Roppolo explained that her adventure to Antarctica began during a wedding conversation with a scientist friend who had recently returned from deployment there. Before that moment, she believed only scientists could travel to Antarctica. Learning that an entire community exists to support research operations sparked an immediate fascination that she described as deeply personal and impossible to ignore.
Within moments of hearing about the opportunity, she found herself announcing to friends that she was going to Antarctica, despite having no plan and little understanding of what the experience would involve. The idea stayed with her, and after a year and a half of persistence, she secured a position on the continent.
While stationed at McMurdo Station, Roppolo worked as a janitor, a role she proudly described as one of the best jobs on the base because it allowed her to interact with nearly everyone living and working there. Instead of remaining isolated within a single department, she traveled throughout the station daily, meeting scientists, workers, and support staff from all over the world.
She also described the overwhelming first moments of arriving in Antarctica aboard a military cargo plane departing from Christchurch, New Zealand. Stepping onto the ice in temperatures reaching negative 36 degrees forced her to confront the harsh reality of the continent almost instantly. The isolation, extreme cold, and uncertainty about whether she could handle the work or environment all hit her at once.
Even with experience handling Midwest winters, Antarctica presented challenges unlike anything she had experienced before. Her dorm room remained only 55 degrees, forcing her to sleep fully bundled in her heavy parka beneath every blanket she could find.
During the conversation, Roppolo discussed common misconceptions people have about Antarctica, including how many children and even adults confuse the habitats of penguins and polar bears. She emphasized that penguins live in the south while polar bears belong in the Arctic north.
Despite the brutal climate, she described Antarctica as one of the most beautiful places she has ever seen. The endless white landscape, the active volcano Mount Erebus, and the complete isolation created a feeling she likened to living on another planet. She said the experience often felt like astronauts colonizing a distant world.
Antarctica was only the beginning of Roppolo’s adventures. She later spent 14 years living in Hawaii, an experience that inspired another upcoming book in the series, “Grandma Goes to Hawaii and Stays for 14 Years.” She described Hawaii as magical and filled with welcoming people who made the islands feel like a hidden paradise.
Her travels also led her to New Zealand, particularly the South Island, which she praised for its beauty and hospitality. She expressed interest in eventually exploring New Zealand’s North Island as well.
Roppolo also shared details about another unforgettable adventure that became part of her growing collection of travel stories. While living in Hawaii, she received an invitation to visit a private island in the remote South Pacific Ocean near Pitcairn Island, famous for its connection to the Mutiny on the Bounty. Despite having no camping experience and knowing the island lacked infrastructure, she accepted the invitation simply because the opportunity felt too unique to pass up.
The conversation turned toward her writing career, which had also begun with a brief but impactful exchange. While working in Antarctica, a fellow station resident and award-winning author encouraged her to write a children’s book about her experiences. That suggestion eventually became “Grandma Goes to Antarctica.”
Roppolo originally believed the book would stand alone, but it quickly evolved into a series as readers connected with her adventures. She explained that the “grandma” perspective became important because her grandchildren’s teachers initially doubted the stories about Antarctica, assuming she must have been in Alaska instead.
In addition to her children’s books, Roppolo also wrote “Surreal,” a more detailed adult-oriented account of her five months living and working in Antarctica.
One of the most rewarding aspects of her writing career has been visiting schools and hearing from students inspired by her stories. She described receiving letters from children who discovered new perspectives about the world through her books. Seeing students return year after year, excited to learn more about her travels, has become one of the highlights of her work.
Roppolo recently appeared at the Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques and Americana, and said the organization is already planning to invite her back in 2027 to discuss her South Pacific adventures.
Listeners interested in learning more about Jeanne Roppolo and her books can visit her website at grandmagoesto.com.
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