Previous positions I have taken on often require a small amount of preparation, be it finding accommodation, booking flights and trains, packing a bag, reading up on the area and study species or simply buying a waterproof jacket. The preparation for going south to Bird Island is a bit more involved. There is a long list of things to organize before making the trip and starting employment, but thankfully it is all interesting, and mostly exciting. I could write for several hours the intricacies of everything that I've done over the last few months, but instead I'll adopt a simple list.
- Vaccinations - Travelling from 54 N to 54 S means entering areas of "low risk" for several diseases, which means getting jabbed with several needles.
- Dental checks - There is no dentist or doctor on Bird Island, and dental problems are one of the most common reasons for ending a tour early. As a result of my check I had two wisdom teeth extracted. It's a good thing I'm excited about this job.
- Purchases - Being away from shops for 18 months means you need to foresee that you may want a new hoody, or that all your socks are likely to fall apart from running after seals all day. In addition to replacement clothes I've also bought (almost literally) a truck-load of contact lenses and deodorant to (hopefully) last 18 months. Thankfully BAS provides toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and soap, otherwise my allocated personal box (which sails from the UK in September, and is reunited with me in November) would be filled with toiletries. I've also bought a GoPro to take some nice footage of penguins and seals trying to kill me. The internet isn't exactly fast though, so these videos will only appear once I'm back in the UK, or if someone is kind enough to upload them once receiving them on a DVD in the post (which isn't frequent either).
- Packing - Next I needed to get the aforementioned possessions down to the Cambridge office and stores and into a box. This went rather smoothly, although I underestimated the size of the box, and therefore didn't even use the additional personal kitbag. I just hope I don't regret that in a year when all my t-shirts have been accidentally dyed pink.
- Cambridge logistics - Whilst in the area I took the opportunity to find a house to rent for my time based at the office. Thankfully the first place was suitable as there aren't many places that will accept a tenant for 2 months!
- Spending time with people - I've been doing my best to see friends and family as much as possible over the last few months. I'm living at home with my parents in Edinburgh until moving to Cambridge in September, and I've spent time camping with housemates from my undergrad, hiked part of the west highland way with my girlfriend, and watched her graduate. I'm trying to make as many memories and photo opportunities in a small amount of time as possible so I have plenty to look back at whilst only seeing 3 other people for 6 months. I've also read on blogs from previous winterers that photos of trees and the sun isn't a bad idea.
- Training - Starts with a 3 day course in just over a week. I'm travelling to Aberdeen to learn about the satellite communications that BAS use on their bases. I'll be the only winterer learning how it all works, so I guess if the up-link goes down and we lose internet and communications then I won't be very popular. I don't know too much about the course as of yet, but I'm looking forward to learning something a bit different. The winter comms manager from Rothera is joining me, so I feel like I'll have a bit of catching up to do.
After this I'll have a few weeks back home with friends and family, a few more things to organize and then I'll be moving to Cambridge for 2 months. This time will be taken up predominantly by going through various training, from advanced first aid and ropes skills to oil spill prevention. I'm sure that I'll make time to post an update on these occurrences too, but until then, did I mention I was excited?
