New in Anchorage

It has now been over a week since we landed in Anchorage, and it is amazing how it feels as thought we already established a family and a life here. The support people here are so unbelievable; it is though we have an extended family everywhere. They offer rides and help and support in any way possible—it is times like these where the true human nature is seen in such a beautiful light. Including Moose's Tooth, ranked top 3 in the nation!

We recently hiked up Flatop mountain where we quickly learned how people in Alaska get in shape. Everything was so beautiful and we couldn’t believe we were going to be on top of a mountain where the people hiking were starting to look like ants. Once we approached the final stretch, where we had to boulder our way to the top, we all knew we had to find some inner strength and motivation that may have been hiding. But we made it, and wow was the view ever so worth it. It was again, as if we were viewing a painting. That is the amazing thing in Alaska so far, is that there are so many ‘paintings’ surrounding us, and this is only the beginning.

One of the biggest ways to get to know each other has actually been participating in runs. We have definitely taken advantage of that avenue. The first run we did was the Urban Challenge, a part of the Skinny Raven runs, where we had to go to about 10-15 places to receive a raffle ticket to then come back to Skinny Raven and hope and pray we would win free stuff as poor volunteers. Unfortunately none of us won anything but we did win in the fact that we met more people, including when we participate in the reoccurring runs through Skinny Raven every Tuesday.




Community Living has definitely been an adjustment I believe for everyone. Though it seems to have been last on our priority list of the four core values of we are learning (Spirituality, Community, Sociological/Ecological Justice, and Simple Living), I think we will all learn and benefit from being patient, compromising, and supportive for all of our housemates. I believe that Spirituality will also be something that I will learn greatly from. I have been tiptoeing around the idea of Faith for a while, and having special nights for Spirituality, will definitely tap into the curiosity that has been building up inside of me. Simple living though has been nice, as I actually haven’t thought too much about Facebook as often as I had. And my phone is really not much of an importance to me anymore. I feel free and proud to say that the outside world is important, but what I’m doing here is more important for Me.

The Center I’m serving at has been interesting so far—as it is definitely all new to me. The youth have so much character and backgrounds that I have rarely been exposed to, the concept of youth teaching youth has been a genius approach to see, and the way that respect has unraveled is comforting to experience, as my hope is to give hope to these young individuals who haven’t felt love. My every reason for being here is so that the love that resides in me, is used for youth who truly need it. And I believe that I am at the right place.

Keep it Weird

I landed in Portland a day earlier than orientation, which was just what I needed. Time for myself to catch my bearings, time to finish my goodbyes in met head, and prep myself to what I have to embark upon. But wow does Portland ever keep to their slogan accurate, “Keep Portland weird”. I met another volunteer in the airport and quickly felt thankful that I had met another person who was in the same spot. I was just about ready to sink into my bed in the hotel when she forced me to get up and explore. First on the list was Rontoms. Such a cool place, partly covered, with an outdoor patio and indoor area for the bands. Though we waited a long time to get served, it was definitely worth the wait. Great local brews on tap and a delicious BBQ pork sandwich with a healthy spinach salad, I knew I was somewhere eclectic and in a bit of a health craze since I spotted no ‘Fries’ on the menu. The band started and their electronic sound echoed through the rafters and out into the clean dusk air. We were enticed. As the sun went down and so did our beers, we decided to venture across the bridge and go to Voo Doo Donuts. Only we never made it there.

Approached by a stranger on the bridge, we were instructed how unsafe the bridge was at night and that we should use Uber. Soon enough we realized that this stranger only wanted to lead us to a bad part of town for what reason we will never know. But thank God for each other and our senses, as we parted ways from this ‘safer route’ and went back to Rontoms to finish the night into more electric tunes and vibrant lights. Thank you Portland for keeping it weird.

Orientation came and definitely surprised me in many ways. The many people there that had came right from college, young and ready to take on the world, which made me feel a little off kilter. ‘Why was I here at age 29? Was I backtracking? How am I ever going to bond with people 7 years younger than me?’ But I soon realized that everyone generally had the same intentions; we were there because we all had a big heart and wanted to find something bigger than ourselves.

Amidst the healthy gourmet meals and daily activities, including learning workshops and music time, I found myself fitting in well. But I began to have that nervous feeling again like I was awaiting something big, and I believe I was. I found out soon though that all of my housemates were amazing people from all over the country, that every other volunteer welcomed me greatly, and that music time helped me open myself to letting go. I found myself singing and clapping aloud, not being too ‘cool’ or embarrassed that we were singing positive, embracing songs, and enjoying every minute of it.  Not to mention the natural beauty of having orientation at a camp in the woods was more amazing and relaxing than I could have imagined. The trees that met the sky, the open space where we meditated that felt like Mother Nature herself was wrapping us in her big green arms, the trickling streams of water that spanned throughout the camp, the trails right underneath our feet everywhere we went, and the quiet was sweet bliss.

What was even more amazing was pulling our mattresses to the open meadow, sleeping under the millions of stars, among the ‘larger than life’ trees. There was no picture that could have ever captured that sight.

And once the week was over, it was time to pack again, say goodbye to all the volunteers we met, and venture to our final destination.

8/17/15

Getting up that morning wasn’t like any other, as through the night my eyelids wouldn’t rest and my stomach wouldn’t stop churning. Having the day and night before with one of my favorite persons in this world was a blessing, but made it that much harder to calm the activity going on inside my body. I had had nervous feelings before, but this didn’t compare; the feelings wouldn’t subside and once the lights came on at 4am, I couldn’t tell where those feelings belonged. I was so excited to start my journey into something new, into a great challenge that I knew was going to be life changing, but nervous for every change in between.

I remember packing odds and ends, making sure my luggage—which could have fit my entire body—was going to make it through the airport check in without charging me the equivalent to my monthly stipend. I got every luggage ready, wheeled out of my mother’s house—my closest feeling to home—and headed for the door. Seeing the street lamps and sitting under the dark sky, I knew something big was about to happen, because its not as if my mind could make sense of anything at that very moment with every emotion ready to take over.

A caravan and 7 people to see me off, we all waited patiently in a line of 30 people; thank you airline for having one representative. The clock kept ticking and once we made it to the counter, sure enough, it happened, “do you think you could take 7 pounds out of that luggage?”. So once again I was emptying my belongings in the middle of the airport. Even though I contemplated for weeks on what ‘I needed and wanted’, I wasn’t done making those decisions. Soon enough I got to 50 pounds, they took my luggage and it was now time to say goodbye.

There would have never been enough time to say goodbye to 7 people in my life who have stuck by my side through every storm, every change, every emotional roller coaster, but 7 minutes will have to do. Right in the center, I started from one side and went around the circle. The tears formed and I couldn’t quite gather what was happening still. But as I wheeled my carry on through the desolate airport of Des Moines, making it to the escalator where we were to part, I looked back at my ‘posse’ for the last time, took one breath, and then my stomach finally stopped; I was on my way.

Airplanes always make me happy, I never know if its the traveling, the idea that I’m independent and on my way to something, or that I’ll always get that rush, giddy feeling when the airplane turns on its motor and you feel as though your body is going to sky rocket, but I couldn’t help but smile with my earbuds in and know I was finally on foot to my next adventure.

The sky couldn’t have been any more beautiful when we were ready to take off, “You are truly loved my friend, take a look at the sky”, my best friend texted me. And was she ever more right, it was as if someone was finally able to bleed out and burst with color, burst with happiness—that I was finally where I needed to be. I felt as if someone was telling me that what I was doing was miraculous and amazing already.