Imagine a whole world covered in ice and snow: ice on the mountains, ice capping the sea, ice tumbling off the cliffs, whole caves and hills made of ice, ice crunching under your feet, and ice crystals glittering on your eyelashes. Imagine that, and you have an idea of what it's like to be in Antarctica at about 78° South latitude, the approximate latitude of McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Take people from all over the country, from all walks of life, and from the entire ethnic and socio-economic spectrum, toss them together in this stunningly beautiful, exotic, and hazardous landscape, then season the mixture with isolation and deprivation. Do this for about forty years. The result is...well, a rather unusual culture.
To understand that culture, you have to understand the place. So, first I'll describe the structure of the U.S. Antarctic Program and the environment in which it operates. Then I'll go on to describe some of the cultural events and rituals that have developed over the years.
There's a lot of snow to cover, and I'm bound to forget things, so I welcome any and all input from fellow Antarcticans on the culture of our favorite southern land. In addition, though I've tried to be as accurate as possible, much of what follows is entirely subjective, based on my own experience. People with differing perceptions are welcome to let us know what they are.
A further note: This section deals only with the U.S. Antarctic Program, and almost exclusively with life at McMurdo Station.
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