Stand Up: Florence Barrow, Penguin Princess

The Stand catches up with St Andrews grad, Florence Barrow, who is about to head to the Antarctic and will be working there for the next four months.

The media seem to think you’re going to be the postmistress for the Antarctic, is that right?

I am indeed going to be the postmistress of the world’s most southerly post office.

What made you want to work in one of the most remote places in the world?

All sorts of reasons. It was by far and away the most exciting graduate prospect I came across during my search. It looked like the most amazing and unusual adventure that I could possibly dream of. As some of the press have said, “it’s a dream come true”. And it really is.

Was the application process tough?

The shortlisted candidates went through a two day assessment which involved a lot of different tasks. This was pretty difficult for someone like me (I’m not particularly practical). The basis for the tests is to see how well you work within a team and how you get on with people. Out in Port Lockroy you’ll be living with only three others on a tiny little island which can get quite claustrophobic. You can learn a lot of the technical things once you’re out there, but you really must have a character that can tolerate other people and be able to stand cramped – but beautiful – environments. I think the ability to forgive and forget all the annoying habits of your housemates is important.

Is that something you had to deal with in St Andrews?

I would say l dealt quite well with those things over the last four years.

The group I’m going to Antarctica with are also great. We’ve gotten on really well and the training we did together definitely helped. Things like camping and visiting each other’s houses has been essential bonding time. But I don’t think anyone knows exactly how the dynamic will work until we get out there and into a routine.

It’s a gruelling environment down there; did you have to do physical tests too?

I had to pass a medical. But I’m pretty healthy and active so it wasn’t that difficult. You are certainly advised to get quite fit so you don’t get a shock once you’re out there. Everything has to be carried from the ships that come to visit, so there is a lot of physically demanding work. Even stuff like drinking water has to be got by chiseling away at ice. I think it will be very hard work.

Have you been doing weightlifting to prepare yourself?

Not really, but my muscles will be huge by the time I get back!

How long does the journey out there take?

About a week in total. We’ll be taking a flight to Buenos Aires and then head off to Ushuaia and then it’s a pretty hairy trip across the Drake Passage for two or three days, depending on the weather.

And once you’re there, is it just the four of you?

Yep. For four and a half months. For safety reasons there’s no boat, so we’re stuck on the Island and depend on visiting ships to resupply us (and to let us have a hot shower onboard).

As a team we’ll be manning the post office and the museum as well as a gift shop where tourists can buy all sorts of things.

Do you sell toy penguins?

Yes. There are plenty of stuffed penguins. They’re actually called Gentoo Penguins – that’s all I know about them so far!

Have you had to memorise details about every item in the museum?

Not yet… I’ll have plenty of time for that. I do have to learn how to run a post office, which is the first task, and then I’ll focus on the museum. Next week I’m off to Cambridge to speak to penguinologists about monitoring the very large penguin colonies on the island. There’s huge variety in this job! Part postmistress, part museum caretaker, part penguin princess.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to the whole experience of living and working in Antarctica and not being a tourist. I cannot wait to see the penguins develop from little eggs, and to see very rare views of nature daily.

But most importantly, I’m looking forward to working for the Antarctic Heritage Trust. The work that they do in preserving and promoting British historic sites in Antarctica is incredibly important and I cannot wait to be part of it. It’s a really impressive organization so I’m thrilled to be going with them and being one of their ambassadors.

Are you part of Britain’s delegation to the penguin colonies?

Yes. We will be flying the Union Jack! Actually, the Island was chosen as a base because there were no penguins there during WWII, so they are a recent addition!

Finally, for all those St Andrews students who are looking enviously at what you’re about to do, how can they apply?

I’d suggest they go to ukaht.co.uk and apply for the following season. There’s lots of new and exciting prospects coming up in the next couple of years within the Trust; it’s a great time to be involved. If you speak languages (we give tours and talks to up to 15,000 visitors from all over the world) and if you want to do something different and worthwhile I would recommend it, and that’s before I’ve even been out there myself! It really is an incredible project.

Thank you!