New Delhi, Oct. 3 -- A layoff after more than three decades at Hewlett-Packard pushed May Lee into a career she had never planned. At 60, she is working seasonally in Antarctica, where her days now begin at 6.30 AM and can end with a visit to a nightclub despite the sun still being visible outside.

Lee worked at HP for more than 30 years before she was laid off in February 2025. After struggling to find another job in the technology sector, she decided to explore a long-standing interest in Antarctica. She had previously visited the continent twice as a tourist but had never considered working there.

She eventually secured a seasonal position with Amentum as a supply technician at McMurdo Station, one of the major US research stations i...