Chichi's Ice Adventure: Signs of McMurdo

Here at McMurdo, there is a sign posted for just about everything. Some are strange, some are not-all-that interesting, and some are rather amusing. (Captions listed below the photos).

In case you wake up and wonder exactly where you are.

Conservation is important, both for energy...

and water.

Another way of saying "please recycle and use this stuff so I don't have to deal with throwing it away." But the cliche holds true here that what is garbage to one person is a treasure to someone else.
We even have a building and collection bins labeled SKUA (named after a seagull like scavenger bird) that acts as the "Good Will" for McMurdo Station.

Recycling and sorting trash is essential on the ICE because everything has to be shipped back to the US to be dealt with properly. Each person is responsible for sorting all of their own trash - here you see some of the many categories.

For those of you who don't know, this is a joke - there are no Polar Bears at the South Pole (they are only in the Arctic at the North Pole). It seems to be a relatively common misunderstanding, similar to the confusion between Alaska and Antarctica.

Unlike the real world, there is not much privacy or ability to dispose of personal hygiene items discreatly - but, it is vital to the health and safety of the community, so however embarassing it may be, condoms and other bodily fluid containing waste must be disposed of properly.

Where blood and guts go...or bandaids, used q-tips, etc.

This seems like it would almost be common sense, however, whilst tramping around the Galley (Cafeteria & gathering place) and other indoor areas, one often is still clad in their Big Red (giant parka) and maneuvering even hallways can be dangerous.

Everything here has to be labeled. Any liquid or questionable substance that is not labeled is treated as hazardous waste.
During training, there were constantly reminders NOT to label water bottles with hazardous waste stickers - no matter how cool they look.

Because, really, if everyone had the manners of Mr. Rogers, how wonderful would the world be?

Another part of conservation - we're limited to one load of laundry per week and to accomodate the number of people on station, it helps if people stick to their laundry day.

Tee hee. This sign is located outside the gym - why it is there, I have no idea. But that particular parking space is reserved strickly for New Zealanders.

A creative illustration as to why it is important to wash your hands - listing any/everything that could be living on them. There is a handwashing station just outside the Galley and all over the station.

Like the sign says, while water conservation is important, flush your pee and poo away.

This one is amusing only because of its location: the mens restroom door.

I actually just thought this would make a cool industrial art looking picture...and I think it does.

SO METAPHORIC and yet completely literal as well. And industrially artsy also.

This is the actual label that goes on cargo indicating: DO NOT FREEZE. I thought about making a DNF suite and wearing it for Halloween, alas, I'm not feeling all that motivated.