a new day

The cell phone works again. More later...

broken cell

On a side note, after the stint in the rain this morning, my cell phone has opted to allow only the 2,4,6,8, up, down and end buttons to work. If you text, leave messages or call me, I apologize for not getting back to you. Now when I open my phone, the pound (#) key is pressed until I press one of the aforementioned keys to stop it. Let's hope the phone dries out enough to be usable tomorrow.

only a matter of time

It was only a matter of time before I broke down. I hated trudging through the rain this morning. I was so mad that I was wearing my rainboots, rainpants and raincoat. Usually I can get away with rainboots and a raincoat. Standing in the rain for 30 minutes with a stubborn St. Bernard didn't add to my affinity for the island either or did my cell phone refusing to work after getting slightly damp while using it. Cursing my choice for a new job, I curled up in bed with the space heater on, trying to get warm and dry.

Self-pity over, I went back into town again later. The sun was out and I was able to remove my rain coat. One tends to get sweaty in plastic clothing. I talked with Liz, ate a chocolate cupcake and headed back home. Now, the sun is out for the second time today. This place must be exquisitely beautiful in the summer when the sun is out more frequently. Blue skies, green all around, views of the mountains...breathtaking. Feeling a little better, I look forward to seeing Inglourious Basterds at the visitor's center and going to the Rummage Sale and the Salvation Army this weekend. My first day of work is Monday and maybe that will help me keep my mind busy, even when the weather's not so great.

settling in

So much has happened since my last post that I am not sure where to begin. I'll try my best to convey what has been going on.

On Monday, I met with the landlady to sign the lease. She showed me a different apartment than the one I had first seen on Sunday. The bedroom is much bigger and even has its own bathroom. The floor plan of the rest of the apartment is open and is also larger than the first apartment I saw. It was even the same rent. Score! I signed the lease and could begin moving in ASAP. Liz walked with me to the Post Office where I received my own PO Box. They do not deliver mail to your door here in rural Alaska, so everyone goes to the Post Office to pick it up. If you would like to send me any mail, shoot me an email (jean [dot] emily [at] gmail [dot] com) and I'll give you my address.

I also switched utilities to my name, turned in my paperwork, and shopped some for the apartment. During their lunch breaks, Adam and Liz helped me move my stuff to my apartment. I set up what stuff I had and gave Sarah, another new clinician, a call. We met up in the grocery store later, I helped "fix" her toilet and then we went to my place for a little bit. Adam came later and we went to work out at the gym. The gym is part of the local high school. It actually has some pretty nice equipment, albeit limited in number of machines and space. I made my dinner that night (spring rolls) and continued setting up house.

I slept poorly during the night, not only take 2+ hours to fall asleep but also waking up at 4 and having a hard time falling back asleep. My cold had also taken a turn for the worse and didn't help matters. However strange that was, I felt rested when I got up. Sarah and I met up to run errands together. There are probably very few people who go in at the same time in the same room to get separate bank accounts, but we did it. We were able to setup our internet/cable as well. Every other Tuesday, a man named Dan parks his van in a parking lot and sells organic produce. We met Liz and went over there together. I bought some ginger, arugula, spinach, yukon gold potatoes, and japanese sweet potato. I'm already looking forward to two weeks from now when he comes again. At the end of the day, I worked out again. When we left the gym, the sky was so clear...I wish I had my camera. You could see all of the islands around as well as further mountains in the distance. It looked so gorgeous.

Wednesday was spent around the apartment again and I walked to town a few times for more items I had forgotten as well as to pick up my second box from home. Liz came over for dinner: broccoli, garlic and arugula pizza with Japanese sweet potato fries and chocolate cupcake brownies for dessert. We discovered that microfiber dishcloths do not work well as hot pads. They burn designs into the fabric (see below). Lesson learned...use the terry cloth towel until I own oven mitts!

