my university is going to lighten in a couple weeks).

[/vanbytheriver]

Tonight, though, I found something awesome. I can get a job in Antarctica...which sounds awesome. I'll be doing a bullshit job (cooking, cleaning, secretarial) but it'll give me time to study for the FSO exam or wait for a grad school to accept me....and I'll be in Antarctica. I'll only be on a contract for "the summer" (September to February). The cold really doesn't bother me that much (got to -30C here in the dead of winter, and I never wore more than jeans, hat and a leather coat), and I'll be inside most of the time anyway.

Is this awesome? Have I thought thought everything? Has anyone done this or known someone that had done this? The Thing happened in the other cold part of the world, right?

I'm super excited about this, and plan on applying tomorrow. If I'm convinced that its a crazy/stupid idea I can always turn it down. I'm looking for opinions and advice on this as a short-term, life-stalling adventure-job-thing.

Deebaser

Do it. No matter what you end up doing, something like that really "pops" on a resume and can provide an interesting story or two during an interview.

Deadfall

I thought this thread was going to be about something completely different.

As it is, I would kill for a chance to go on an adventure like that.

kaliyama

even if it sucks it's for such a short time and is such an awesome adventure you owe it to yourself to do it.

Rikushix

Deadfall wrote: »

I thought this thread was going to be about something completely different.

As it is, I would kill for a chance to go on an adventure like that.

Hey even if the thread was what you expected

I would still kill for a chance to go on an adventure like that

OnTheLastCastle

Go for it! Just don't explore any ancient ruins.

NO ANCIENT RUINS sign hung above your door and everything. Don't forget.

Sentry

Do it. The FSO exam is hard as hell, and no guarantee of anything. This is an awesome opportunity. Take it.

Saammiel

Prepare for extreme boredom, but it pays well and is a cool story. Also which station? McMurdo or South Pole? McMurdo is a lot nicer from what I hear. I can ask my friend about it since he has been down for a few tours to use their telescopes.

ElJeffe

Sorry, The Thing took place in Antarctica, too. But Kurt Russell is cool, maybe you guys can hang.

I would do it. I would at least apply and see what happens. You don't have to make a final decision until they actually offer you the job, so in the mean time pursue the hell out of it. As was said, it'll look awesome on a resume, it'll be a great source of stories, and you are probably never going to have another chance to visit so alien a place on our globe.

That said, prepare for it to be boring as shit. But an exciting kind of boring, because at any moment you could die of exposure!

ceres

The Hunter's Breath is a book by Terrie Williams about her research trip to Antarctica. Her group's work with Weddell seals is very interesting, but she also talks a whole lot about her trip, the weather, conditions at places like McMurdo Station and smaller camps, and what it's like to live for months in such an environment.

I had to read it for a zoology class, but the trip sounded so amazing, and really, it was a lot about the trip. Maybe try reading something that, or something like it.

An-D

From what I understand, I'll probably end up in McMurdo since it'll be my first season there. Small chance of the South Pole, but McMurdo is the most likely (and the nicest).

I'm not horribly worried about the boredom. They have some pretty good-looking facliities to keep people active, and I'll have invested in a Kindle/Nook/something so I can ready. Probably play a bunch of games I've been meaning to finish.

Also, photography. I like doing the photography thing.

I'll also stave off boredom by avoiding ancient ruins hidden in the ice that are uncovered by space lasers and being suspicious of my co-workers being who (or what) they say they are.

I'll check out the Hunter's Breath. Sounds like a worthwhile read if I'm actually able to do this.


I'll be printing out the application tomorrow. Filling it out, scanning it and emailing it tomorrow. The whole process will take me all over Changchun (advance technological shit is really spread out here), but it will be done!!

SeñorAmor

I'm struggling to see a downside to you doing this, especially if the cold doesn't bother you. With the internet, it's not like you're in a remote area, cut off from the rest of the world.

Besides, you're well ahead of the Borg crash-landing there and you'll be long dead before they thaw, so you have that going for you.

matt has a problem

Seriously, do it. I would kill to do this. I would kill you and take your place to do this. There are zero downsides to doing this.

