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November 6, 2004Experience worthwhileIt is difficult to believe that a year has passed. I suppose life works in a similar manner. When looking back, it always seems to have gone by so quickly. My last day on the Ice was Nov. 1. One wonders if anything will be gained, other than the geographical experience, from such an adventure. I believed when I first set out that I would not gain much personally. However, I've learned a few things. One cannot underestimate the importance of patience and tolerance. Exercising these two qualities will make your life, the lives of people around you and the world a much better place. This comes from a man who has two children and who practices in the medical field. The value of these two qualities was revealed to me over and over again during the long, dark Antarctic winter. Something else was reinforced during this long adventure, and that was that adults are still children in various stages of maturation - some more advanced than others. It is not about, "I am me and I can do what I want." An argument can be made to validate this point of view as an argument could be made to validate practically every subject from a particular point of view. But, at some point, we all must step back and say, "it's not all about me." It is sometimes about us making sacrifices to benefit the whole, even at the detriment of the self. Overall, the winter was a great experience. I believe that everyone had moments of depression. The challenge lies within the individual to be able to manipulate his/her psyche to get through the grind of a simplistic daily routine that drags on for months. This place is certainly not for the weak-minded. What has made it worth it? For me it was the astronomical and atmospheric phenomena. The auroras, identifying the Magellanic Clouds, the sun circling the horizon, the stars and the walks alone in crisp cold darkness were a few of my favorites. The two phenomena that were most spectacular to me were the fantastic sundogs in the summer, and the few days before sunrise when the sky was so spectacularly rosy, accented by the earth's shadow. Both were incredibly surreal. Throughout the winter I was ready to go at anytime. As the moment of leaving approaches, there is apprehension about returning. I am certainly not ready for a party or big crowds. I find it more interesting to wander aimlessly through empty streets or sit on a log and absorb sounds and smells. Being injected back into society certainly will have its challenges for the first couple of months. I am very eager to get home and see my family, but I am going to take advantage of this opportunity and travel a bit before my return. New Zealand, Fiji and Australia are on my list to visit and absorb. I want to thank everyone for reading the articles and the wonderful e-mails I received. I hope each of you continue exploring life with the enthusiasm of a child. It passes fast, so get out and get on it. And, remember, nothing ventured nothing gained. Cheers from the South Pole! Troy Wiles, a 38-year-old physician's assistant from Frankfort, is part of a two-member medical team caring for about 600 researchers and staff at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station for a year. He is writing a journal for the Record-Eagle describing life at the pole.
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