A blogger's vision

Ok, so far I haven't really had a clear idea of what I wanted from this blog or what you've wanted from me, which is probably why I haven't been that into it.  I feel like I need to take a minute to collect my thoughts and vision here.
I know people are curious about what life is like out here and I get that, but I go back and forth between "oh, it's really pretty normal out here" and "oh man, it's so different, I don't know where to begin."  Like I said, I need to collect my thoughts.

Maybe let's start with some basic thoughts:

I think I'm a winter girl, I haven't minded the cold cold.  Yes I realize I didn't experience a full winter here, but still.  I remember saying last winter in Colorado, thinking I was going to be in Seattle this winter, "man, I'm going to miss a real winter." Ha.

I like village travel. A lot.  I'm not sure I would enjoy working in Fairbanks only, it's not super interesting here.  However, village work and life is super interesting.  I'm really seeing how much my experiences as a solo foreign traveller are helping my career these days- it's cool to see how God has potentially selfish experiences for His future work.

I'm having an identity crisis of sorts- I'm slowly becoming "Mikaila who wears glasses all the time."  I bet a deal of you know me with glasses on, but now I need them all the time and got a stronger prescription to prove it (ok, also because I needed it).  And, most of my friends are through work where I go by Mikaila, so I'm having a hard time becoming Mikki.  I like using Mikaila professionally, but I think I'd rather Mikki at work than Mikaila outside of work.  We'll see how that goes...

I can't escape the Mennonites- they're suddenly everywhere in my life!  And I like it.  3 of the 4 people I work closest with have Mennonite backgrounds, how crazy is that?!  I've been attending a Mennonite gathering that meets once a month.  That has actually been my main faith community as I'm trying to figure out where I belong in the Christian world these days.  That leads me to my next thought...

I've been realizing how much I've grown from my time in voluntary service.  From the housemates, friends, faith community, public health work, scenery, lack of income, and the whole community of the San Luis Valley.  I think in a lot of good ways and some ways I'd like to work through- with all my alone time out here, I'm getting some discipline to do that.

There are many times when I remember why I didn't want to move to a new place again.  I didn't want to start over- again.  This is the 3rd/4th-ish time (coming back to Chicago after graduating and traveling was weird) I've moved to a place where basically I knew no one, not to mention the months I have spent traveling and just meeting people as I go.  Yes, these were all decisions I made and where I do feel God brought me, but it's hard to not be able to share an experience or connection with people you have known for more than a year (does that make sense? it seems a little jumbled, but not sure how to express it better, hopefully you have known me for more than a year and can maybe make out what I meant there).

I want to be honest here.  I don't want this to be a "look how cool my life is when it's actually not" blog (that's what Facebook is for, right?), which is maybe also a reason I haven't been writing.  Not that things haven't been cool, but it's hard to admit possible struggles (including the dreaded, but I think totally natural, question of "was this the right decision?") without my fear that you might pity me and think I'm too silly for any good.  There are things that are difficult, but not disastrous, and I'd like to tell you about them.  Adventures are fun and crazy, but I don't think it's really an adventure if you're not a little freaked out from time to time.  Ultimately, I do trust God brought me here and know He will work things out, not sure where you stand on that but that's where I'm at.

Alright, now that I have some of that out there, I'll start working on some posts about what my life and work is like.  Another thing is that I feel like it's only been in the last month or so that I've actually been doing my job!  Thank you for bearing with me and coming along on this journey with me in a modern way!

Ok, if you're only here for photos, I'll oblige because it is so beautiful out here...

Anaktuvuk Pass, one of my favorite villages!

Flying to Anaktuvuk, I don't know if you can tell but we're THROUGH the mountains, not over them like normal, it's incredible!

Wait, what do you mean?

First off, I'm not sure about this blog, I'm just not that into it this time, even though there are things that are pretty interesting up here, there's a lot of just normal day-to-day (I'm-inside-sewing-all-day) life.  We'll see how this goes, but thanks for stopping by...

So, while I'm still in the US, there are things about life up here that are much different than the continental US.  There are some terms and expressions that are a little confusing.  Here's a list of some new terms I've been learning:

Village: Before I came out here, the term "village" seemed a little degrading, but it is a legitamite term taht just refers to the small "bush" villages that are still populated throughout the state.

Bush or brush: Off the road system.  Many of the villages I visit do have roads to anywhere.  You have fly, boat, dog mush, or snowmachine in (so far, I've only flown in).

Lower 48 or The States:  This refers to the rest of contiguous states.  I think the term "the states" is great, shows how much people up identify with Alaska more than "America" and just how different life is up here.

