I Have Seen the Light: Days 1 and 2 in Alaska

Hey there everyone, sorry it has been on long since my last post. I am super busy lately and since it is the weekend decided to update everyone on my status up here in the vast world of Alaska! I arrived in Anchorage, Alaska via a long trip beginning at 3:30AM in De Soto, Wisconsin and heading for the Minneapolis, Minnesota airport for my flight that left at about 9:00AM. I travelled for roughly 5 hours via plane to Anchorage. As anyone can imagine travelling by yourself has both pluses and minuses. I, having little sleep, did not much care for the prolonged stay on the runway in Minneapolis. After we took off I was a little more comfortable, the trip up was not too eventful besides seeing some amazing scenery through the plane windows, the Northern Rocky Mountains and some pretty cool Glaciers just to the Southeast of Anchorage. Once we arrived in at the Anchorage :Ted Stevens International Airport and deplaning as well as making my way down to baggage claim I was totally exhaused. But, the bags were the least of my worries, I had to figure out how I was going to get to my hostel without anyone to help me get on and off the city bus and not knowing which bus to take. If any of you have ever needed an information desk for directions and no one was there you now what I mean. There wasn't anyone in sight at the baggage claim "Info Desk." So I was on my own. I was able to find some signs to point me in the right direction of the bus however I didn't know when the bus would come. I waited for about 30 minutes and finally was walking toward the taxi line when the bus came around the corner. I got on the bus and made my way to the Downtown Transit Center. However, what I didn't realize was that bus drivers on the "airport" bus don't like people with luggage. The woman driving the bus throughly chewed some of the passengers out for having luggage in the aisles as well as taking up too many seats with extra luggage. Needless to say I was one of those people. Joy to the world there. I finally arrived at the bus station downtown and preceded to wait some more for the next bus. While waiting I was able to take in some of the colorful Anchorage residents. I never knew there would be some many people in Anchorage visiting. Many of the people I met were from other parts of the world including South Africa. When I got on the next bus I was able to relax a little this bus driver was extremely helpful and decided to give me information about where the best place stop would be and how many blocks I would need to go to get to my stop. It was nice to have someone care. I got to my hostel at about 2:00PM Anchorage time so about 5:00PM Central time. So I had been traveling for about 14 hours. I dropped my suitcases off and went in search of lunch and then a nap or more like bed time. I slept until about 5 am the next more and got up to find the best place to go shopping and ordering supplies. I took the bus to southern Anchorage to a place called Dimond Center. It was nice to be able to do a little shopping and look around the town some more. I was in Anchorage for a couple of days and then took another trip to Dillingham.

In Dillingham I had New Staff Inservice for about 14 days. I was a little much having to stay in a hotel for that long but I was able to meet many of the people I will be working with for the rest of the school year as well as all of the staff from around the district. More to come soon!!

Enjoy the weekend, I sure will!

NIKKI

And So the Packing Continues...

I don't think anyone realizes how much stuff they accumulate in the matter of ones life. I have always heard that people should move every couple of years just to get rid of extra odds and ends they may not need any longer. I move almost every 9 months and it has been more often than that lately. I have so much stuff I don't know what to do with it all! In my 23 years I didn't think people could have so much and not need it all! Goodwill here I come. I have already taken one trip this week I guess I will need to take another before I leave on Monday!!

I am still in the process of packing as can be imaged I have gotten much farther than I was last time I posted. I am not sure what all to bring and what I can live without. I am thinking MOST of the stuff I have packed and sent ahead will be enough to get me by until I can get to my apartment and get everything situated. Clothes, however, are a pain in the butt. I need to bring enough for about 2 weeks of inservices and I didn't really think I had that many outfits. Needless to say I have too many and I don't have time to ship them ahead because they won't get to my town until after I need them for school. A dilemma for sure. What's a girl to do! I am sure I will get this one figured out when I get to Anchorage if not sooner. The expensive dilemma is phone service

I have been trying to get a hold of my cell phone carrier to cancel service since I will not have cell phone service in Manokotak. However, they are being stinkers as can be imaged, because my plan isn't up until January so I have to pay a cancellation fee. This makes tons of since (sarcasm) because their company doesn't offer service in Alaska I am being penalized. The joys of adulthood and bill paying. Well, until next time take care!

Nikki <3

One Week and Counting!

Well... needless to say I am still packing boxes and shipping things. I was supposed to be done two weeks ago to make sure everything is there when I arrive at my school. I am the worlds biggest procrastinator when it comes to packing, as many of you have known for some time. So really no big surprise there.

I am starting to get nervous about the trip and wondering whether I will have everything I need when I get there. Since everything must be shipped in I have been trying to limit the amount I send, it is darn expensive to ship things up there, about a dollar a pound so I don't think I will be sending many decorative things with. Which is too bad because I will have a place of my own to decorate now. Everything and I mean everything must be shipped in and I haven't quite ordered food so I will have to get a move on that in the next couple of days if I plan on eating anything.

I will be in Alaska for about 2 weeks before I am even in my apartment or at my school. I have about a week and a half of inservices in Dillingham, Alaska prior to the last leg of my trip to Manokotak, where I will be residing for the rest of the school year. Lots of things to do and so little time. I will be teaching 4th and 5th grade in a town of about 300 people, very few cars/trucks ( about 6 total), and no roads out of town. The ONLY way to access the town is by air or water and during the winter, snowmobile.

I am looking forward to moving and meeting the rest of the staff and my students, I am also sad that I will be away from all of my family and friends. I am extending the invitation to all those who would like to make the trip to see me now so hopefully people will have the adventure seeking bug and make the trek! I will be updating this as often as I can and will be making sure to let everyone know of my adventures. I will also be sending out my address once I have set up a P.O. box and of course pictures will be coming and probably by the tons as is tradition with me. I have several memory cards for my camera ready to go! To all of you who I won't see before I leave, I will miss you all tons and take care! :)

NIKKI