My apartment is really starting to feel like home...more of my items from home are arriving, I have my bills setup, utilities on and people are coming over for meals. When I talked to my parents last night, I remarked that I felt like an adult. Mom said, "You could have felt like an adult in MI, too, you know!" Well, yeah, she's right. But there's just something about setting up a home across the country on a remote island that has a bit more twinge of adventure to it.

first Sunday of settling

I first woke at 5 and made myself sleep until 7:45. I got ready for the day and after a while, Liz came over with bran muffins and soy milk. We went out to get coffee and came back to my place to chat. I have been really thankful for helpful coworkers and they have been great to hangout with as well.

After a while, I made lunch--stir fried tofu and broccoli over soba noodles. There's nothing that makes me feel more at home than cooking my own food. I invited Adam over for lunch, especially since he was working across the hallway. We enjoyed the meal and separated until he drove me to meet someone for an apartment. Although this apartment didn't quite have all the amenities of the last one, it still seemed decent. After accompanying Adam to pick up another new employee, I called to say I would like the apartment. I meet with her tomorrow.

After an afternoon of settling in and taking photos, I walked with Liz to Jerod's for a vegan potluck. Currently I am overfull of TVP, noodles and vegan carrot cake and so ready for bed. This is starting to feel a bit like home to me and I realize it probably won't be for a month or so that I realize I am here and so far away from home.

I leave you with a few pictures of Wrangell for the night. The first one is the Wrangell sign outside of the visitor's center. The one below I like because it shows the misty mountains in the background:



On an entertainment related note, they do show movies in town on the weekends. This weekend is Julie and Julia.

adjustment

In the light of the streetlamp through the window, I stretched my legs and thought about my day. I am so thankful for my coworkers, without them I would be completely lost. As much as I wish I could write and say that I'm in the apartment I put a deposit on a couple weeks ago, I cannot. We found upon arrival that the apartment was rented to someone else. Apparently my deposit was not received even though I mailed it ASAP after talking with the person on the phone. Currently I am in an apartment on an emergency basis and will hopefully find something within the week. I'm glad my start day is not for another week or I'd be completely overwhelmed. My coworkers have been amazing, calling places and troubleshooting what to do about the situation. My mom called to stop payment on the check I had sent incase the check ever shows up where it was intended to go or she actually does have it. After grocery shopping, a drive around town and out the road, and dinner together at the Stikine Inn, I'm settling into this apartment. I'm going to head out for a walk before sleep...I feel so mushy after traveling for so long.

I have more to write about saying goodbyes, but I'll write about the present at the moment. I am sitting in the SeaTac airport in the same spot I sat in roughly a month ago when I was flying back from my interview. What's different now is that I am on the tailend of an all-nighter in the airport. I hope I am able to sleep some on the plane from here to Wrangell. Otherwise, new coworkers, beware!

What's been fun about this trip out here is meeting new people. The last time I flew out, I didn't talk to anyone unless I was talked to and this time I thought I'd try my hand at conversation. Lo and behold I meet a mother who travels a lot for her job and worries about her older son going far away for college, an early 30s professional who has the public policy and administrative piece to the social work degree and a nearly 40-year-old divorcee who works in Maui, returning after a month off to explore the American continent as she scattered her mother's ashes. The last person I met spent the majority of this overnight with me, laying on benches in gate A. With the constant announcements overhead, vacuum cleaners going and any other noises, we didn't sleep very much. If I have to hear anymore about how SeaTac is a smoke-free environment or how much a woman loves to go there for a glass of wine and to catch up on her email, I'll...groan.

support and saying goodbye

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of responses I have received from people who want to say goodbye and keep updated on my life in Alaska. Sometimes you just don't know what you have until you leave it, you know? I knew I had it good, but was still amazed to see that proven over the past few weeks.

Sometimes saying goodbye triggers things that may not have happened otherwise. While I cannot truly know they wouldn't happen without the goodbye, it does seem that way. One of these things was an impromptu neighborhood gathering. My family was out on the porch when one of our neighbors came over, knowing I was leaving soon for Alaska. Soon, her husband came out with another neighbor. My dad had placed a telescope in the lawn, which attracted yet more neighbors. A while later, a fire started in the handmade firepit next to us while the neighbors crowded around. We talked and laughed late into the night. Ah, the friendships you develop before you leave...

