Antarctica

Hey everyone, I was wondering, what do ya'll think? I applied for a job with Raytheon Polar Services for a position in Antarctica for 10 months or so. It pays pretty well. I think the pay is roughly 625 a week which is tax free since you are overseas AND you have no food or room and bored expense since you live on base. I have an interview on Tuesday with them which is the furthest I've gotten since I've applied. This position would be loading and unloading the aircrafts that come in. Most of them seem to be USAF military aircraft which is about the closest I can get to the military since surgery. What do ya'll think? Would you go? I think it would be an experience for sure. At 24 I"ll have been to the UK, Philippines and hopefully Antarctica. And currently I am in the process of going to Nepal to trek up to Mt. Everest base camp and maybe camp 2. That is my ultimate goal. To climb Everest. What better way than going from 365 pds to being able to climb Mt. Everest!!!!! Crazy huh/

Sounds like fun.  the only thing is, do you have the clothes for it?  if so, I say GO FOR IT!!!  If not, compair the cost of the clothes and what you would have to come out of pocket.... Good luck.

Hey yea, the best part about clothes.....RAYTHEON pays for the "cold weather" gear....So the expensive parkas and stuff are covered. I hope I get it. Right now I am just in the interview part. But still this would be the farthest I've gotten...=)

I worked in several countries on and off for 12 years.  Mostly building contruction or roads as an electrician.  If you do not have any responsbilities to keep you on the home front you should take advantage of a great life experiance.  But you have to be sure that you handle the hard work, long hours, isolation from family and current friends, and alot of bordom in your "off" hours.  Unless contracts have changed a minumun of 18 months is required by the USA Tax Man to be elegable for the low percentage of deductable tax.  But I have not worked outside the USA for about 20 years so I am sure contracts are different now.        I have always worked in very warm/hot climates and it can be very draining on the body until your body can adapt.  I am assuming that cold climates will need the same adjustment. If I were 24 I would do it all over again.  You will have a life time of stories to bore your friends and family with.         

I cannot make a recommendation without knowing the most important piece of information.... How is the "Poontang" factor in Antarctica?

...mighty frigid, I imagine. JP

I have a friend that worked for Raytheon in Siberia Russia, near the arctic circle, defusing nuclear bombs or something like that as part of one of the disarming treaties. It required something like 8 months of isolation, followed by two months off anywhere in the world you wanted. I think he did two tours and that was it. The isolation was too much for him. I think it is still an active project for Raytheon, but it requires secret clearance, etc.. They need everything from nuclear engineers to cooks for the project. To each his own. Looking back on my life, the only regrets I have are for the things I didn't do. So if it is intriguing to you, learn as much as you can about it, try to email some of the people that have already been there with Raytheon. If it still cranks your tractor, go for it. Me personally, I'd rather volunteer for major elective surgery, sans anesthesia. JP

Rock and Roll dude,...sounds like an adventure.  Kinda like football practice; tough while you're there but you make some lasting memories and long-term friends. Go shag some icicles and take a few books you've been planning to read.

I would jump on it.  I worked in some odd environments. The psychology of living there is very interesting both good and bad. But its a job that is unique, and not often available to others. Great for future bar stool stories. Psychology of Living in Antarctica The South Pole http://foresight.stanford.edu:3455/SouthPole/467 This is an interesting article about isolation and confinement in Antarctica http://www.wiredantarctica.com/science/psychology-2.html http://scicom.ucsc.edu/scinotes/0001/crazy.htm

I saw this on the discovery channel -  could be a cool opportunity.  One slight issue.  Overseas money is not tax free.  You actually have to file a US tax return for the money.  If however Antartica had its own federal taxation system which it doesn't, you would receive a credit on your US tax filing for the taxes paid to the foreign country if it and the us has a tax agreement.