04/07/2020 I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here's What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back | Reader's Digest

I Was
     Isolated
Share foron aFacebook
 Share Year in Antarctica—Here’s
Next     

What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back

Rachael Robertson, as told to Stacey Marcus

Updated: Jun. 22, 2020

While you may not have been quite this isolated over the last few months,
reentry into life after lockdown might be bumpier than you expect.

Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we
may earn an affiliate commission.

COURTESY RACHAEL ROBERTSON

My journey to isolation in Antarctica was somewhat accidental. I saw an advertisement in a

print publication for a job as a station leader for an expedition to Davis Station, Antarctica
—and I have to confess, it was the penguin in the ad that caught my attention. The ad
noted that they could “teach Antarctica” but were looking for someone with resilience,

https://www.rd.com/article/isolated-for-a-year-in-antarctica/ 2/14
04/07/2020 I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here's What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back | Reader's Digest

empathy, and integrity to Share

lead on
a diverse team of multiskilled expeditioners on a wide range
    
Share 
Facebook Next     
of science, infrastructure, and logistics programs in one of the most remote, isolated, and
beautiful places on the planet. I went to the job interview mostly interested in discovering
the questions they would ask to find empathy. I was then sent to boot camp with 13 men
competing for a job that I didn’t even really want but knew I would regret if I didn’t go for it.

Leading 18 strangers around the clock for a full year—through months of darkness and
with no escape from the frigid cold, howling winds, or one another—I learned some
powerful lessons. As the youngest and only second female expedition leader at Davis
Station, I have firsthand knowledge about what it feels like to come out of months of
isolation. I’ve been sharing my story for a while (my expedition was in 2005), but it has
never had more relevance than it has right now. When people reenter life after months of
lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, they will have different responses. Some will
be very excited and will look forward to getting back to the office; others will be anxious
and stressed out. Most people will fall somewhere in the middle. We don’t know how
people will respond, but we do know that it won’t be the same for everyone. Here were my
surprising reactions to reentering life after isolation.

The noise level seemed louder

After being in isolation, the noise in the outside world seemed louder. Noise will be huge
after lockdown. I think about how New York City is a cacophony of sounds and now the
streets are empty. Gosh, it took me about six months to get used to how noisy life is. I
limited the time I spent outside and gradually built up my tolerance for noise. It was quite
startling at the beginning—especially the constant drone or hum of a city. Antarctica is
completely silent—there are no birds tweeting, no trees blowing their leaves. It’s silent.

When will things go back to normal? Here’s what a post-coronavirus life could look like.

Life felt like it was suddenly zooming by

The pace of my life in Antarctica was very slow. Just like everyone’s life in lockdown is
going at a slower pace, I had gotten used to moving at a slower speed. When I first got into
my car and went for a ride, I felt like I was speeding, even though I wasn’t. People have
been used to working at home and going to Zoom meetings. It will feel strange to
physically have to get into your car, zoom to work, and resume the busyness of life.

Choices were overwhelming

https://www.rd.com/article/isolated-for-a-year-in-antarctica/ 3/14
04/07/2020 I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here's What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back | Reader's Digest

When I was on the expedition, we did not have a lot of choices. I had no choice of what to
    
Share 
Share on Facebook Next     
wear, when to work, or what to eat. The chef gave us two choices, so you either ate the
Indian curry or the pasta. When I first came home and went to the cereal aisle and saw 30
types of muesli, I got a bit overwhelmed. I also didn’t have to worry about buying a
wedding present or driving to an extracurricular activity. Life was simple in isolation.

Hugs were uncomfortable

Because I was leading the expedition, I couldn’t have any physical contact with anyone
else—zero. There were no handshakes, no flirting, and no hugs. I couldn’t afford for a
simple gesture of empathy, such as a hug or a placed hand on the shoulder, to be
misinterpreted as a sign of romantic interest. It went against my natural desire not to
comfort someone who was distraught with a big hug, but it’s what I had to do to maintain
professional boundaries. After a year of this, it became my normal.

COURTESY RACHAEL ROBERTSON

I was a big hugger before this trip and thought I would be craving attention when I arrived
at home, but I was not. In fact, when I came out of isolation, it was a huge challenge to be
constantly hugged by every family member, every friend, even old work colleagues. They
were proud of me and wanted to show me by offering a big hug, but I needed to get used
to it. So I pulled back on social engagements and spent the first six weeks back home with
only my family and very closest friends.

https://www.rd.com/article/isolated-for-a-year-in-antarctica/ 4/14
04/07/2020 I Was Isolated for a Year in Antarctica—Here's What Surprised Me Most When I Came Back | Reader's Digest

After lockdown, we will see a spectrum of reactions. But we should Next

all respect one another,
    
Share 
Share on Facebook     
acknowledge each person’s varying comfort levels, and realize we may also feel uneasy
until we find a vaccine. Check out these 20 photos that will define the era of social
distancing.

My immune system was off

Viruses do not live in Antarctica. When I was in the harsh and bitter cold, I was perfectly
healthy. When I returned back home, I picked up every virus in Australia. I was totally
unprepared for the way my immune system reacted.

To stay healthy, these 13 everyday habits could (and should) change forever after
coronavirus.

Things were harder as we neared the end of our isolation

The third quarter was the most difficult time—not just for me, but for all of us on the
expedition. That was when all the fighting and emotional outbursts happened. I thought the
roughest part would be in the middle in the winter, but that was easy compared to the third
quarter. We were over it, and many people actually started saying that. I think what made it
really tough was that we could see the finish line, but weren’t quite there.

Being “over it” could lead to other problems in this case. Here’s what a second wave of
coronavirus could look like.

I was more focused

After I emerged from isolation in Antarctica, I wrote two best-selling books and became an
international motivational speaker. Being in isolation as the leader, without anyone telling
me what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong, meant I had to do a lot of self-
reflection. I kept a journal, and every day, I would reflect on how I had operated as a
leader. That discipline of evaluating myself taught me what I got right and wrong, as I had
no one tapping me on the shoulder to tell me. It’s like standing on a balcony and looking
down at yourself. While I was in lockdown in Australia due to the pandemic, my reaction
was similar: I created my own production company at home and continued to reach people
around the world.

I often think back to when I saw the picture of the penguin that inspired me to look at the
ad for the job. It’s like the movie Sliding Doors—a moment that changed my life completely.
https://www.rd.com/article/isolated-for-a-year-in-antarctica/ 5/14