A Giant aHmong them

Quick note:  My cousin’s husband, Jimi, is retiring out of the Army and they have decided to return to Jimi’s home state, Maryland.  They plan to be leaving the state of Alaska by April 1^st.  I am sad to see them go.  I have felt so blessed to have been able to make the transition with family and their generosity.  I am very grateful for all they have done for me since I have made this move to Alaska.  I even like their dogs (or sons), Rascoe and Bear.

Tonight, I played volleyball with the Hmong Branch (a local congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).  My roommate, Joanna, plays the organ for their branch during their sacrament meeting and has been inviting me to attend.  Since I have been spending the weekends in Anchorage to spend time with friends, and now that I am going to be moving into Anchorage by the end of the month, I have been trying to create a good network of friends here and in that effort finally agreed to go with here.  I wish I had taken pictures!

They were a fun bunch!  They played their own way.  Even for those that just stood there and only made contact with the ball because they were protecting their face received a shout “Good!!!”  or “Good try!”
It made me smile to see random little kids sprinting on and off the court between plays just to be mischievous.  They were so cute!

A few things of note…

First of all, when they were setting up the net, I thought they were testing it out before raising the net to the height we usually use.  Nope.  Not the case.  It really was set that low.  Secondly, the “Hmong Way” means that any number of people can be on either side of the court at any given time, and sometimes, there will be two people side by side (literally) occupying the said space and will not, nor are they required, to rotate to a new position after a sideout occurs.  This being said, they are also not harassed for not moving to play the ball if it requires them to move their feet from their given position.  They will simply stay in the spot for the span of 2 games, 5 games, all games, whatever.  Next, they have a “permanent setter,” which only means that the person will never rotate unless they choose to switch with someone, then that person becomes the “setter.”  I use the term “setter” very loosely.  Sometimes, there is a permanent server in a game and everyone else, less the “setter” rotates, but sometimes, they rotate too.  It all depends.  It’s the Hmong way.  Just have fun.  Laugh a lot.  Be competitive with what you got, but not really.    It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t.

With that all being said, it was a good time had by all and I would love to attend again at some other time.  I truly was a giant aHmong them.  LOL!  I stand a modest 5’8” and I was the tallest person there.  My arms held above my head, my fingertips cleared the net and as I stood at the net and faced the opposing teams “setter” I felt like a giant.  I would “stand ready” by bending my knees and resting my hands on my knees so that I wouldn’t appear to tower above him just because I could.  I literally looked and felt like a giant.  Not only was I almost a foot taller, but I am also large in stature.  Three of them together would almost equal one of me.  It was crazy awesome.

I have a few volleyball skills, but my goal wasn’t to smash the ball in their faces.  It wasn’t that kind of competitive fun.  Sure, my team lost the first three in a row, but everyone was laughing.  We promised to make a comeback.  We did, and just barely.  No matter how we changed our strategy, they almost always seemed to thwart our efforts though.  Or, in most cases, we thwarted our own efforts.  We were consistent that is for sure.  Remember that time we were winning 10-0 and then lost?  Yeah, me neither.  Hahaha!  Good times.

Now, I raise my small but wonderful glass of Silk’s Chocolate Soy milk as a night cap and say, “Here’s to being a giant aHmong them, and to my new Hmong friends that took me in without question.  Cheers!”

ej

I saw Moose!

"bullwinkle" though it would be more appropriate to call her "cow-winkle"

I saw my first moose today while riding on the bus.  It was exciting.  The only other "wildlife" I have seen have been bald eagles on tops of trees while going down the highway.  I was excited to see them, don't get me wrong, but it was such a distance.  Here I was sitting on the bus and out the window is this big ol' moose going at a tree.  It was crazy to see how strong that thing was.  I snapped a photo with my camera phone.  The range is terrible on my phone, so that gives you an idea of how close it was to the road.  To add to my excitement, while walking home tonight, I got pretty close to another moose by accident.  As soon as I realized there was a big moose staring at me, I promptly and cautiously crossed to the other side of the street and when I had crossed the road (thank goodness there weren't any cars at that moment), it stopped staring at me and started eating again.  I opted out of trying to shoot a photo of the moose for a number of reasons!  LOL!  I'm sure I'll see many more, but it was exciting to finally see one of these things up close and personal.  Now, I didn't look under their skirts, but I am pretty sure they were females.  They were pretty big and didn't have the antlers.

Is it Break Up, or just Fake Break Up?

yep, that's grass, ice, and some snow

Well, the last few days have been quite an adventure.  I saw my very first Alaskan grass and dirt that is actual soil, not that dirt they throw on toss on the road!  Haha!  Because of the warm temperatures (above 30), ice sculptures are melting, snow banks are melting, trees appear to getting "taller," I can see more and more sidewalk, and bus stop benches are appearing seemingly out of nowhere!  The sheet of ice along paths are so thin, I can see brown and green grass, and sometimes actually walk on concrete.  The crosswalks are getting "longer" and my ice "islands" are getting smaller.