An-D

SeñorAmor wrote: »

Besides, you're well ahead of the Borg crash-landing there and you'll be long dead before they thaw, so you have that going for you.

Damn you, crazy Enterprise timeline!!!

So, Borg, the Thing(s), ancient Predator hunting grounds, matthasaproblem killing me/taking my place :P and my irrational fear of whales are the only cons to this so far, and I've trained myself against all of them.


I am super optimistic about this.

Fellhand

You shoudl do this.
I looked into getting a job at one of the research stations as a network engineer and it sounded pretty awesome and that it would really fit a person like me.
They don't pay a ton, but you don't have any expenses (they say bring like two or three hundred bones).
I couldn't do this because I was living with a woman that is now my wife, but if you're not tied down in any way you should definitly do this.

matt has a problem

Also, if you get pictures of yourself taken with penguins? Naked women will fall from the heavens once you get back home. "Oh yeah, here's a picture of me with some PENGUINS while I was working down in ANTARCTICA" is a license to print sexy money.

Skoal Cat

My dads been there, do it. Bring random sports equipment too, that way you can join the very short lists of people who've played X there (and expand to all continents for real bragging rights).

matt has a problem

There's also The 300 Club if you managed to get a job at the South Pole station.

Thanatos

Yeah, you can't do shit like this once you're married and have a career, a house, etc. Fucking do it. And make sure you bring your FSO study materials, since you'll have nothing better to do down there. By the time you get back, you'll be a an FSO machine.

badpoet

I had an acquaintance who went on a ship down there every Summer. He really seemed to enjoy it. The pay was pretty decent and he got a lot of reading done. Given the right situation (being single, young, between college), I'd go in a heartbeat.

Liquid Hellz

matthasaproblem wrote: »

There's also The 300 Club if you managed to get a job at the South Pole station.

Best club I have ever seen!

Heir

If you go on a scientific expedition and find a range of mountains even larger than the Himalayans, don't try and cross them. And if you do, don't bring back any strange frozen lifeforms you find.

Thanks,

Humanity.


PS: Go for it! Sounds like an awesome thing you can go back and say you've done when you're older.

The_Glad_Hatter

The Internet agrees (for once): do it!
(please upload pictures..)

Skoal Cat

You're going to get sick of penguins

The_Glad_Hatter

Skoal Cat wrote: »

You're going to get sick of penguins

Well, perhaps he can have some regular food shipped in..

(sorry for the derailing, but i couldn't let this one slide..)

jefe414

Man, I am perfectly content with my job but I'm even tempted to apply to this NANA thing.

SpongeCake

This is awesome and you should totally apply.

I hate to be that guy but, I feel I have to point out that the number of applications for this post is probably phenomenal, so try not to get your hopes up too early on!

SammyF

I met a guy who'd been posted down to Antarctica for a while. He definitely came back crazy, but it was the fun kind of crazy.

Fiatil

Heir wrote: »

If you go on a scientific expedition and find a range of mountains even larger than the Himalayans, don't try and cross them. And if you do, don't bring back any strange frozen lifeforms you find.

Thanks,

Humanity.


PS: Go for it! Sounds like an awesome thing you can go back and say you've done when you're older.

Damnit, stole my first answer. In that case, do it. I hate the cold and this thread is making me really sad about that, this seems like an awesome thing to do for awhile.

(but seriously, watch out for shoggoths)

Feels Good Man

how is this even a question

DO IT

ahava

ohman, dude. what are you waiting for. go. do this. apply. seventy times if necessary.

and stop by new zealand on your way back home. and bring me a penguin!

heheh penguins! i could squeee!

man, break a leg on this! Seriously. Amazing.


was megatron arctic or antartica?

MetroidZoid

God this thread makes me jealous for you even having the opportunity. Has anyone said 'do it' yet? Because you should. Like, forever ago.

Skeith

Dude, you are going to be one of the most interesting people around if you take up this offer; first teaching in China, then heading to Antarctica? You'll kick yourself in the balls for the rest of your life if you don't go for this.

