Kotzebue, AK (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Barrow: travel, job, health)

[emangen]

I am looking to relocate to Kotzebue for a good 2-3 years. Any info about the place will be helpful, stuff like shopping, travel, etc. Please help, I need to make a decision really fast.

[LunaLoba]

I'm moving to Kotzebue next month. I have also had a hard time getting information. I've been trying to rent a place to live prior to my arrival, and I haven't even gotten very far with that! Here are the very few things I've learned (mostly from soon-to-be co-workers with my new employer):

* Everyone has a P.O. Box; there is no home mail delivery.

* There are flights every day of the week to Anchorage & Fairbanks.

* You will need a set of arctic-strength outerwear, but don't dress too warmly underneath, because enclosed spaces in winter tend to be OVERheated.

* It is impossible to take a car up there, except at ruinous expense, and the barges that could get a car in (or out) cannot run when Kotzebue is iced in (i.e., between October and May).

* If you want to drive to Anchorage and then fly up to Kotzebue, storage space is available for cars at the Anchorage airport; minimum cost is $60 per month.

* Some people have 4-wheelers or snowmobiles for winter, but keeping them running is sometimes a challenge; most people bundle up and walk everywhere; the entire town is only 1 mile long and about a quarter-mile accross.

* In summer, most everyone rides bikes; if you have good one, bring it.

* For really brutally cold days, taxi service is available in Kotzebue at a cost of $5 per person, per ride (meaning, it's mostly for the rich and/or lazy).

* Housing is expensive and (from the outside) ugly!

* There are many, many churches, so it that's important to you, your faith is almost certainly represented.


Hope this helps a little. I'll be checking other replies to your posting (if there are any) to get more info, myself!

[Takoda]

does anyone have more info? Lunaloba, have you arrived there yet? if so can you send info about housing and schools for my 4 year old daughter. I am a single father. I dont need much as far as housing is concerned a one bedroom would be fine. Also does anyone have information about the Maniikiq health care department. I have been trying to get a job for months now without any reply. I have over 10 years of medical experience. Are they normally slow with their responses? Any info would be great

[annswisher]

Hi
I live in Kotzebue part of the year. I am here now. My husband is the manager of the radiology dept. at Maniilaq. and of course lives here full time. What health care experience do u have? The city of kotzebue has a super website and so does Maniilaq Association. You can apply for work online. This little eskimo village is really pretty high tech. Contact Human Resources for more info. Lots of hiring done over telephone and travel money is paid (if it is a job that qualifies). Housing for nurses, drs and management is also available through Maniilaq.Good luck.

[greydog]

I was wondering about a few other things regarding Kotzebue...

Does anybody live outside of town? If people have dog teams--and I know there are some kennels--where do they live? Is the town welcoming of new people with dog teams?

Thanks!

[MysticDr]

Was wondering if anyone would mind detailing how it is to live in Kotzebue, etc. I am being considered for a position and have not found too much content on-line.

Thanks

[d99]

I have lived in Barrow, Sitka, and AKP. I have been to Kotz a few times to drop off prisoners (I was a police officer in Barrow).

Kotz is tough, but I think over all it's much nicer than Barrow.

If your moving from the lesser 48 you will notice life in the Artic isn't for everyone.

People may be friendly, but they won't really open up to you until you have have been there a while.

Being single in the bush is tough, being married in the bush if your spouse doesn't like it there is harder.

In Barrow a friend of mine had a couple dog teams. Kotz is in a different hunting region that Barrow, and in Barrow you could shoot 5 caribou a day to feed yourself and your dog teams. I am not sure you could afford to feed a team if you had to buy dog food in Kotz.

Living in the Artic during the winter for someone unaccustomed to it is like being in prison.

[CroatWebWanderer]

Originally Posted by d99

Being single in the bush is tough, being married in the bush if your spouse doesn't like it there is harder.

Now this sounds like a warning.

[BudinAk]

I was in Kotzebue years ago, on a 3-day job stint. Pretty cold and windy place to be in the winter. Don't know much else about it.

Bud

[RAMFEB31]

Originally Posted by d99

I have lived in Barrow, Sitka, and AKP. I have been to Kotz a few times to drop off prisoners (I was a police officer in Barrow).

Kotz is tough, but I think over all it's much nicer than Barrow.

If your moving from the lesser 48 you will notice life in the Artic isn't for everyone.

People may be friendly, but they won't really open up to you until you have have been there a while.

Being single in the bush is tough, being married in the bush if your spouse doesn't like it there is harder.

In Barrow a friend of mine had a couple dog teams. Kotz is in a different hunting region that Barrow, and in Barrow you could shoot 5 caribou a day to feed yourself and your dog teams. I am not sure you could afford to feed a team if you had to buy dog food in Kotz.

Living in the Artic during the winter for someone unaccustomed to it is like being in prison.

Gee, it sounds like an unforgiving place. Even though I am coming san wife, I think I will try for a warmer and more inviting place in the lower Alaskan coast.