Outside or Out:  As in "I got this bag when I was outside" or "You have to get out at some point in the winter."  Alaska can be a little isolated way up here seemingly by itself, so everything else is outside of Alaska.

Town:  When in the villages, this refers to Fairbanks, not their village town.  I learned this after a confusing conversation with someone in the village- "No one can come into town for flu shots?  Will we need to do home visits for everyone?" (I'm thinking they are all homebound and I'll need to investigate what is going on over there) and the lady responds "Oh, no they can come to the tribal office, but they can't go to Fairbanks for their flu shot."  Ok, that's more understandable and we were talking about the same thing.

Snow Machine:  Snow mobile.  A pretty normal mode of transportation in the villages.  It can remind me of the seeing tons of stuff and loaded onto mopeds- there will be sleds attached to the back with anyone and everything!

Dog mushing:  Dog sleds, quite popular.

Skijoring: I saw this once in Colorado- it was a skier riding behind someone riding a horse.  Here, it's a cross country skier attached to a dog- they can go pretty fast!

Midnight sun: In the summer, the sun barely sets, so there's sun at midnight!

Well, that's it for now.  I just didn't want you to feel too out of it when you come to visit me... which, by the way, you need to start making reservations now!  Can't wait for this summer!

Overall, things are going well and I'll try to work on a post about work and life!

Hey, who turned out the lights?

People always talk about December 21st being the shortest day of the year and I've honestly never really noticed.  This year I'm pretty darn sure I'll notice.  The days have definitely been getting shorter and a few minutes off of each day does make a difference.  It's weird, but so far it's not all that bad.  Although I do have to drink more coffee these days!  I leave the house and it's totally dark, the sun rises around 11am and sets around 1, there's decent light before and after, but when I leave for work it's dark again.  You know how sometimes in the winter you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark?  Well, it's like that here, just also on the weekends, hehe.
It's also interesting that when the sun rises, it doesn't rise too high.  It just travels a little over the horizon and then sets.  This also means that it doesn't heat anything up while it's out.  So weird.  Yes, sometimes I miss the always-out Colorado sun!

This was around 12 noon

Another problem is the pollution, uggghhhh... With that whole inversion thing (remember?) it keeps in the gases.  It also makes it really foggy- they call it Ice Fog!  So even when the sun is out, it's hard to see that far.  However, I live up on a hill and above the inversion area so it's a little warmer and less foggy!

The good news is that after tomorrow the days only get longer!

Up in Barrow, the most northern city in Alaska, they announce when the sun "sets" in November and doesn't rise until February- now that would be a little too much for me!

I live in a freakin' CABIN!

I wanted to start off the “describing of my life in Fairbanks” with something easy and small (hehe)... my house!  I’ll be honest, it’s just about the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, seriously. 

I like to think of it as Alasksa's version of an Alamosa "casita."

It’s really just a smaller kitchen, a small living space, and a bathroom downstairs with a lofted bed area.  However, it has wood paneling, cute wood cabinets, huge windows that face south looking at woods, and PLUMBING (yes, there are many “dry” cabins without water... I’m not that hardcore... yet).  It really feels like I’ve moved to Alaska and live in a cabin, but with the convinces of not living in a cabin.  Yes, it’s small (although I prefer the term cozy), but my parents and I spent 10 days together just fine.  They slept in the bed upstairs and I was a twin air mattress in the kitchen (that easily fit under the "bar" area).  The air mattress was easily pushed up under bar in the morning.  All that to say, a max of two good friends can come visit me and stay here!  Please come visit!  

I was a little nervous about renting a place I’ve never seen and felt might be a little small, but there were just so many things going for it that I had to trust it would work out.    It’s a cabin on the landlords’ property (I have to drive by their house) which is nice to know that someone will look after the place as I’ll be gone often (and cause I don’t really know anyone even when I am here).  I was looking at one bedroom apartments on craigslist and kept thinking “oh, all the stuff I’ll have to buy to fill that place,” well this place came semi-furnished with a small couch, bed, tv stand, and stools at the kitchen bar.  It's a great space for me.

Can't wait to be able to sit out on this porch in the summer!

That's my kitchen table and workspace

I love the little built in shelves

My closet and dresser

This is where you'll find me most of this winter (ps, this is covering my front door) 

I was really lucky to have work help with some of the cost of moving up here, so I was able to bring most of my "things."  It's so funny because I kept buying STUFF when I had my own place in Chicago, then I got rid of about half it when I moved to Colorado.  While in Colorado, I kept my household things at my grandparents, parents, and one cousin's house as I lived in "community housing."  I've been reunited with everything now and it's been nice to use them again- also helps to feel like this is my place and familiar.  I have had to buy a few more things, but that's thoughts for another blogpost.

