Today two of us (Jena and Lexi), were able to go to Flattop Mountain with our instructor Andrea. Flattop Mountain is a 3,245 feet mountain located in Chugach State Park just east of urban Anchorage. It is the most climbed mountain in the state! Above is a beautiful picture they were able to capture on their hike. I guess it was a pretty good workout walking in parts that had deeper snow uphill. I was told there is nothing flat about it!
Being stuck at the hospital, I still got to see some of Alaska's breath-taking beauty. The mountains to me actually look fake at times because they are so pretty! It's almost as if there is some sort of green screen or drop down background. Just looking out a window from a patient's room, you can pretty much always see the mountains off in the distance. Its nice to just stop and look out at them for a second or two. It makes me feel thankful for this opportunity and all of the people we have met along the way.
I also have seen the value of not only getting to experience other cultures, but also being able to connect with other midwesterners here. I have found a couple nurses from small towns in Wisconsin and Minnesota. It has been fun and exciting to think that over 3,000 miles away, I found a midwesterner, and even a St. Scholastica alumni at the hospital.
Although I might not be directly from the area, I could relate to small things about the area and connect in different ways. I am seeing that same interaction of Alaskan natives and the little connections they make with those living in the smaller villages. At first when being at the hospital I grew discouraged that I would not be able to find a connection to the natives here in Alaska, until I realized that there is always something that connects you to a person, even if it is something very small.
Overall, clinical days are seeming to go much smoother. We have a routine down and are the staff at ANMC have been more than welcoming to us. We are all very excited for our weekend ahead in Seward and the rest of our experiences here in Alaska.
Thanks for reading!
Rachel