Lanchester

From the title of your thread, I thought this would be about oral sex. But regardless, on to the advice!

I actually don't really have any advice for you because it sounds from your OP that you already have everything figured out. You have already made the decision of wanting to do this and being excited about it. I don't think it would stall or hurt your career in any way...if anything it will help it with what you will be able to add to your resume. Plus, 3-4 months is not a long time and will go by very quick. And if you go down there and end up not enjoying it, or not having a social life, things to do, etc. you know when you'll be done and that will help to make things not as bad (just like when long distance relationships have an end date).

Good luck to you in getting the position and I hope all goes well.

An-D

So, I have the form and resume and stuff. I needed to use the school's printer/scanner, so I can get it to my email so I can get it...well...down there.

Here is the conversation I had today:

[at the computer lab. Mostly in Chinese]

Lab Guy: The lab is closed today. The internet is down.
Me: Oh, thats fine. I just have to print something.
Lab Guy: You can not go on the internet.
Me: I don't need to. I have my flash drive.
Lab Guy [frowns, and looks at me like I'm retarded]: I must make a call.
Me: <siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh>
Lab Guy: Someone is coming to explain.
Me: No, I understand. The internet is done.
Lab Guy: YES!
Me: I don't need to use the internet. I have to print a document.
Lab Guy: Just a minute.
<One of my handlers come>
Handler <in terrible English>: An-D, the internet is down. You can not use it.
Me: <Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh>

The bureaucracy in China is so ridiculous. I will not miss it. If they still won't let me use the computer lab tomorrow, I'm just going to buy a printer and a scanner. Antarctica, man! I don't have time for this bullshit!

Killgrimage

An-D wrote: »

So, I have the form and resume and stuff. I needed to use the school's printer/scanner, so I can get it to my email so I can get it...well...down there.

Here is the conversation I had today:

[at the computer lab. Mostly in Chinese]

Lab Guy: The lab is closed today. The internet is down.
Me: Oh, thats fine. I just have to print something.
Lab Guy: You can not go on the internet.
Me: I don't need to. I have my flash drive.
Lab Guy [frowns, and looks at me like I'm retarded]: I must make a call.
Me: <siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh>
Lab Guy: Someone is coming to explain.
Me: No, I understand. The internet is done.
Lab Guy: YES!
Me: I don't need to use the internet. I have to print a document.
Lab Guy: Just a minute.
<One of my handlers come>
Handler <in terrible English>: An-D, the internet is down. You can not use it.
Me: <Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh>

The bureaucracy in China is so ridiculous. I will not miss it. If they still won't let me use the computer lab tomorrow, I'm just going to buy a printer and a scanner. Antarctica, man! I don't have time for this bullshit!

This is hilarious.
Also I am very jealous of you. I hope you get this job!

Casually Hardcore

Dude, I'm almost willing to hunt you down, skin you alive, and wear your skin over my skin and pretend that I am you in order to have the same opportunity.


So where do you live at again?

Comahawk

Didn't read anyone else's posts, but I say do it.

I had the chance a few years ago to work on contract there as a cook (I was doing it as a career at the time), and I am constantly kicking myself for not taking that chance when I could have.

Fact of the matter, if you can do it now, then do it and enjoy it, because in the near future you are likely not going to have the chance. Take me for example, had the chance, passed on it and now I am married and in the military, so I likely will not be getting that chance again.

So... DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!

Hurtdog

This thread was an awesome surprise. I've been interested in going to Antarctica on private weeklong excursions and it's incredibly expensive.

Yet now you get to live there for months and be paid for it. Opportunity of a lifetime, just do it. Take cool pictures, and even video. Take a GoPro HD. WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY TIME YOU GO OUTSIDE.

Also, the thread title begs the question: is there oral sex in Antarctica?

Lalilulelo

Dude, you could have a job in Antarctica. How many fools can say something like that?

kilroydos

Please grow Kurt Russell's beard and post pictures.

Thanks.