Day of Firsts

So have been traveling again. I know, I know, that's nothing new. But I did have a day of firsts recently. Was headed into an unknown town, going to visit an unknown church of all potential new friends who were still unmet at that point. I had anticipated an evening service, but was informed that there was an 3pm service instead. The bus I was to catch from the nearby town wouldn't arrive until 220pm. And public transportation would have taken me almost an hour to reach said church. So....

Figured I could take a taxi.... then I thought, what about Uber? It's no different than a taxi and though there are those skeptics out there who say it's unsafe, I decided to give it a try. At least with Uber, you can track your progress and see where you are at all times on your phone. With a taxi, you are also riding with a stranger, but with no way to tell where you are going. Believe me, I've been in some cabs and wondered where in the world I was being taken. (not knowing the city or having data on your phone can cause you to wonder) 

So I am here to tell you I survived, and I made it to my destination in once piece. And only 3 minutes late instead of 20. And I had a nice chat with my driver, who wasn't even actually from the country I was visiting. 

As for the other first- I've always wanted to try out staying in a hostel. Guess it was just that time. I had a bus out of town early the next morning, so I wanted a place nearby the bus station. Looked at several Airbnb places, then checked hostels. Found one less than a 5 minute walk from the station and it was only $18 for the night. 

Yes, I stayed in a hostel. And I did have a roommate. But she was a nice German University student. It was a little run down and the mattress was a bit lumpy, but the sheets were clean. Just a tad different than the last time I shared a room with a complete stranger (complete stranger means I had absolutely no connection whatsoever, no friend of a friend, etc.)- at least that time, I was in a 5* hotel! 

So again- I survived. And actually got good sleep. Not sure if I'll do it again any time soon, but who knows!?

view from a new friend's house

tiny sink at the hostel

view from the front door of hostel

My Italian Family

 About six months ago, I met this crazy Italian family- in Bulgaria no less. It didn't take long for me to love them all.... not sure how they feel about me, ha! But for better or worse, they're stuck with me now. :) Besides my family had already claimed them as family, long before I met them face to face. It was nice to finally get to know them all in person, as I had heard all their names countless times from my family; we had even emailed quite a bit and I talked to them on the phone once or twice. 

After only a few days, it was like we had always known each other... and the adventures began. We played trampoline soccer, worked crossword puzzles, built sand tunnels & castles, ate uh... interesting chocolate at church, and of course... climbed the Varna monument- that my friends, is a story all in itself. My time with them was vastly too short.

building castles and tunnels

by the Black Sea

on the Varna monument

first week with these crazy Italians

So.... after a conversation about our separate travels back to the States, we realized that we flew back in the same US city just a day apart! Not sure who first suggested we meet up again in the States, but that's what we did! And because we did, I got to meet another great family in NJ! Glad the Jersians were okay with a strange girl tagging along with the Italians and bombarding their house! 

While in NJ, I got to swim in a creek for only the 2nd time in my life! Hey, when you're from Alaska, its not a normal summer event. Our creeks are still FREEZING cold even in July! But I got to swim and swing off a rope into the water (a first for me! and I had huge bruises to prove it), kayak (another first) and overall have fun in the warm water. Those couple of days in NJ also included a trip to a National Cemetery on Memorial Day, a birthday party and latenight shenanigans. 

Well, time went on, I came home to Alaska and the Italians began their long journey around the US. Remember that baseball game I flew to Chicago for? Yep, that was the same family. Another awesome (crazy) adventure. 

