I have updated the picture page!! If you do not follow me on Facebook then these are new to you! Enjoy!
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My boyfriend has been in Anchorage the last few days on school business. He comes home tonight! Then I go to Anchorage in a couple weeks. Hooray! I am excited but nervous for my test. I get my per diem check before I go for my hotel, rental car, and food. I get a good amount for food, but I get free breakfast at my hotel and my manager included lunch at my conference, one dinner paid for because I am going to a pirate themed murder mystery performance, plus we are being taken out to a thank you dinner by some group. So I am planning on going out to dinner at a fine dining restaurant one night, maybe after my test as a celebration dinner. Fine dining like a quality similar to The Fort in Colorado. I have it narrowed down to three places. I never do anything cool like that, so I plan to. I have a list of things I want to do, plus a list of things I have to do. I only have 5 and a half days, but as my mom can attest to, I am the master vacation planner. I get so much more done when I can just do what I want and take off on my adventure. I wear people out though, so good thing I am going alone. I will miss my boyfriend of course. Oh! And the shopping I get to do will be epic!! I am slowly decorating our home. We will finally have bath mats and towels that match!! I will pick out a comforter soon, when we are done with the down comforter for the year.
Nothing too much going on. Work is going well. It is getting a tad warmer. There are puppies everywhere. Only 7 more weeks of school. I really wish someone in my family could visit and see our home, but alas, not a possibility. Two articles about the huge process of bringing running water to these village homes here, as well as about the honey bucket system in general and the health concerns. Good reads, but sad. I had no idea that 1 in 3 babies are hospitalized because of respiratory illnesses caused by lack of running water in cramped homes. But water is coming! Lots of employees at the clinic use the shower we have for themselves because they have no water at home. Just like they use the washer and dryer for their work clothes because otherwise they have to go to the washeteria and do it. We are lucky to have water at home. I am lucky to have grown up with running water and adequate space. I never had to sleep in a kitchen with six other kids or fit a family of 12 in a two bedroom home. I count my blessings.
Indian Services gives all natives here free health care. It does not matter what it is or if you have to fly to a hospital, it is free. Eskimos have never had to pay for stuff like Tylenol or tests or surgeries or anything. That is a good thing because most here could not afford to take their children in for well child exams or even get Penicillin shots for strep throat. Actually, the clinic does not accept money upfront for us non-natives who have to pay for stuff. They send a bill because they do not accept cash.
Talking with providers I learned that sometimes it gets frustrating because people can sometimes come across as feeling like they are owed something, just because Indian Services will pay for it. Like coming in for birth control and then asking for a wrist brace just because. However, they also say it is very nice and freeing to be able to treat someone without worrying about if the patient can afford a test or treatment. To order whatever test is needed or order whatever prescription is needed. They get the best care [possible because money is not an issue. That is pretty awesome. The pharmacy here is full of stuff like Tylenol because when a provider here tells someone to take Tylenol, they actually just give it to them. Same with Pepto or anything like that. I have been so bad at writing in this lately. This is mainly due to my old laptop acting up. It was not charging unless I held the power cord in weird angles. I use it for watching downloaded movies as well, so once I found a position for it to charge, I left it alone and did not use it for anything else. But!!! I got a new, fancy, expensive laptop for the first time in my life!! Hooray!! I actually have money now and can buy nice things and not obsess over money. Awesome! I love it and love the security! The store has been advertising reindeer but we never were able to get some. Until last week. A co-worker let me know that a shipment came in of reindeer steaks. I sent my boyfriend to grab a couple. OMG. The steaks were better than beef!! I need more reindeer in my life. To eat.
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AuthorI am a Colorado native who moved to Alaska for love and adventure. This journal is going to track my journey. Archives
March 2017
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