Mildly Interesting @lemmy.world Flying Squid @lemmy.world 8 mo. ago

Do you like to be ridiculously cold for five months, surrounded by a horrible smell the whole time? Have I got a job for you!

www.smithsonianmag.com You Could Run a 'Penguin Post Office' in Antarctica

Three new hires will spend five months living among gentoo penguins and sorting postcards at the world's southernmost post office

31 comments

Not only do you get to be surrounded by penguin shit for 5 months, there's no running water so you have to pee/crap in a bucket/outhouse, and they said the only time you can shower is when passing cruise ships let you. Also, due to the terrain, you basically can't go anywhere. Finally, there's practically no phone or internet connection either! Sounds like paradise! Sign me up!
- So I can finally make progress on my video game backlog?
  
  Just make sure you download them before you set sail
  
  You also have to count thousands of penguins and sort about 25,000 letters.
If there ever was a job posting that should include what it pays, this is it.
- You have to poop in a bucket and don't get showers for 5 months during the cold antarctic season? That better pay well.
  
  Edit: Base leader gets paid £1,895 per month. Not even close to enough.
  
  £1,375 for the General Assistant. I made more than that working fast food!
  
  Reading the full description, it seems to also include room, board, and some winter clothing.
  
  Yeah but you get to go to Antarctica
I mean......I'm a Turkey farmer I doubt penguin is much different
- I'm guessing your breath doesn't turn into ice crystals the second it exits your lungs on your turkey farm most of the time.
  
  Ummm actually. I live in Michigan. Our breath turns to ice crystals most of the year.
Henry Rollins told a story about passing penguins in Antartica and the stench. Regardless, I'd still be stoked to see penguins in the wild.
65F is cold. Guess my answer.
Can I do it for free?
- Maybe. But wouldn't you rather be paid if you have to shit in an outhouse while endlessly smelling penguin shit for five months while you deal with a bunch of idiot tourists who think a cruise to Antarctica is a good idea?
  
  Nah, I do it for the love of the game. No need to sully it with greed.
If I was 21 and single, hell yes. I regret not doing weird stuff like this.
- I honestly considered working in Antarctica when I was in my 20s. I'm glad I didn't get any farther than looking at Raytheon's job listings for a while because the more I read about life there, the more I am glad I didn't go. There are a ton of sexual harassment issues and a lot of alcoholism. I think it sounds romantic, but we don't really understand how bleak it is and how it's just not a place we're supposed to live until we get there.
This sounds like the new season of the mighty boosh

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