To leave the South Pole, there are a few things you have to do.
First, bag drag (i.e. pack up your checked luggage and move it to Destination Zulu aka DZ) by 3pm the day before your flight. Then, go take all the pictures you can stand at the geographic and ceremonial South Poles.
Penguins hanging out at the South Pole. A special picture for Mary Kate, who loves penguins.
Next, say goodbye to all your friends who have to go out into the field to work.
A going away present from the ARA drillers. Choked me up. They're a sweet group of guys.
Then, go to your room and strip the sheets off your bed, finish packing your carry on bag, and clean up because, no matter what time your flight is, you have to be out of your room by 10am.
Cleaning up means sorting your trash into different types of recycle. These are all the bins that stuff can go in to. Takes a while to get used to what goes where because it's not always intuitive.
After that, you've got free time till your flight comes. Spend this time remembering the fun you had and the friends you made. Try to be as nostalgic as possible. Sing sad songs to other people, if it helps.
Thomas, who enjoyed singing sad songs on his last day.
Then, eat lunch. Who knows when you'll get food again.
Unless you look absolutely miserable on the flight. Then they might give you corn dogs to cheer you up.
Finally, inevitably, they will make an announcement that outbound passengers need to report to the flight line. Gather up your stuff as slowly as possible and try to memorize everything about the station and the people as you head outside.
The station... my home for 3 weeks.
If they can, other people will come out to see you off. (The winter-overs, Blaise and Felipe, and the deployers/scientists - Albrecht, Perry, Mike D, and Mike R came out for me. The drillers were working so they couldn't come.) Stand around hugging people and trying to find a reason that you have to stay.
Hug people more.
Pass out your email address, promise to visit, etc.
Ok, one last round of hugs.
Try to look happy when people take your pic in front of the Herc. It's easier if you can have other people with you.
Blaise, me, and Felipe. They're staying for the winter but they came to say goodbye to me.
Then, slowly, walk to the plane that's about to take you away from one of the most amazing experiences of your life.
One last longing look back at everyone and everything.
Wave.
Leave.
The ARA crew. Photo courtesy Ken Ratzlaff.
(But you'll never truly leave.)