My Journey To The Ice

Basically, you are not allowed to do anything down here until you’ve had safety training in the that area (whatever area that may be).  I’m surprised we haven’t had toilet training because who knows, if you sit to pee incorrectly, you could fall in, injure yourself to the point where you need to be medivaced right back to New Zealand.  In that light, I got busted for going on an illegal hike (please see “Perspective”).  I’ve been sent to the Principal’s Office, reprimanded, and informed that I need to take my Outdoor Safety Class before venturing off base again.  And apparantly word has spread around the base of my illegal activity because it seems to be the station scuttlebut (is that a word?).  Do people really care?  Anyway, I think they are cutting me some slack because the authorities that be seemed impressed by my daring adventure out to Castle Rock on my fourth day here.  At 20 below zero. 

Let’s go back to Perspective.  It’s really cold today.  People are actually admitting that.  So, if 20 below is “warm”, I’m guessing it’s 40 below?  Maybe colder?  I don’t know.  There’s no thermometer here.  I don’t understand this. 

Ok, moving onto the Prison Shower. I live in a dorm that has lots of doors and lots of hallways.  If I go into a door other than the one I know, I will get lost roaming the halls for hours on end trying to locate my room.  So, I stick to what I know.  Now, there are few women’s bathrooms on my floor.  There is a nice and quiet one down the hall and through the woods with two private showers.  However, there is never hot water when I want to shower.  So, I found another communal bathroom, on the other side (through some random door and other woods) that does have hot water.  HOWEVER, the showers are communal and I find this mentally disturbing.  Girls don’t like this.  We need to shower privately.  But, no, I am stuck in the communal shower, otherwise known as the “Prison Shower.”  Fortunately for me, no one else is bathing at 3 in the afternoon.  So, I get the Prison Shower to myself.