January 1, 2011... Beginning of the new year at an amazing place

This is the first day of the year 2011. We at the South Pole, were probably one of the first people to get the new year’s sunlight. Well, we had the sun all the time up in the sky. The way we celebrated the New Year was to go to the pole at midnight. Well, of course it was bright and sunny. Before we bundled up and left, I made a quick poster in the arts and crafts room to wish everyone “Happy New Year from the South Pole”. I had also drawn a map of Antarctica with South Pole marked on it. It was basically made for my folks back home, but it turned out to be a poster representing the whole South Pole wishing the world a happy New Year. The plan was made between 6 of us to go to the pole and have a toast at the midnight. We got a nice surprise when almost 50-60 people came out in their red parkas to the Pole at around 11.50 am. At the new location of the South Pole, there was a temporary marker as the ceremony of “Moving the Geographic South Pole” was supposed to take place at 10 am on Jan 1, 2011. We all stood up near the new marker. Our leader in this endeavor and the NSF representative at the Pole Vladimir Papitashvili had a GPS. He did a countdown and we all cheered “Happy New Year” at 12.00 am. Then there was a big photo session. The crowd was all bubbly and we all had a great time. My poster was extensively flashed everywhere.. ;) I am glad I had an idea of doing something like this. It was quiet windy and cold (-39 deg C with wind chill). As the cold started overpowering the enthusiasm, we decided to continue the celebration inside the galley, our dining place. Before I left the pole, I managed to get a picture at the pole with my sign and the Indian flag. I also went around the world in the shorted circle i.e. around the South Pole... :D We came inside to continue our celebration. At 1.15 am at night, in Antarctica, I had two helpings of strawberry and pecan ice cream. It was just an awesome feeling to see an enormous white landscape from the window and eat ice cream with a chill running down your spine just with the excitement. I think this was by far the best New Year celebration I had.

Early morning, I got a wakeup call from home wishing me a Happy New Year. Yes.. we all have individual rooms here with a personal phone. So, when the satellite is up, anyone could call us at this US number. It was pretty convenient. :) Charged up with the warmth of talking to my people, I got up and got ready again to brave the cold. Put on just 3 layers instead of 5 or 6 and went out to the pole at 10.00 am. It was the time for Pole moving ceremony. An experience of life time and a high honor because, everyone present there at the ceremony actively participated in the transfer. Every year, there is a new pole with a new marker. This year, the marker is shaped like a sextant used by early Antarctic explorers. We made a human chain in a shape of ‘U’ from the old pole position to the new position. The new South Pole traveled from each and every hand in the chain to its new location. I felt greatly honored when I handed over my pole to the next person.. This was indeed an experience of life time.

We brunched and set off to finish our work. It had been pretty windy today. Wind speed ~ 10 knots, temperature with wind chill -40 deg C. But, for us, the main attraction was to finish up the work as soon as possible on the New Year and get ready to come back home on 3rd Jan. :) Although, I love this place, I can't wait to be back to civilization.