Concordia Base Log
By: Adrianos Golemis, ESA research MD
Time: L-90 (August 2013)
Temperature: -
Week: -
Sunlight: -
Morale: So-so
Temperature: -
Week: -
Sunlight: -
Morale: So-so
Log Entry #3 – The
Calling
My
selection for the Medical Research post at Concordia did not go unnoticed by
friends and acquaintances. As I was struggling with the decision I had ultimately
to make, more and more people found out about my upcoming adventure and sent
their congratulations or wishes. This feeling was sometimes pleasant, sometimes
a bit intrusive. For example, I knew I would have to hold a long conversation
about Concordia every time I was introduced to a new person by one of my
friends: “This is Adrian, he’s off to Antarctica”!
People
are easily amazed or astonished when they hear that you‘re about to set aside
the world’s little community and live with a band of brothers what they
sometimes perceive to be an ascetic life. Seldom do they realize the full
implementation of such an endeavour – the positive and negative aspects. Most
do not comprehend what 12 months in the Antarctic
desolation mean, in a place where white is the only sight around, no birds,
animals or people pass by for the entire winter and the food is fresh only in
the summer. On the other hand, people also do not anticipate many pleasant
facts, like that from Dome Circe one has the opportunity to admire the majesty
of the Southern Lights as well as the
myriad of jewels in the clearest sky on the planet.
Obviously,
my knowledge about these is also limited. It is only after a year’s stay at
Concordia that I might have a full appreciation of what the experience is like.
One must prepare however!
Aside
from what the world thinks, you have to battle your own inner demons to be able
to set your mind to go (let alone to face your loved ones and utter the words).
Doubt can be omnipresent; for every great moment you imagine in that shelter
amidst the ice, there’s a juxtaposition in your thoughts, born out of your
inner weaknesses. In my case, many a time failures of the past occupied my mind,
giving rise to doubts. This did not transpire with distress; it was more as if
a tribunal was constantly going on in my head – and the defense presented their many arguments before the
judge would say “Aye, let’s go to Concordia!” or “Forget about it”.
One
of the recurring themes in this internal struggle was adaptability.
I remember the first time I attended a summer camp, it was just five days but I
quit on the third. The next year I went on to join a different camp for 10 days
– and survived. Although I am very confident that my ability to adapt has improved
greatly through the years, a concern in your head is always a concern and only
with time can it be relieved. And time was the key aspect here.
Over
time, slowly I was dragged into this hype that surrounded me every time I
mentioned Concordia and my unresolved dilemma. In general I enjoyed sharing the
thoughts with family, friends and loved ones, however at times it was tiresome
to engage in long series of explanations when someone would ask me “So - where
are you going to work next year?” Still, this repetitive procedure eventually
allowed the idea to mature in my head – and that was a blessing.
After
a few weeks I realized how mindful I had to be. I had to make sure I am finally
going to the Antarctic for a year because of my own deep reasons, not because
society found it to be “cool”.
It
was fortunate that I had spent the previous year at the International Space University, a higher education institute that
(as the name suggests) is devoted to the studies of space. ISU (Picture #4)
brings together people from different cultures and backgrounds, combining their
efforts in a unique amalgam. Visiting ISU during the summer in order to attend
the alumni conference brought rays of hope into my heart: I came closer to making
my final decision. Meeting old friends who were excited about space sciences –
exactly the kind that I would have to implement at Concordia – coupled with
their harmonious, multicultural polyphony, helped me shape my decision a lot. Diego
and Roman, who had been through similar experiences in confinement, aided me to
realize what I should expect from a year’s stay at the world’s end, plus how to
cope with it (and as my girlfriend says, Anja played no small role as well!).
Picture
#4: The International Space University, a place that makes dreams come true
While
I started partially preparing for the case that I might go, it wasn’t till I
visited the Sacred Rock of Acropolis in Athens (Picture #5) that I fully made
up my mind about going.
Watching
the Greek flag dance in the arms of the wind at the birthplace of democracy, my
thoughts dwelled upon another flag that was waving fiercely in the Antarctic:
The first Greek to ever visit Concordia, Dr. Evangelos Kaimakamis in 2012, had
hoisted the blue and white banner in the middle of Dome Circe. This moment was
immortalized in the social media and I had caught sight of the image on the
internet. It was a fleeting memory suddenly rekindled in my thought a summer
morning, under the shade of the Parthenon, and deep inside I yearned to live
the same experience at Concordia.
“Walking on the relics of history, like sculptors we craft
the curves of our future.”
Picture
#5: The Parthenon, bathed in light
That
was the moment of transition in me. From someone who was selected to go to
Concordia, I felt I became someone who himself opted to go, without fear or
second thoughts, I breathed in the air of this forthcoming unique adventure.
Back
at ISU, friends were excited. I remember Dani joking with me: “Promise me you
will go to Concordia, Adrian”. Her commanding look as she spoke these words, a
characteristic probably stemming from her Serbian origin, left me little
choice! A few days later, Szymon told me over a glass of beer in our graduation
night: “You have to go, Adrianos! You have
to go, for all of us!”.
“It was an April morning when they told us we should go,
As I looked at you, you smiled at me – how could we say no?
With all the fun to have, to live the dreams we always had
With all the songs to sing, when we at last return again”
As I looked at you, you smiled at me – how could we say no?
With all the fun to have, to live the dreams we always had
With all the songs to sing, when we at last return again”
I
could not reject the calling. I had to answer it. And even more, I wanted to do
so. ҉
Twitter: @Astrovenator
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