What I have learned the last few months.
1. Never leave home without a hat, gloves, jacket and your cell phone. If you don't you will be sorry.
2. When someone says it's " not that far" it sure as hell is " that far" its that and then some.
3. There is Jocelyn time and Alaskan Time. These two are never to be in sync.
4. There is a difference in City Moose and Country Moose. City Moose can read traffic signals, Country Moose cross the roads in 5 O' clock traffic and kill people. So much so there are signs on the highways warning you " High Moose Crossing Area Next 5 miles" .
5. My home is now considered the " lower 48" and that is NOT a term of endearment.
6. In order to keep sane you must have sunlight, friends and the Internet. Of which I only have one of right now, so I am pretty darn cranky.
7. I learned a new term BEATER WITH A HEATER, every home must have at least one that runs and one that doesn't and is sitting in the driveway under a tarp.
8. If you live in Wasilla you are accepting the fact that you live on Mars and you like it. To all my Oregon Peeps, I would say I live in Molalla, but a Hybrid Molalla/Woodburn with better stores.
9. This is not the place for Sissies, not sure why I am here but if you are one go home , your Mommy is waiting for you.
10. Do not and I mean DO NOT freak out about the prices of things here, it only annoys the locals. See # 9.
So hurry on up everyone and come visit me!
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5 comments:
I just read your previous post where you show a bit of your life in Alaska, and call me crazy, but I am so envious! It sounds like a dream come true for me. I would love to be in Alaska during the cold, snowy, no sun period.
Of course my romanticized idea of Alaska and your reality may be totally different :-)
I'm going to enjoy reading more of your posts, so I can live vicariously
stay warm!
betty
A wee bit of Alaskan culture shock!
I dont think I could do it!!!
You need extra vitamin D - my doc recommends D3 for me - to help offset the lack of sunlight. You can also purchase a machine that simulates sunlight. I have a friend who finds hers very therapeutic.
At least you have more stables to choose from in the Valley. Have you checked out Sindorf Equestrian Center? They don't have a website but are on Facebook and the pictures make it look fabulous. Cypress Equestrian seems to have a lot going on all the time.
I laughed so hard!
"Lower 48" is a good term. Usually it's Outside or America. I'm guilty of using both of them.
I second the D3. My husband takes it and it seems to make a difference. You have to get outdoors though and make the best of the little daylight we have. You will soon come to love December 21 - Solstice.
My freak out about prices was milk ($5/gallon), gasoline ($3.35/gallon) and bananas ($1/pound). And I quit eating tomatoes in the winter because I just couldn't pay the outrageous price.
Let's go have coffee.
Oh! You'll adjust! Having lived in both Alaska and Oregon, I can tell you to just give it time. There is going to be a lot of culture shock at first. If and when you do come back down here to live, it'll be more of a culture shock when you return. Just think of Alaska as stepping back in time to the 1950s in mentality.
Other things you'll learn:
When someone breaks down, at least 5 people will stop to offer a hand. It can be a matter of life and death if you don't.
People pick up hitchhikers and it's usually safe. Refer above for the reason why.
I found that people were friendlier up there in general. And now I'm in the South? Well, where the heck is this "Southern Hospitality" they talk about? I haven't seen it!
It takes at least a year to acclimate. If you make it through your second winter and haven't run screaming, you can consider yourself an Alaskan.
Oh, and if you get the chance, drive down to Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula and eat at Sal's. That's a can't miss experience!
Also, we Alaskans sometimes call the lower 48, the lesser 48.
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