In Calvert Journal, a journal about “the new east” ABCC cowriter Carol Devine tells of learning Russian in a strange way and glimpses into Russian and Soviet Antarctic history tasted during the cleanup expedition at Bellingshausen station with Wendy Trusler. With images by Wendy, Carol and Sandy Nicholson and a few bonus ones from other Russian Antarctic activities in Antarctica.

from The Calvert Journal, image Sandy Nicholson

“The next time I practiced my memorised phrases it was five years later in a place that felt like the moon.

“Where did you learn Russian?” Sergey, the Russian base commander, asked.”

…

The most famous (and best named) of the six defunct Russian bases is the Pole of Inaccessibility: Polyus nedostupnosti, the place on the continent furthest from any ocean. Short-lived as a base due to its harsh location, a small team did meteorological observations there for 12 days in December 1958

Hospital at Bellingshausen Russian station, Antarctica 1995

Vostok Station Antarctica, National Science Foundation/Josh Landis