And then.... last month, I flew down and met up with the Italians once again. This time on the Western side of the US. We drove/explored parts of Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, having fun along the way. We played lots of Uno, Assassin (style of tag), basketball, football, crawled into an mini castle in an awesome Grandpa/Pastor's house and ran through sprinklers in the dark, all bringing volumes of laughter.

scouting out some caves

Snake River - too close to the edge? 

intense Uno game in the back of the Limo

I love families who I can be friends with both the parents and the children. Though sometimes its a bit nebulous as to where I belong exactly.... while in WA, we went to a family's house for dinner. The host announced dinner was ready and then said, "okay, the kids are outside on the patio, the adults in the livingroom and the teens are wherever they want." I got asked which group I belonged in... and frankly sometimes I don't know! :D

A Bend in the Road

Three and half years ago, my coworkers and I were in the process of moving office locations. It was just down the road to our newly renovated building and I spent several late nights there with my supervisor, trying to quickly pull things together. I was headed out of town shortly thereafter, so was attempting to get everything in place before I left. Our new office had two large windows that displayed the end of our international airport's runway and in the farther distance the Alaska Range. Several nights I had watched the sun set behind those mountains, casting its last rays across the snow-capped tops. One evening, I stood at those windows watching the runway activity and admiring the magnificent mountains. My mind kept drifting to my upcoming trip; I had my first few flights planned and purchased, but much was still to be decided. I knew what countries I wanted to travel to, but the dates of travel and length of stays were not finalized. It was the trip I had dreamed of for years, yet there was that sense of unknown and maybe a little bit of anxiety. It was what I wanted to do, but was I making the right decisions? 

My supervisor, who is also a dear friend, reassured me that all would be well. Change and the unknown is always a bit frightening in life, but we both knew I wasn't traveling by myself. My God is ever before me and with me every step of the way. He loves me beyond comprehension, so no matter what I would face, I would have Him to be my Guide, Comfort and Giver of peace. 

Looking back at that trip three years ago, I am glad I didn't know all I would face during those six months in Asia that night at the window. I'm sure I would have shrank back from the thought of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual battles I would experience. Yet, during each of those trying moments, my confidence in God never shook. I may have struggled inside and wondered how I would get through, but I always knew God was with me and some days that was THE ONLY thing that got me through another day. 

Why am I reliving those fears from three and half years ago? Well, I am about to embark on another lengthy journey and to be honest, I'm just a tad nervous. The past couple years I've spent the majority of my time at home, working and attending school. I took time away from traveling to focus on finishing my Bachelor's degree, and I don't regret it. But traveling is in my blood and I knew it wouldn't be long before I headed out into the world's arena once again. So many people tell me that I'm brave to go to all these countries by myself, but if they could only see the inward trepidation I so effectively mask. I can't stop traveling, but it doesn't mean I'm fearless. 

And I am not just referring to the physical things I endure in random countries. Each one of my trips has changed and grown me in more ways that I can count. When I first left home, I was a young 19 year old girl who had more dreams and ideas than sense. Each year has brought another level of learning, especially that of trusting God. Trusting Him with my life, my family, my heart, my friends, my safety and so much more. As painful as some of my memories are, I would not trade any experience, for in each one I learned more about myself and more about the abundant grace and peace my Saviour gives. 

Yet, once again, I am facing the unknown and its both exhilarating and daunting. At the risk of sounding like Anne of Green Gables, there is a bend in the road and I can't see around the corner. Right before leaving on this trip, I quit my job of many years (though I've quit before, but this one feels more final) and with school finished, I don't have much tying me back home. After this trip ends, I do not know what I will do next. Oh, I have ideas, always do, but nothing is for sure.

But the excitement far outweighs the nervousness! The next four months will be one of adventure. I will see old friends, visit beloved familiar places, meet new people and explore strange places, all the while watching God move in my heart and those around me. I am greatly looking forward to it. 

I'm trusting God in my life and circumstances. Yours may be vastly different than mine, but are you trusting God regardless? 

Farewell 2015

Well, 2015 is gone. 

In some ways it was a mellow year; school kept me pretty occupied and my international travel was held to a minimum. But it was a good year nonetheless. The most prominent part of the year was school. I took a full spring semester, one class during the summer and another full fall semester. And tested out of 3 classes during that time also. Some days, it sure felt like all I did was homework. But my Undergrad is completed and yes, I am relieved. 

