Home from Nome

Nome is...Nome.  It's a very difficult place to describe if you've never been there before.  If you've lived in a small town before you'll have some idea of what life in Nome is like...it's true that everyone knows everyone else and one person's business is everybody's business.  But rural Alaska is also so different than other rural parts of the country.  You can't drive any number of miles here and get to the city.  You have to take a plane.  This might not seem like a big deal, especially on the short (1.5 hour) flight to Anchorage, but thinking about never just being able to go when you need to...it's a hardship.  I love driving and the thought of not being able to drive for the sake of driving due to distance (and cost; gas is $4.50 a gallon) is a lot harder than it sounds.


The people of Nome have a true dedication to the place.  Many people who come from the lower 48 (or outside, as it's also called) have a deep connection and love to the town, the land, and the way of life.  And you have to if you want to live in Nome.  If you aren't willing to make the sacrifices, such as higher cost of living and isolation, than Nome is not the place for you.


I know that permanent residency in Nome is not something I would want.  I really enjoyed my 3 weeks there and met a lot of really great people, but I enjoy the city (it's a real place karks!) of Anchorage.  I actually like that's it's not as big as phoenix, or even as big as Tucson, but still has everything that I could ever want or need.  Living in a place like Nome for 3 weeks definitely gives me a new appreciation for the city and it's conveniences.


My favorite thing in Nome, hands down, was running dogs, or dog mushing.

  You hook the dogs up to a 4 wheeler, put it in neutral, and they can pull it in almost any condition.  They each pull about 100lbs, and are very, very strong dogs.  They get so excited to do it!  It's a really great experience.  If I lived in Nome, that's all I would do.


I'm very happy to be back in Anchorage.  I got back on Friday, and saw fall where I lived for the first time!  I really like fall here so far, the yellows and reds in the leaves are beautiful and the air is definitely getting a chill.  We had a tiny, tiny bit of snow on Sunday, and will probably have more towards the end of the week.  This weekend is all about snowproofing:  getting studded tires for my car (which are a necessity up here) and engine block heater (basically what it sounds like...you can plug it in to parking space outlets that come standard to apt parking spots) for when the weather gets so cold that the engine freezes.  I also need the rest of my winter gear, like a big parka and heavy duty gloves.


As far as the internship goes, this week is pretty easy going, I'm doing hospital foodservice (patient meals and stuff) at Alaska Native Medical Center.  They use a room service program but also have a lot of traditional foods on the menu, including fish pie and reindeer stew.  I like the hospital so far, it's smallish but I'm enjoying that more and more.  Next week I start 10 weeks of clinical which will be the most demanding (of my time and brainpower) rotation of the whole internship.  I'm looking forward to it and not at the same time.


Overall I'm still doing really well here.  This place is starting to feel like home, even with the cold weather!  It's 37 out right now...when I've been getting into my car in the morning it's about 26.  A little chilly!  But I'm adjusting well, I hope, and am really liking being an intern.