I'm chugging along up here. One year older.
Since my last post, I've experienced a couple of winter storms. The first was 2 days before Thanksgiving and shut down the clinic due to high winds and blowing snow. Though I lost power often, it came back quickly each time, meaning I was warm and happy in my apartment, watching the snow whip by. The second storm was less severe, I chose to stay in doors though my neighbors ventured out on a walk to check it out. The pattern seems to be it gets really cold (like below zero) for a couple of days, then it warms up and storms.
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| The wind was intense! |
The sub-zero temperatures are intense. It's interesting how I now feel a distinct difference between 32° F (0° C) and 0° F (-18° C). I have come up with an appropriate outfit for the really cold days and I'm managing to stay warm. I'll probably start wearing snow pants on wetter days, though currently, I choose to allow my knees to be vulnerable to the cold to save a few minutes of dressing. The other day the temperature was in the low 30's and I was sweating (for real) in my winter ensemble. So I leave the scarf and hat off on those days now.
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| My winter getup, about to leave work. |
My face shield blew away the other day. I had too many things in my hands as I was walking home from work. I didn't realize a bag was missing until I got to my apartment, so I went on a quest to find it. I managed to recover my work ID badge, scarf, hat and a fork (from my lunch). But the bag, lunch tupperware and face shield are no more. Blown away. Keep in mind it's dark most of the time now, so there isn't much opportunity to search in daylight. Currently, the sun rises ~12:30pm and sets before 3pm. No bright sun.
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| An incredible care package received in record time! |
I've learned a bit more about the mail system here. There is USPS (the post office), then there is UPS and other private shipping companies. Both are iffy. The biggest issue with the post office in Kotzebue is staffing. When people are on leave or sick, the place literally shuts down. It was closed for a full week before Thanksgiving, then opened with limited hours for another week. What that means is you don't get your mail. Even if something was sent weeks before, it sits until someone sorts the mail, which no-one was doing for a while. They also put a hold on all packages for a while, so everything was piling up in Anchorage somewhere. I didn't know a post office could do that. It's a government agency, one might think they would provide relief staff in these circumstances. But no.
The private shipping companies receive mail through a different airline carrier. Though the packages get shipped up here, they don't necessarily get delivered in a timely manner. The local delivery people drive a white, unmarked van. They often show up on a Saturday. But not every Saturday. I've heard you can go directly to the airport to get your packages. But you have to know they're there, and tracking ends once a shipment reaches Anchorage. So how's a girl to know??
Then there are the packages that are sent to my street address but end up at the post office. I have a PO Box there. Though if the PO Box number isn't written on the package, the package sits in the orphan bin. One might think they would make an effort to match your name with your PO Box, but no. Instead, they will announce a list of names of people that have this variety of package on the radio and Facebook. But they won't reach out directly to the person, too much effort. Sometimes I wonder...
I also found out today that we're on a cargo hold. That mostly affects large shipments, so things like food for restaurants, furniture orders and vehicles. I guess Kotzebue is out of eggs and will be for at least 3 more days. I personally have eggs that I hand carried on the plane from Anchorage. But you can't buy them at the store or order them at a restaurant (including the hospital). Kinda crazy. And so much worse for the villages.
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| Who would think Kotzebue would ever be given that title?? |
Speaking of villages, I'll be back in Point Hope in early January for a week. Please cross your fingers and toes that the weather is good while I'm there- I don't want to get stuck again. The wind is worse in Point Hope since it's right on the coast and the open sea. It's a bit warmer than Kotzebue (still below freezing) but the wind chill is intense. And it's often not safe to fly with the wind. I keep trying to remind myself that I'm going there to help the people and they deserve that. But I also really want to be back in my own bed as scheduled. There's no way to know until it happens, so we'll see.
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| Typical view from my apartment window these days |
Otherwise, I've just been working and enjoying the view from my apartment. These days, there are a lot of snow machines that whiz across the ice. Also dog sled teams, they are fun to watch. Those dogs are so resilient. They live outside and are all business. Video is from October (before the snow) of some dog sled training.
I've been a on few walks on the weekend. I haven't see the foxes but I guess there are a couple up the hill, I've seen their tracks in the snow. And one moose, I've seen her droppings. No recent bear sightings (probably hybernating??) though my neighbor is procuring a gun to carry with us when we hike just in case. We're planning a longer walk out to the tip of Kotzebue, it'll take all day and you don't want to get caught unaware!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
