As soon as life begins to fall into a routine that seems as though I could be living it anywhere on earth, all I need to do is look out the window at the incredible mountain ranges surrounding McMurdo and my breath is lost when I realize where I am. Every time I hear someone complain about the unexciting dinner options, infrequency of incoming mail packages due to backed-up flights, or prevalence of muddy volcanic-ash around town, I go for a hike beyond this Americanized bubble and once again remember how incredible it is that our lives are so “normal” here. And just as soon as I have begun to learn everyone’s name in the Carp Shop, where tools and supplies are kept, and how to operate each machine without loosing a finger or two, it
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