Other highlights from the year include:

My first niece being born! She's almost a year old already. And even though she lives several thousands miles away, I've been blessed to see her 3x this year. 

Traveling in the Lower 48- I went 3x this year for a total of roughly 6 weeks and was in 11 different states. 

Mongolian family in Colorado

USS Alabama in Mobile

Navy Pier in Chicago

Memorial Day in Wisconsin

backwoods Indiana

southern Cali

The wonderful experience with work in the field of ESL. Had some amazing coworkers this summer and great students. It was a rewarding time teaching English and exploring various places in Fairbanks with my students. 

learning English

exploring Fairbanks (with strangers photobombing)

Then there was that trip to Arctic Canada that was epic, crazy, fun and slightly dangerous all rolled into one.

autumn in the Arctic includes snow

Canadian friends

Welcome 2016! Looking forward to some grand adventures! :D

Bachelor Degree- check!

Well, I did it. In a few weeks, my Bachelor diploma will arrive in the mail. 

It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears.... figuratively speaking at least. It was a ton of work including many late nights, long days, and mental stretching. Probably the hardest part of earning my degree was the fact that I worked a regular job (and sometimes 2 or 3 jobs) throughout the process. And as hard as it is to admit, I'm not as young as I once was. When I worked on my Associate degree just five years ago, I consistently stayed up to 1 o'clock in the morning doing homework. But this past year and half, that was a lot harder to do. There were nights I stayed up late for sure, but my body craved sleep way more than it did years ago. But nonetheless, I survived. Some semesters I felt that I had no life outside of school; even when I was working or driving, or trying to relax, my brain was already thinking of the next assignment. But its all over now! Praise the Lord, for his strength and grace that saw me through this process. 

Many people have asked me what's next...well for one, I plan on catching up on sleep. (though this week, that's not really happening, since I'm working nights, as well as days) I have been enjoying the Christmas season with my family and just relaxing for change. I've been able to read some books, of my own choosing, :) and work on some projects I've put off for a long time. As for what's next. Well, guess you'll just have to wait and see. I'm sure it'll be an adventure whatever happens.... :D

Here's a few random pictures from the past almost two years of school. These may represent some of the motivating factors that kept me persevering-

teaching my nephew about AK hockey :) 

Enjoying sunshine despite sub-zero temps

doing homework by oil lantern - no electricity for days

hosting friends breaks up those long nights of study

nothing like sushi and free dessert to renew the spirit

sunrise!

facetiming a very dear friend half a world away

The Amazing, Incredible Dempster Highway

At the end of August, I found myself with some time on my hands. Both of my seasonal, summer jobs ended midway through the month and school didn't start back up till September. So, I had the idea of going north to Inuvik. It had been four years since I had visited and my friends wedding reception (I attended the wedding in FL back in May) was going to be during that time. So I figured "why not?" 

The plan was to drive the Alaska, Taylor and Top of the World highways from Fairbanks to Dawson City, Canada. From there, I would fly on AirNorth to Inuvik. AirNorth used to have commercial flights from Fairbanks to Dawson, as I have flown the entire way before. However, that no longer is possible, so I figured it would be a nice drive (roadtrip + fall colors in the mountains = amazing) to Dawson. It's one of my favorite little towns, I could spend a little time there, spend the night and fly out the next morning for the North. 

Everything went well. The drive from Fairbanks to Dawson was beautiful. Stopped for lunch at Fast Eddies (a must if you're in Tok) and then drove through Chicken, Alaska. The Top of the World Highway is a great experience. The dirt road weaves through the mountains, so the road itself can be treacherous, but the view is incredible. Arrived in Dawson, ate dinner at Sourdough Joe's (another good choice), enjoyed some ice cream (for Twyla) and headed to my campsite. Yes, I camped in my tent. :) 

car camping. :) 

The next morning, I awoke to fog, but thought nothing of it. Headed out to the airport (several miles from town), where the fog was even more dense. As I was checking in, they informed me my flight was delayed. The plane was coming from Whitehorse, but they had major fog there, so the plane wasn't able to leave. I sat around for awhile, but then I got hungry. Apparently, it was going to be another 2 hours before the plane was expected, so I drove back into town for some breakfast. (no, there is no restaurant at the airport, ha!)

