This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with May Lee, a 60-year-old seasonal worker in Antarctica and former marketing and communications manager at HP. She worked at the McMurdo Station in 2025 and plans to return this year. It has been edited for length and clarity.
After a layoff from HP in 2025, I decided to try something completely new and take a job in Antarctica as a seasonal supply technician at — at 59.
My job, like the majority of jobs at McMurdo Station, followed what are known as “town hours,” which are from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
While the schedule is pretty regimented in Antarctica, there are…
