Alaska

Wow, what a summer! A bunch of you have asked what some of my adventures were. Well all you caring, loving, friends and family of mine... Here are a few:

Getting to Alaska- I got a greyhound bus ticket off the net. In reality I was afraid of all the bus stories that I'd been hearing. How dangerous, even scary people ride public buses; but my budget was very limited. I decided to take the chance. Mom, and dad drove me out to a my CEU room mate's house (Stephanie Sparkman). She drove me to the bus station that night. I remember looking at all the lights and knowing how I would miss Utah, all my friends and family that I was leaving behind. I took one last look over the sunset, and mountains, of the amazing Utah landscape. As the bus station came into view I realized my teeth were clenched, and I hadn't spoken much. My hands were even shaking as I pulled my luggage out of the trunk. 

          I said my last good byes to my loving friends, the last nurturing faces I'd see for five months! I boarded the bus, each step seemed to be new upon the journey I was embarking. There was a blond homeless looking guy I sat right behind. The people on the bus looked as if they all had their own stories, pain, loss, sickness behind each of their eyes. The girl I sat next to had a searching gaze. I introduced myself, and started talking to her. She opened up, and turned out to be a great girl, who was on to find a better life. A woman got on carrying 2 small children, and there were 2 more huddled closely to her. There was one seat available right next to me, and the little boy took it. He had his little truck, and seemed happy enough.

The bus started to pull away, as I took my last look at the city lights. The guy in front of me was a crazy! He didn't stop muttering to himself almost the whole way to Idaho (my only transfer). A few times I caught his words... stuff like, "I'm gonna kill...",  "@#$%^ kids...", "-@#$%ing..." His eyes kept darting around to the young mother, and the kids. Throughout that night the kids cried, kicked, screamed, and fought. I, being right between them, and the bathroom that people were constantly going in and out of; stayed awake most all of that night. A few times the blond guy would sink down, make a clicking-sucking noise, then look around suspiciously. The girl I sat down next to told me that he was smoking crack, (she looked like she knew what she was talking about, but then again I'd never been around it, so I didn't know). 

When we finally got to our first stop, the driver came back to him first off, because the young mother had told him what the blond guy kept saying. The driver asked us what was going on, I told him what I saw, and the driver searched the blond guy. As it turns out Blondy had been smoking embalming fluid, (I didn't even know that was possible!) The driver told the company what had happened, and they black listed the guy from ever riding on the buses again. He couldn't get on my next bus to Seattle. 

We were at the bus station, waiting for our next bus when Blondy stormed in, and saw me, he looked pissed, as he started toward me he reached into his pocket. I tensed up, and started praying. When a few other people who were on the bus saw what was happening they stood up, and put them selves right next to me. About five of them had seen what had happened, and where clearly for my defense. Blondy stopped in his tracks, sized us up, and stormed out of the station. Everyone (even those who hadn't stood up) relaxed and started walking around again. That was the last time I ever saw Blondy.

 I fell asleep as soon as I was on the right bus. Awaking only to a boisterous lady ranting about what had happened from SLC. She had driven trucks all her life, and was going to Seattle from Louisiana. She was one of the people who stood up for me. We became friends and talked most all of the trip. I couldn't help but think that God was with me the whole time, inspiring people to help me, and talk to me. I definitely felt better with the lady there. I hardly notice the changing landscapes, and the Oregon cost flying past my tinted windows. 

In Seattle: My friend Courtney was waiting for me at the bus station, just like we had planned! Thanks to her I was fed, hotel-ed, showered, and partied! She even took me to the airport, and saw me off the next morning. I was even asked on a date while I was here. We were goofing off in a parking lot, when Steffy (Court's lil sis.) playfully attacked me. I proceeded to put her unto a full Nelson. A guy from across the lot saw, and exclaimed, "Wow, she knows half Nelson!" He came over and started talking to us. Then he asked for my number, and if I wanted to go on a date that weekend. After sizing him up, (He was really cute) I explained that I didn't have a cell phone, or Internet access, how I was leaving for Alaska in the morning. He didn't look like he believed it, I felt really bad because it sounded like a huge rejection....

Alaska: I found my plane, and caught it in the nick of time! It was pouring in Juno when we landed. The airport was so small they didn't even have security on duty (very different from Seattle). I found my black and white poke-a-dotted bags, and rolled them to my next plane. Being not so thrilled to find out that it was snowing in Skagway, and they couldn't get any flights out that night. I took to the waiting station, and met Brian. A tall handsome young man who was from Pennsylvania, and was headed to Skagway himself. Together we found 3 other girls going to Skagway, and got a taxi to the ferry docks. I had heard that the last ferry left at 4:00pm, and our goal was to be on it. It took 7.5 hrs to get to my new home. The ride was ok. I got bored within the first hour of exploring the cabins, and the same up and down motion of the Pacific ocean waves. The water was green, and I couldn't see any whales. By the time we finally got to our destination the sun was mostly setting, at 11:30 pm! Everyone had some one waiting for them, or holding signs; with the exception of me. Brain's vulgar friends drove me around a deserted looking town, it seemed as if nobody knew the company that I worked for (Discover Alaska Tours). The guys offered to let me stay with them, they were going to drink the night away, and get high (sounds like fun right?). I didn't really have any other options, but to pray. So I prayed. 

They took me to this very run down place that was filthy, and had a bunch of foreigners living there. I later found out that they were all Bulgarians; huskily built, dark, hairy, and they all had thick accents. The boys awoke the land lord, a short, plump lady, who was not happy to be pulled from her cozy bed. She looked me up and down through squinted eyes. I could almost tell her every thought. Looking doubtfully at the boys (she seemed to find them as appealing as I did) Finally deciding to help me out, she made a few phone calls. After all,  if she didn't take care of this now, I'd probably stick around, and be another pain wondering around. She called Shandra from the Westmark hotel. After hearing who I was and why I was there, she said where I should be. Shandra met us at the hotel, that was just one step up from the place I had just come from. I left the boys at the door, and followed her to a room that smelled like the bar right down the hall, it's shower head was rusted through, the toilet was so stained it probably didn't even work. This is the first time I thought about how silly I was to even do this job. I slept in my sleeping bag, because I didn't trust the beds. All of my tickets were bought one way, and I didn't know what to do but thank God that I had a roof over my head.

In the morning after my first night: I wondered out into a flourishing town. The streets were pack with tourists, all wanting to travel the world in luxury. With their noses up in the air, and hands weighed down with bags, I didn't have much trouble weaving in and out of them. I found the old office, and as it turns out there was my contact man! He took me to my real room, and gave me a key. He told me where to meet that night so I could meet my co-workers; A company party. I started unpacking, thinking that it was better than the room I had been in the night previous. My New Roommate (Carly) came in a few hours later. I didn't even know that I had a roommate. 

The Co Party: I got there a little exhausted, and looked for the food I could smell all the way down the road. This was the first stuff I had eaten since I left home, that wasn't in the travel food bag. I grabbed a burger, and looked for the pop... oh, wait it was all bottles, and cans of alcohol. They even had kegs of it! (gross) most of them were already plastered, but the ones I did talk to seemed nice enough. Clarissa and I were the only Mormons on the whole block, and she seemed to be a jack Mormon. A good welcome to Alaska, right?