Headed back to the airport about 10am. When I got there, the ticket agent informed me my flight was canceled and he could rebook me for two days later. I honestly thought he was joking with me. But no, he was serious. The flights from Dawson City to Inuvik are six days a week, but of course the next day was the one day they didn't fly. So, there I was- stuck in Dawson City for two days. Or was I? 

The ticket agent asked if I wanted to rebook for two days later or to cancel my itinerary. I told him a needed a few minutes. Ran through some scenarios in my head, texted Twyla about the road conditions and my dad to see what he thought. Decided to drive the rest of the way! I'm always ready for another adventure! :) 

at the beginning of the drive

It was a sunny, autumn day, so I was ready for a good (but long) day. I had to go back into town to gas up and check with the NWT Visitors Center about the road condition, so didn't get on the road until about 1130am. 

Let me tell you, there are not words good enough to describe to you the beauty of that drive! The pictures below might help you have a small idea of the amazing Arctic autumn scenery! 

my wee little car

There were so many places that I wanted to get out of my car and climb a rock or mountain. The fall colors were ablaze! And set against the clear blue sky, it was even more impressive! It was a day just to praise God for his amazing creation, which just reminds me of his almighty power. At one point I pulled over to soak in the sights. I could see for miles- hills covered with reds, oranges, yellows, high up in the mountains, threatening rain clouds in the distance. It was breathtaking. It was a moment of sensing the nearness of God; I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or cry, sit or dance. Ah-mazing. 

Finally pulled into my friends' driveway just after 1am. Safe and sound. Had no problems the entire way. Praise the Lord. 

Enjoyed a very relaxing week (more on that in a later post). 

Then it came time to leave. I was to head out Monday morning, which meant I would get home Tuesday afternoon. School started Thursday, so I would have an extra day to do errands and unwind from traveling. Or so I thought....

The second half of my time in the North, the weather turned ugly. It rained almost every day and was cooling off. The day before I was to head out, the winds picked up as well, with gusts up to 70kph. We heard reports that campers were blown over on the Dempster. We talked it over Sunday night and decided we would make a decision Monday morning when we got up. 

Monday was still bad, so we waited around a bit, trying to gauge what the weather was going to do and how bad the road was.... Winds were still strong and rain kept coming. Monday afternoon, we received word that the two ferries I needed to cross had been shut down. Well, that really stopped any thought of leaving. 

pic of ferry while it was closed

Monday we waited all day. Tuesday we waited some more. Then got work, one of the ferries was still closed and they expected it to be 2 or 3 days before it reopened. So, Wednesday was another waiting day. And Thursday. 

Thursday afternoon about 330pm, we heard both ferries were open again, the 2nd one just to light travel (no 18wheelers). So, by 4pm I was on the road. Mr. D followed me in his big pickup for while, because we didn't know how bad the roads were. The 2nd ferry (the one we waited for the longest) was interesting. The river there was the highest they had seen it in about 10 years. Getting on was okay, a little rough, but made it just fine. Coming off though, it was at least 6 inches of soft mud, with big tracks with the previous vehicles had driven. For half a second, I thought I would bottom out and get stuck. But the Lord pushed me through and I made it! 

Drove till after midnight, when we finally pulled over to sleep. I've slept in the back seat of my car before, but just for an hour long nap, not a full night. I may be short, but that was too short for even me. I had to wake up and stretch a couple times, cause my legs were cramping from being curled up. Stayed plenty warm though. Woke up to dense fog and cold air. 

That was a long day, as I still had half the Dempster to drive, and then the rest of the way home. I think it was about a 16 hour day that second day. Made it home Friday night about 9pm. So, missed the first two days of classes, but was out of my control. Thankfully, my teachers were understanding. 

