It’s a Harsh Continent

The title of this post is a saying that I hear almost daily here and it’s very accurate. It’s usually said in reference to something that you want that you can’t have because we are here at the bottom of the world. For example we get planes in with our prized “freshies” usually once a week on Wednesdays. A freshie is usually a fruit or vegetable that hasn’t been packaged or frozen, fresh eggs, ultra pasteurized milk, cheese, etc. These are very special to us and make us all very happy here. But the planes sometimes can’t make it due to weather or mechanical issues and people freak out that we are out of fresh eggs, or we run out of lettuce. Our response is usually “It’s a harsh continent.” I think the saying originated with the conditions outside like the snow, wind, and temperatures, but now it’s more our whining about what we don’t have. These are also often referred to as our “first world problems.” This is things that make our lives easier that we often take for granted that. The most recent time I heard this was in reference to the feeling of being so full post meal that our stomachs hurt. Definitely a first world problem.

Living here has been many things that I expected, but also many things I haven’t expected, and adjusting or adapting can sometimes be a challenge. As our time here ticks on and we are planning for our post ice lives we are talking more about things we miss so I thought I would compose a list.

Things that I miss(other than my family and friends that I hold near to my heart) and brief rants of why or explanations of them.

Real milk- our milk is powdered and one of my tasks at work is occasionally to make it which is gross and annoying

Sunsets- this in conjunction with the next 2 items. Having 24 hours of sunlight is strange. Plus I have a room with no windows so I had a freak out a few days ago when I napped in the evening and woke up at 5:48 not knowing if it was am or pm. It was pm.

Darkness

Stars and the moon

Swimming and diving- really water! Going from my last job where I was in the ocean every day of the week, multiple times a day to a desert where we conserve water. Also I see the large cooking kettles filled with water or the sinks and know that I want to take a bath or sit in a hot tub.

Animals especially dogs! People are fun but animals will always hold a special place in my heart. Penguins and seals are cool but we can’t touch them. I just want to cuddle with Hermes, or walk Shadow, or play fetch with Molly

Nature smells- dirt, grass, leaves- the lack of smells here is amazing, I think it has really heightened my sense of smell. I can’t wait to go to the park in central Christchurch as soon as I get to New Zealand and roll in the grass and smell dirt and flowers

Grocery shopping- again this goes with the next item, deciding what I want to eat, when I want to eat it. Having a menu set by someone else and no place to go if you want something different has been challenging.

Ordering what I want to eat from a menu- having someone make something I want to eat just for me and serving it to me, then not having to clean up after myself. I will miss not having to pay for food though! That will be tough to go back to. I haven’t carried a purse since early October and I don’t miss it!

Going to see a movie- seeing something that has been made in the last year rather then VHS tapes from 10 years ago

Having quiet time in a space of my own- living in the same building where I work in a room with 3 other women and sharing a bathroom with about 25 other women is wearing on me. Plus I see the same faces every day. Everyone wants to know everyone else’s drama and happenings. When you don’t see someone for a day it seems like a week and you have to have a meal with them to catch up

Walking around bare foot- I could do this more frequently except for it’s usually kind of chilly and there are rules for safety purposes about wearing shoes

Being in better communication with people- aka technology- This is more of a I wish I could receive phone calls. I don’t really miss my phone like I though I would, but it is defiantly more convenient having a smart phone. It’s been refreshing to not have to carry technology in my pocket all day.

Having different clothes- I am so sick of my outfits here. I feel like a total girl when I say I have nothing to wear. I want to go shopping so badly or at least raid my storage unit and get different clothes. 

Ok, end of rant!