Another goodbye was a couple of Sundays ago. Friends of mine had their second baby girl not too long ago and I had babysat their first girl since she was two months old. While holding the second baby, the only things that reminded me that was a baby and not a doll was her breathing and tiny movements. She was so sweet to hold and as I did so, I hoped I would get to know her in person some day.

The last goodbye I will write about in this post is saying goodbye to work at the middle school. I helped as much as I could before my last day. It was good to see the students start their first week, run my last chapel and say goodbye to staff and faculty. At the end, they had a farewell party for me in the library of the school (featuring the hat a few posts old). Even though I had been there only two years, I felt like I had been a member of their team for a lot longer. What a nice family of people with which to work.

first boxes

If it wasn't already apparent that I'm moving, it certainly is now. My room has been utter chaos since moving back after dog/house-sitting, but has gotten much better now that I have packed up 2 25x25x25 boxes (UPS' largest sold) and 2 smaller boxes of books. Two suitcases are also packed. This morning, my mom and I wrestled (pronounced "Wrastled" to go along with "Wrangell") two of the big boxes out to the car, only to discover that just one large box fit. We wrestled the big box back into the dining room, to be shipped tomorrow. Today, the first wave of boxes will be sent out (1 25x25x25 and 2 book boxes).

This is really happening. A good portion of my stuff is gone now.

when you hear "Alaska" you think...

Today began innocently enough. The last day of work, finishing up odds and ends, 2/3 of the classes being gone, lunchtime...and then the after school party happened.



They make nice with the coffee, cider and treats first. Then come the presents. Faux fur hat and scarf!



They crack me up. Who wouldn't hear "Alaska" and think fur-lined hats and scarves?

open house celebration

Come on over to wish me the best in Alaska, open house style. Friends and family with kids, feel free to bring them! This will be a bare bones affair, where there may be some cookies and drinks, but really you're there to say goodbye (for now). It's not goodbye forever.

Please bring no gifts. Your presence is present enough for me (corny but true).

The festivities will be on Wednesday, September 16 from 6:30pm until 9pm. Hope to see you then!

sight unseen

On Saturday, one of the places I called for an apartment returned my call. She is going to hold the apartment for me for when I arrive. A person will show me the apartment when I arrive. This takes a huge weight off my shoulders, as I was beginning to worry that I would get off the plane and have nowhere to stay. The apartment comes mostly furnished, which I am also thankful for given that I am leaving all of my furniture behind. Although prepared to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor until a bed could be purchased or prepared to retrieve clothes from suitcases until I could get a hold of a used dresser, having real furniture already available is that much better. I am wondering if "sight unseen" will become a new theme for my life, since I have accepted this position "island unseen", "worksite unseen" and now this "apartment unseen".

saying goodbyes

Since being offered the new position, I have started a series of goodbyes. I don't think of them as goodbyes forever, just goodbye for now. Besides, with Web 2.0 applications, it is much easier to stay in contact with loved ones around the world while one is off galivanting around remote islands. Still, that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to that physical connection for which a local proximity allows. I would like to capture as many of these local proximity goodbye moments as I can before I take off. While watching J and L's children for the last time tonight, there was the following conversation:

L: I want you to be gone when Mommy and Daddy get home.
A: Yeah.
Me: Oh?
L: Yeah, when Mommy and Daddy get home, you will be gone.
Me: That's right; Mommy and Daddy always come home after they go out, don't they? And then I leave.
L: Yeah. Except you will never come back.
Me: Yeah, 'cause I'm moving.
L: Yeah, 'cause you're moving...but I love you, Emily. (said like that's a reason not to go) (Insert heart jerk here.)
Me: I love you too, L. And I love you, A.
A: Love you too.

How do nearly 3-year-olds come up with that? I'm continually amazed at human beings as they mature, especially as children. It's hard enough to say goodbye to my friends and even harder to say goodbye to their children when I know that the children will change so fast before I see them again.

plane ticket

Even though I have been communicating with my future co-workers via email and phone, as well as purchasing my plane ticket, moving to Alaska still doesn't seem like something tangible. Two weeks from tomorrow night I will be on a plane, on my way. Somehow, that does not seem possible. Like somehow this is a dream and although I am working towards getting there, I cannot quite fathom what it will be like.