I have two interviews this week.  Both sound like good opportunities, but we'll see how things go.  I have an offer at one organization, but they want me to work Sundays.  I told them I would not work Sundays, so they offered me a job of lesser pay, and no benefits.  I don't know that I feel good about that, so I am going to let the opportunity go by.  Tomorrow is an interview in South Anchorage and I am hoping the weather holds up.  It started to snow a bit today as I was heading to a bus stop, but it melted right away because it was pretty warm out.  All I need is warm enough weather for tomorrow's interview so I don't have to fight the wind and snow, but if I do, I will be prepared.  I love it when the temperature lingers at about 29-31 degrees.  It is just cold enough to wear a long sleeve and a sweatshirt, and just warm enough that if you're running around without your sweatshirt, you can be perfectly comfortable.

an accidental pic of myself on the bus LOL

The week was jammed packed with goodness.  On Thursday, I participated in a service activity at the Alaska Food Bank and had a blast.  We packaged frozen carrots to be distributed to families in need.  It felt good to do a service project like that.  Sure, I got to use a crowbar, and a large metal spike thingy and bash icy carrots with all my might, but that's not the only reason I had fun.  I got to meet some cool peeps, and the cabbie was super cool.  I shoulda got his number in case I ever need to take a cab again.  On Friday, it was ward game night with the YSA at the Institute of Religion building.  I played ping pong, shot pool, and played catch phrase.  I also got to mingle with some cool peeps and meet some new ones too!

Last week dancing at Lion Hotel

I stayed up way too late, and thought I may have jeopardized my chances of doing well on my back to back finals Saturday morning.  Apparently, I do really well under pressure and with lack of sleep.  I didn't study at all after passing my midterms, even though I intended to, but good intentions were all that they were.  Despite my failure to prepare properly, I did really, really well on my finals.  In fact, I received better marks on my finals over my mid-terms.  Go figure.  I still need to finish my science lab and then onto my other classes.  Go me!  Can't let school go by the wayside, since returning to school is why I came to Alaska in the first place.

After passing my finals, I got a call from my friends Christina and Diane.  They wanted to grab lunch so we headed to the grand opening of a Subway!  It was a blast!  Somehow, we managed to spend over two and a half hours at Subway!  I love spending time with people and time passes without you knowing.  That's when you know you're in good company.  =)  My new roomie to be invited me to play cards with some people, so on Saturday night we went to Randy's house.  Randy is a cool guy.  He works on the slope, so his work schedule is a little different.  He's not a slope worker, but a computer guy who works up on the slope.  He baked some halibut and we all chatted, played spades, and chatted some more.  Bottom line of the very fun evening...I didn't get to sleep until after four the next morning.  Good times!

This weekend should be fun too!  Besides having homework, I also have some volleyball to play on Friday, and a double date on Saturday night.  Yes, Nancy, he's LDS.  =)  It is nothing serious, but dates are always fun!  Even if they are not ideal, they always make for great stories!  It's a blind date on my end, but I am not concerned.  I plan to wear my green sweater and black pants.  I wore the same outfit dancing and was never wanting for a partner.  :)

ej

Update Past Due

another back yard shot

Here I am 35 days into my Alaskan adventure!  I have two jobs:  Residential Care Worker at a youth rehabilitation center (kind of like a group home, except they all suffer from some sort of substance abuse and follow the rules more LOL), and as Executive Assistant to the President of Charter College (sounds fancy huh).  I started my job as an EA on Wednesday.  In the land of casual, I happen to land one of the few jobs that actually require business dress!  So, since I have been in Alaska, I have worn more nice clothes and makeup than I have in the past 15 years combined!  LOL!!!  Go me!

A lady was getting a little long winded at church

I was accused of looking so "modern" at church last week!  It cracks me up, since I am the least fancy dresser I know!  Well, until I moved here!  I love that everything is so casual, but people here make me feel like I am a fancy dresser!  Go figure!

at the bus stop

I am learning my way around town and even gave someone directions, and another asked for information on a bus line.  I felt good informing them how to get somewhere and not sending them in the wrong direction.  I did that once!  Getting lost is the best way to learn your way around I have learned.  I took the wrong bus on purpose the other day to avoid a guy who was getting a little too friendly.  His name was "Styles from Minnesota" and had liquor on his breath, which is pretty standard at a bus stop. I've been offered alcohol at the bus stop more times in the last month than I have in the last year when out on the town!  Good thing I have good enough sense to say "no."  Haha! 
I am hoping to find my stride soon.  Now that I am working, and have my finals lined up, and hopefully get my science lab done, school will be done for the term and I will be ready for the next term.  I am really looking forward to the next term, as I will be close to getting into the meat of my degree.  Makes me feel that much closer to finishing and reaching my goal.  It's why I moved to Alaska, it's why I returned to school after all these years.  Let's get it done!

waiting for the bus

after a weekend of snow

fur rondy races, no driver LOL he rolled off the line

this was exciting to watch so close up

Joanna didn't know what cracklin oat bran was, they have it in Alaska!!!  Yummy!