Jack Frost Visits Early

Yep! That's right...Meanwhile in Alaska, it is August 30th and we had a frost last night! I have evidence below for those skeptics out there...

Thankfully it was a Saturday so I was in no rush to scrape the windows 

But not to worry, the stores up here also do Labor Day Sales and I was able to get a bunch of winter gear for the upcoming cold that I am sure is just around the corner. My biggest purchase was definitely the GORE-TEX jacket...which my engineering father swears by and was so pumped when he heard that he further nicknamed us "the GORE-TEX VORTEX" :) 

My winter gear splurge (Note the GORE-TEX tag in the corner)

Anyway, all is good here. I am getting into a nice routine. I have had the chance to observe a variety of different classrooms in elementary schools and high schools. There are already some interesting cases and even some school-wide supports that I will be working on. Loving the chance to broaden my scope on the school setting. 

Special shot out to my wonderful Uncle Brian and lovely Aunt Connie for sending me my first piece of mail at my new address (sadly all the rest has been bills or junk mail) Thanks so much! The card was definitely a day-brightener! 

Thanks again Aunt Connie and Uncle Brian! 

Finally, many of you have probably already seen my ice bucket challenge but I wanted to repost it here to keep with all my Alaskan adventures and this is definitely a fun little video. I also want it noted that my supervisor, Hilary, is the one who is dumping the bucket of ice water on my head and she was all too willing to do it!! (I think a new "welcoming the intern" ritual is in the making) Props and kudos to Laura for her excellent videographer skills!

                                   

...Bug Dope is a Thriving Market

Dope is freely passed around up here! And no, just to clarify, it is not the leafy variety...but rather bug spray. Though apparently up here in the Last Frontier if someone says they had to run to the store for more dope or ask you if you have any dope on you, they are referring to bug spray! Do not be alarmed family and friends (especially parentals), everything is on the up and up! I was very glad I was informed of this though by some kind work friends, because I may or may not have gotten myself into some trouble with the locals...

Anyway, I feel like I am "integrating into the culture" well! I had my first up close and personal encounter with the wildlife the other day and to be honest I really thought I was dreaming! Woke up to moose legs outside of my window and that definitely got me up and moving that morning! She (from what I have been told) was very young and more docile than I would have thought. Though again it was early AM here and she probably was looking for coffee just like I was!

I have also visited the local farmers market...which is wonderful and encouraged me even further to join a gym ASAP as I love to sample all the foods there! So yes, I feel like I accomplished a lot in my first full week...farmer market, gym, started work at two of my placement schools, and today participated in testing for the Childfind program downtown! Which was a very long (Advil was a necessity) but otherwise fun and rewarding process! I know my mother has always told me of how amazing children's minds can be, but I am still fascinated every day by how their brains work and the ways they process/interpret information! For example, in one section of the test, I have to give the student (3 to 4 years of age) clues and they tell me what the clues are describing...well the answer was STAR but I got answers like moon, meteor, and fireworks. All of which fit the clues! I also had a little guy answer to what is this letter? The answer was "A" and he said yeah like Captain America! (That was one was just for you Kristen, I think I saw your future child in this kid because he also said two other kids were being sassy towards each other) 

Wanted to leave you with a sunset picture from the other night as well!! The pictures can't do it justice, but here is an attempt! 

Meanwhile in Alaska: I Ain't Goin Down 'til the Sun Comes Up...or Sets at All

We made it!! Wow that was an adventure in itself...checking 9 fairly decent-sized suitcases, a pack-n-play, baby car seat, and then each having one carry-on and one personal item!! Count this as a time to be blessed with a large family willing to carry your bags! I'm sure we were a sight in the Denver airport...

                        My suitcases, minus two...before we got on the plane to Fairbanks!

So it has been just a little over a week since I moved to the Last Frontier! And I think I am going to fall in love with the calm and just overall beauty of the state.

Last week, my family was with me to take in all the sights and get me settled in my new place. We drove through construction after construction (much to my dad's horror as their signing was all off and there wasn't even a pilot car to direct the flow of traffic...so says the engineer). But we made it and it was as gorgeous as everyone said it would be. We even caught a glimpse of Mount McKinley! My current background photo is of Rachel, Megan, and I as we were hiking. I am so glad I got to share it with them...definitely a vacation to remember! We visited the Chena Hot Springs and the Ice Museum there...this trip got me very excited for the Ice Sculpting Festival in January! Mom, Megan, Rachel, and I all went kayaking on the Chena River one day as well...which was an experience! Rachel and I had a great time as you can see from our picture; it took awhile and running into part of a bridge but we got the hang of it.

                    Ice Fireplace? WHAAT?! The Ice Museum was pretty cool (pun intended)

                                 How Rachel and I worked as a team while double kayaking 

It was sad to see them go...dropping them off at the airport was definitely hard. My mom teared up a bit and that made me do the same! And I had almost made it without crying...Thanks Mom! But we have Facetime and Skype and phones and email and texting...and pretty much any other form of communication that technology has available! Even though I won't see them in person until Christmas, it will be easy to stay in touch!

My only issue so far....HAHAHAHA well two issues really.

#1) I locked my keys in my car literally the day after my family left! Kind of like the universe saying to me that I need to humble myself, thinking I can go it alone 3500 miles from home..."Nope, don't get a big head now because you are still an idiot sometimes and lock your keys in your car!" All I can say to that is thank goodness for Roadside Assistance!

#2) Refers to the title of this post....I have not yet adjusted to the 20 hours of daylight! No matter how tired I am throughout the day or how much I think I am ready for bed at 10:30...my body says no way, it's still light outside. And when I say light, I mean like that dusky almost sunset light that I would see around 7 ish in Nebraska. So I have now hung a towel over one of my windows, hoping that will help trick me into falling asleep!

Honestly though, that is my only complaint! I love the mountain air...it is truly re-energizing to just take a walk or run outside here.

                                    Megan, Rachel, and I outside of the Denali Visitor Center