This is going to be my life??

I had my first real day of work today- meaning I took my first village trip and experienced some of the work I'll actually be doing (not just reading and hearing about it).  It was good, I'm not leaving, ha!

I went with another itinerant nurse who has been doing this for 9 years.  Things have been pretty crazy for the itinerant nurses because while there should be 4 nurses for 30 villages, for many months now there have only been 2 and they've just been trying to keep things moving.  So, today our goal was just flu shots, which is easy enough.  We took a flight into the village of Circle and 2 hours later got back on the plane to Chalkyitsik for a few more hours.  Most of our time was spent in the school (with adults coming in as well) and did some home visits all for flu shots and a few other immunizations.  

While the work today wasn't all that interesting, it was a nice introduction to village visits and really cold weather.  It was -25 when I left Fairbanks at 7:30am and about -40 when we arrived in Circle (and had to walk to the school!), then it was about -25 when we left Chalkyitsik.  That means I also put on pretty much all my winter clothes, then took off most of my clothes when we got to the schools.... and repeat!  

I got a lot of questions and concerns about all these flights, but I'm happy to say that it was totally fine and actually pretty fun!  We were in a 5 seater (including the pilot) and it's actually calmer in the winter because the warm air mixing with cold causes turbulence (or something... I'm not an expert... yet).

We landed on snow and ice

Gotta go, my ride's here!

Just us

I still get a nice commute to work!

Sun setting... don't ask what time!

OMG, I moved to ALASKA

... in the winter... by myself (with help thanks to mom and dad!)... but really, would you expect anything less than crazy from me??  

The marketing for this job worked for me!  “Experienced Public Health Nurses- Want an adventure?  Move to Alaska!”  Um, adventure? Alaska?  Public health?  Yes please!

These past few weeks have been cray-cray (“crazy”... I’ll try to keep up with translations as needed).  Well, really, these past few months have been kinda weird.

I “moved” back to Seattle in August after two wonderful, hard, beautiful, and challenging years as a Mennonite Volunteer in San Luis Valley (AKA, Alamosa), Colorado.  There was talk at our volunteer retreat back in May about the culture shock you’ll feel even going back to your “hometowns,” but I didn’t pay much attention because that was for “other people.”  Not me, I’m resilient and awesome, right?!  I also thought “I’m a city girl, it’ll be good to be back.”  Well, there are a lot more people in Seattle than small town SLV and life is just so different.  Ok, I’ll be honest- I pretty much broke down crying every time I had to drive in the city.  

I was really excited to move back to a city and reconnect with family and friends, but jobs weren’t really working out for me in Seattle.  This was the second opportunity that has come up in Alaska, so I thought I’d see where it took me.  I had a few interviews in Seattle and the phone interview for Alaska was my last one.  It was supposed to work out perfectly- I was sure I’d hear from the other ones first and then take the Alaska job if nothing else panned out.  Well, of course, life is rarely that clear and I got the offer from the Alaska job first.  I told the manager I needed a few days to think about it and tried to reach the one job in Seattle I really wanted.  After not getting that Seattle job (needed more experience), I had the question of whether I should trust I’d get something else in Seattle or trust that Alaska would work out.  I decided to give Alaska a shot.  The job was just too much to pass up- every other week I’ll spend 3-4 days in little villages to be their public health nurse!

Through a bit of “social networking” (ugh, really?), I found out I had connections in Fairbanks through my good friend, Mari. One of her friends, Julia, seems well connected here and gave me tons of info!  She also got me in touch with her pastor who was looking for someone to rent their cabin and I decided to take it.  She was quite the cheerleader for this town!  

I got out here on Nov 13, my parents got here on the 14th, and I started work on 16th.  It’s been pretty busy and I’m super thankful my parents have been out here to help me with everything- picking up my things that I shipped, buying a car, getting settled into my little cabin, and figuring out some of life out here in FBKS!

I don’t want to make light of the decision to come up here- it was hard and I’m getting nervous about just how challenging this might be, but I can’t wait to see where God will take me through this experience and I look forward to sharing it with you!

View from the plane

I loooove my cabin!

We had a moose in the backyard!

We had fresh lettuce and tomatoes at the Chena Hot Springs when it was -20 outside, so cool

University of Alaska at Fairbanks hockey game!

The drive home from the Hot Springs

Thanksgiving dinner!