"it never looks like what you thought it would look like," said the bird

My dearest friends in the lower 48,
(the lower 48 is what people in Alaska say about mainland USA)

Before arriving in Alaska for the first time in my life, I had a very specific picture in my mind of what I thought Alaska would look like. I imagined cozy log cabin like homes, lots of trees and houses very spread out as if each person has their own wilderness in their backyard. I fantasized about the quaintness and simplicity of this unknown territory. To be frank, Anchorage itself is terribly unappealing to the eye.

Earlier in the week, Jill and I went on a little adventure to a town called Girdwood, which is only about 30-45 minutes from Anchorage. Girdwood is exactly what I had hoped Alaska would be. Everything that I described previously about what I had hoped Alaska would be like, that is what Girdwood is. Jill's family has a cabin in this small town which is located at the foot of a large ski mountain.

So for a few days I was able to stay in a beautiful cabin in a perfect little town that was surrounded by the innocence of nature. We also found a lovely restaurant that had amazing food and even more amazing beer.Oh and I completely forgot to mention that the drive to Girdwood is along the water and there is a view of snow capped mountains that seem so close that you feel like you could just reach out and lick them. Yes, I said lick them.

Although Anchorage is not at all what I expected it to be as far as its appearance, I have been pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and friendliness of the people here. To begin with, Jill's family whose home we are currently living in, have been so warm and welcoming to me. And even people in town who find out that I have just moved here are so very kind and helpful. Now that I have stated that the people here are perfectly lovely, I would also like to add that there are some serious differences that often catch me off guard. I will discuss more of these issues another time.