Moving to Alaska!!

Glacier

Glacier sliding into lake

Glacier Trails

Glacier Trails

August 2 -I flew to Anchorage!!! It was soooo exciting... I was blessed to get an exit row, window seat for the 8 hours from Atlanta to Anchorage... and then even better, I was on the right side of the plane. What does that mean? Coming across from Canada into Alaska, I had a great view of the mountains and glaciers and they were beautiful!!!! I took 25 pictures!! I arrived at 6:30 to very friendly teachers who got me settled in and then one of the district office people took us all out to eat!!!! Went to the Sourdough Mining Company -which used to be a gold mining company and now is an excellent restaurant!!

My room at University of Alaska Achorage

My View from the UAA room

I spent the week in Anchorage -staying at the University of Alaska for only$50/night -far cheaper than any other place in Anchorage during the summer. I got my drivers' license, a phone -my first phone with a plan and camera, and some food! I visited Earthquake park, where you can still see the damage from a 1964 earthquake that caused an area in Anchorage to just cave in. I also met up with a friend who happened to be in town and we went out to a great pizza place!!

On August 6th, I flew to Nome where I spent the weekend with a friend. We went berry picking and salmon fishing and four-wheeling down the beach! We also made a fire on the beach and cooked hotdogs!! It was a wonderful time!!! I boarded an airplane for Golovin on Sunday afternoon -so exciting... going to see my new home for the first time!!!!!

Hot Dogs on the Beaches of Nome!

The rough areas are literally hundreds of salmon spawning in just a foot or two of water!

AHHHH!!!   The Bering Sea is quite refreshing this time of year!!!!!

Rock from the side of a hill -mined and chopped up to build sea walls and make gravel.

Sunset over the Bering Sea

Who knew it could be this calm between the US and Russia -hahah!!!!

A walk by the Bering Sea

Successful berry picking! Salmon (Cloud), blue, and black (like currant) berries

I went berry picking with Charles!

I forgot to get a picture of the gold-mining camp on the other side... but who would've thought to see that in Nome?

Packing up for our fishing trip and ride on the beach!

The arch!!  They drag it onto the road for the mushers to cross under in March!!!

This was SOOOO fun!!!!  Though driftwood burns fast -there was plenty of it!

A salmon or cloud berry -sweet and tart at the same time!

Salmon -yum!!!!

White Alice (0n top of Anvil Mountain)- government is deciding her fate now that the Cold War is over.

 So this was taken a month after my first trip to Nome, but I thought it fit here.

Inside the big gold pan!

 Reindeer tracks on the beaches of Nome!

 

 I love finding these purple starfish!!

My first flight on a bush plane!!!  Golovin, here I come!!!!!

 Past Rocky Point

 This is why you have to wait until it freezes to take a snow machine or 4 wheeler to Nome!

First glimpse of my new home!!

 
I later learned that this is downtown.

Speeding through the summer!

Long time, no post... just been very busy. It is now 3 months later.

In June, I shipped 31 tubs and boxes to myself in AK, helped my brother move from CA to NC with a moving truck, and his blazer pulling a horse trailer loaded with Marleygoat, 4 chickens, and 2 dogs. Everyone arrived safely, and the countryside was beautiful to see -though next time, I want to leave time to explore.

July found me taking my horse to Scotia, NY where Joel and family are enjoying having him around and Caroline is getting to ride him for lessons. After 10 years, he is finally earning some money -though not much... everytime he gives a lesson, he earns $5.00 that will go to Caroline's lessons!! He is being used for a 13 year old twice a week and she is jumping him -yeah!! I am already missing Zeke, but he seems to be happy and he has a lot of people who just love giving him attention. I can't wait to see pictures of him in the snow!! He is used to winter southern-style, so it will be interesting to see how he does. Usually he grows a thick winter coat and then sweats a lot... my guess is he won't be sweating this winter!!!

Mall of America

After calling bunches of people and sharing my wonderful, awesome news -I went to wait for the hotel shuttle to take me to the Mall of America. While in the lobby, I met a guy who had also just gotten hired and was as wired and excited as I was!! So, we went to find find food in the Mall. Yikes!! Over 400 stores on 3 1/2 floors. Overwhelming, but definitely an adventure.... and I ended up spending several hours there on Saturday.

Successfully arrived home on Sunday -high on life and extrememly excited to share my news with the world!!

A job fair in Minnesota??

So, I took a day off from school and spent $500 to go to a job fair in Minnesota. Am I nuts? Don't answer that!!

I arrive 3 hours early -time to rest, eat lunch, shower, and assemble 30, yes 30 application packets!! Practically wore out a printer and went through an entire black ink cartridge printing out everything I put in those packets, but.....

It paid off!! I went into the room where the job fair was being held, was approached by two men and we started chatting. Turn out is was the HR director and the superintendent for Bering Straits school district -one of my top 5 choices!!! They chatted with me for about 20 minutes, sent me off to interview with a school board member and a principal for about 30 minutes, decided they like me!!

Next, they called the principal at the school where they thought I would fit in at and I talked to her for about 40 minutes (or so it seemed)! That was weird, it was my first conversation with a satellite phone and I wasn't prepared for the delay. Luckily she understood that and didn't think I was trying to talk over her -LOL!!

Well, while that was going on, the superintendent was calling my references!!! Didn't reach any of them, but apparently really liked me, because..... they offered me a contract!!! WOO - HOO!!!

This whole deal took about 3 hours!! Now what? My plane doesn't leave until Sunday morning!