Alaskan assignment

[donnarn7994]

Just wondering if anyone out there in cyber world has taken assignments in Alaska? Is there one city or hospital better than the other? Could u recommend any places to work and live? I am considering a travel assignment in Alaska, possibly even Hawaii! Somewhere far far away from Louisiana. I appreciate all info. Also is there a travel agency that is better to work with on these faraway assignments such as for airfare and car rental? Thanks!

Donna

[musherdeb]

hi,
i lived in alaska for 8 plus years. i lived in anchorage, fairbanks and Nome.
here is the deal with Alaska..
anchorage is just another big city but it is not far from the rest of alaska. there are several hospitals there and all are just fine to work in.
fairbanks is awesome but jobs are scarce there.
the smaller villages IE: Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Barrow are all great places to go but you must be prepared.
if you go to them you will need to be prepared for the following
1. cost of living is tremendous there. a gallon of milk can cost you $11. you can not drive to these villages. only fly in. so once there you are there unless you are independently wealthy and can afford the $500 to fly one way back to anchorage.
you will have shared housing cause there just is not enough to go around. you will not be staying at the ritz. this is bush country and you need to be prepared for bush life.
3. No walmart or anything like that in villages.
4. there is so much to do if you are willing to get out and enjoy the country. the people are so amazing. they are still living traditional lifestyle so they speak their language and dress their way and they still hunt and gather for the winter.
it is an incredible experience if you are willing to rough it.
5. dont go in with the attitude that you can change anything. this is the way they live and you cant change it no matter how frustrating it is for you. enjoy the experience.
Bethel has some surgery and they are bigger than some of the other villages.
Barrow is the most extreme of all of them. the natives there are whalers and seal hunters so you have to understand that going in.
Nome is awesome. i spent 3 1/2 years there. i loved it. cold as all get out in the winter and tons of fun in the summer. you can pan for gold on the beach and you can keep anything you find. i found lots of dust and some small flakes. so much fun.
Nome has a theater and even a subway. but that is it.
the biggest problem facing these villages is the drinking and ahigh suicide rate.
if you are interested and need more info just email me and i will be happy to tell you anything you want to know.
i ran dogs up there and got to see some of the most beautiful country on earth. it is the most incredible experience to be a part of that state and that country. totally different from anything down here.
working with the natives in alaska is 100% different from the indian population in the lower.
it is fun and you can really learn alot if you are open to the experience.

[donnarn7994]

Hello! Just wanted to say thank you for the information. I do appreciate it! I will let you know if I decide to head up that way!

Donna

[ppanchorage]

I don't know where you ended up. ??? I lived there 12 yrs+. In Anchorage. Don't believe the line about Anchorage not being far from Alaska. It has everything everyone else does. It just also has restaurants, bars, shopping, etc. It's just what you want.
Where did you end up??? July is the PERFECT month in Alaska. Perfect!!! In everyway.