A Whole New World

This is what I get to see when I step out my front door every morning. Well, if there aren't any clouds that is. Amazing the things you can see when you take a chance, leave behind everything familiar and head out into the great unknown! This time for me, the unknown is......Alaska, The Last Frontier. It is a complete 360 of what I experienced in Taiwan and I know I will be having more than my share of adventure here. 

Hopefully no adventures that include the wildlife.

A new place brings lots of mixed emotions. Nervousness because you have no idea how things work or where to go. Excitement because there are so many new, fun things to do and experience. Appreciation for what you left behind and for what you now have. When my airplane landed in Alaska all I could think was "why did I decide to come up here by myself? Is it too late to go back? What if I don't fit in?" Within a couple of hours, after seeing the beautiful landscape and taking a few deep breaths I knew that I was where I needed to be and that I wouldn't want to give this adventure up for anything. 

I think the one thing that shocked me the most was the people. I am from Utah:born and raised. I grew up in an environment where almost everyone belonged to the same religion, the majority of people have never had a drop of alcohol or coffee, and the most extreme thing you ever saw was hair dyed a strange color. Outside of that little bubble I grew up in is a mind boggling variety of people, most of whom have a very blase` attitude about life. Where decisions don't have long term affects and all that matters is what is happening tonight at the bar or with the cute girl next door. Needless to say, I was a little intimidated and felt really out of my element. Not to say that I judged these people and their way of life. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinions and decisions and I respect that and understand. Just like I hope others understand my decision to not drink alcohol and to go to church on Sunday. 

I know that interactions with people whether they have the same lifestyle or not are invaluable. Life is too hard and too unpredictable and sometimes unhappy to spend even a moment on prejudice. Everyone deserves the common courtesy of a smile and friendly conversation. Everyone. 

So for me, Alaska hold the excitement of a new place with new things to see and do and new people to meet. Everyone has stories about life that can enrich our own and I am excited to add a few stories to my book and learn a few more stories from the people I meet here.