This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with May Lee, a 59-year-old seasonal worker in Antarctica and former marketing and communications manager at HP. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I joined Hewlett-Packard in 1987 as a software engineer intern. As a graduate, I wanted to sign on for life with a good company that I knew I could be loyal to and would be as loyal as a company could be.
I didn’t want to climb the corporate ladder or jump from company to company. If I hadn’t been downsized last February, I would never have left.
There were signs that the writing was on the wall, such as a hiring freeze and a temporary reduction in my work hours, but in the end, it came as a surprise. I had hoped to work there for probably another five-something years.
I felt a combination of disappointment and sadness. This was the company I’ve devoted my entire career to and had hoped to retire from.
Now looking back, if I could speak to that version of myself who had just been let go, I would tell her: Don’t worry about it. You’re getting ready for the wildest ride of your life — one that will change you forever. And that’s exactly what happened.
I had the financial groundwork in place
The month after the layoff, I was in intense job-hunting mode. I applied for jobs at other tech companies, but despite having an extensive network and receiving referrals, I was not getting any offers.
Then one of my really good friends from HP gave me some great advice. She said, “May, you’ve already paid off your house. You don’t need the high-tech salary. You have so many things that you’re interested in. You should look into maybe working in some of those areas.”
I had been to Antarctica twice before on vacation and loved it. I didn’t know whether you could work there, so I looked into it and, to my amazement, found that you can.
Getting a job in Antarctica is competitive. After a lengthy application process that included an extensive background check and a physical qualification, I got a job as a supply technician at Amentum.
The only downside was the extremely low pay. However, my dad raised me to understand the importance of saving and not spending money you don’t have. So, I had the luxury of having a financial groundwork in place and did not have to worry about paying a mortgage or affording bills.
McMurdo Station is like a college town
Deploying down there in 2025 was a crazy adventure in itself. We flew to Auckland, and then to Christchurch, before being flown on the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to Antarctica.
Most people at McMurdo Station work six days a week between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. I was responsible for Warehouse 120, which was the IT and communications warehouse.
I’d forklift cargo into the warehouse and check we had the right quantity of every order against the database. There was a lot of physical outdoor work, such as lifting boxes, in my role. This was new to me as someone who had always worked a desk job.
From a social standpoint, working in Antarctica is like being at a miniature college town. It’s very old school because there’s not much internet access down there. Everybody gets through their data allotment very quickly.
This was refreshing because it meant nobody was on their phones. Everybody sits and talks with each other at meal times.
You wouldn’t believe how many activities there are. There’s everything from art shows to line dancing, marathons to weekly bingo. I even volunteered to be a DJ and had a show called “Ms. Purple!!’s 80’s on the 8” every week.
I can’t wait to go back
Within a week of being there, I knew I wanted to make Antarctica the rest of my career. I don’t think I could ever approach my life in any other way, now that I’ve been there.
The community is so supportive of each other. I’ve never seen that kind of camaraderie and inclusivity anywhere else.
The majority of Jobs in Antarctica are seasonal, so I’m going back to McMurdo in the fall — this time working as a broadcast engineer.
My life is not what I thought it would be when I first started my career, but I’ve learned that when something happens, I just kind of roll with it. You can always reinvent yourself.
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