Glossary of Terms

McMurdo has its own language of sorts. Here are a few ice-isms -- feel free to try these at home:

• The Ice - Antarctica
• Polie - A South Pole resident, also a rock cover band from the Pole.
• Mac Town - What polies call McMurdo
• Fingee - That's what I am. Derived from FNG, for F-ing New Guy. (I prefer to call my self a newbee). (Can be a verb, meaning to go through orientation together. "You'll find the best friends you make here are the ones you fingeed with.")
• Returnee - Veteran of the ice
• Ice time - how long you have been a veteran of the ice
• Skua - 1. An Antarctic bird known for it's scanvenging. 2. Sort of a free Goodwill Store at McMurdo where people can leave clothing, etc. for others to scavenge. 3. v. To Skua - to either donate something to Skua or score something great at Skua. "Hey, where'd you get that awesome sweater?" "I skuaed it."
• Freshies - Fresh fruits and vegetables. (A rarity in the winter and later parts of the summer.)
• Kiwi Station - Scott Base, the New Zealand Station about 2 miles away from McMurdo