The drive back home was still incredible, even though the weather wasn't as nice as before. I watched the sunset high up in the mountains. The sun was on my right hand side and across the way were snowcapped mountains that were shades of pink and orange as the sun lowered. Another incredible moment to witness! 

second ferry crossing

snow in the mountains

not so clean anymore

saw a couple grizzlys on the way home

ferry outside of Dawson City

Adventures at the Airport

So, if you've been wondering because of the lack of blog posts what I've been doing... Well, for one, its summer. :) Alaskan summers are so short, we have to jam pack them full. And the past month or so, I've been somewhat of a workaholic. At the beginning of the summer, I quit my job of 10+ years to work temporarily at the local Literacy Council. I know some think that's crazy for me to quit a good job that has been more than good to me for a temp position. But I prayed hard about it and felt it was a good switch. It gave me an opportunity to teach ESL, which is a field I'm kinda studying for and thinking about doing overseas. 

I still had my job at the airport, but wasn't on the regular schedule. The first part of the summer, I only worked a night or two a week; some weeks not at all. It was nice to relax at home and spend time outside in the sun! :) But the past 3-4 weeks, I've been scheduled more and subbed even more. The past two weeks, I think I've worked about 60+ hours - which is a lot for me! That's in addition to taking an online summer class, teaching Sunday School and mentoring/teaching a couple people. 

Not complaining here, its all my own choice. I do enjoy working, though some days when I'm falling asleep on my feet, I tell myself "you're crazy!" But I work hard here, so I can take months off later and travel. :) So, its worth it. 

And even when I'm working I have crazy adventures. One Saturday morning in July I was working the early, early morning shift. (my body definitely doesn't like getting out of bed at 330am). I had gone downstairs at the airport to say goodbye to one of my students who was headed to India to visit family for month. I noticed two guys sleeping on a bench and thought they were firefighters heading home. As I was leaving, they were gathering their belongings. I stopped and said hi and found out they were actually Danish backpackers. They had arrived at 2am and were sleeping until they could go to their hostel. After talking for a bit, I offered them a ride to their accommodations, as I was in between planes. 

A couple days later I was able to help them out again, by giving them a ride from the East Ramp to the West Ramp of our airport. They were getting ready to fly out on a small bush plane to the Brooks Range to backpack and float the Noatak River. Their plans were to go for 7 weeks!! Actually they are still out in the Bush. I always enjoy meeting people from other countries; now, I have a connection in Denmark - one more place to visit one day. 

The Danish Backpackers

The other thing at the airport, you never know what airplanes you might see. :) One evening, we were waiting for our commercial flight, when an older plane landed and pulled into our ramp area. We waved at them to move over to the next gate area. The plane was marked with Russian words and flag, but the tail # was American. But then we overheard it was coming in from Canada. Such an odd mix. I think they were coming in for something to do with the a memorial of the Soviet-American Land Lease from WWII. But who knows.... just interesting all the different aircraft that land at our airport. 

the "Soviet" plane

We've had beautiful weather most of the summer. Lots of sunshine and warm/hot days. I enjoy working the sunny days outside on the ramp. One week in July it was rainy off and on all week. I went to work for just 2 1/2 hours - when I arrived, the sun was shining, but black clouds were off in the distance. When I left later in the afternoon, the sun was again shining. But the time in between..... well not so much. I was wearing my hoodie, because it was a little chilly. Under the sun, it was getting warmer though, so I debated taking my sweatshirt off. Decided against it.... and then it started sprinkling. Then raining. Then hailing. Then pouring buckets of rain!! We were huddled underneath the plane waiting for the passengers to finish boarding, so we could push back. We were more than soaked to the skin, I'm pretty sure I could have wrung a gallon of water out of my clothes. My boss told me I looked like a drowned rat. Yeah, it was that bad. And I had to be back about an hour later to work again. So, went to my friend's house nearby to borrow their dryer. 

drowned rat

But then there are the beautiful summery/fall days with blue skies and big fluffy clouds! 

from the Ramp of our airport