travel nurses or anybody in Kotzebue - need your input (Fairbanks: to rent, living)

[annalibra]

Hello all!
I am moving permanently to Alaska in a couple of weeks and decided to explore the travel nurse opportunities for my first year or two...I have traveled for twenty years, so I am over the culture shock stuff...adapt very well, although, most of my time has been spent in the southern states, in the tropics and in Central America. Funny, I love winter...
I am about to sign a contract to work in Kotzebue... any travel nurses from the lower 48 out there? Or, anyone who has or is living there? I have read all the posts on the area and all it's good and bad and in between...sounds all ok to me and what I am looking for. I just might stay on.
I will be in Fairbanks end of this month and stay for a couple of weeks before leaving for Kotzebue and would like to know specifics from anyone who has been there for awhile, knows the working and living conditions for the nurses. They offer housing, but not sure about the restrictions and would rather find my own little place. I know they have housing that is pet friendly and all, (I have two cats and plan on getting a dog)...but, I like my privacy a bit.
Would also like to know what the best travel options and costs are from Kotzebue to Fairbanks for the times I want to get away for a few days. I have friends and my daughter who live in Fairbanks.
Any info appreciated,
Anna

[tundratantrum]

My blog address is Keeping it Real at 66 Degrees North Latitude. On the sidebar is my email. Pop me an email and I can hook you up with an RN that lives and works here and she can answer the questions that you have about the job. She is from Kotz not the lower 48 but she would have helpful info..

As for travel between FAI and OTZ the most direct way would be to fly with Frontier. They are the only ones who have direct flights. Frontier uses a Beech 19 and it takes about 2 hours or so. You other option would be to fly alaska from OTZ to ANC and them ANC to FAI.

Maniilaq housing is generally nice. Large and clean. They will remodel it before you move in. The housing they offer for people with pets is not as nice and can be much smaller. You can certainly find your own housing in Kotz if you do not want to live in Maniilaq housing, but it can be expensive. Also you will have a hard time finding someone in town willing to rent to someone with pets. If you have pets you better tell Maniilaq right away so that you can get on the pet housing list. You have a better chance getting in there than finding a pet friendly place in town on your own.

You said in your post you have read a lot of good and bad and in between and that is exactly how it is here. Some people like it. Some people don't. I happen to love it here and I have lived here for over 10 years.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by annalibra

I have traveled for twenty years, so I am over the culture shock stuff...adapt very well, although, most of my time has been spent in the southern states, in the tropics and in Central America.

Culture shock is virtually guaranteed.

[Crossfire600]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Culture shock is virtually guaranteed.

I was just thinking the exact same thing. My wife and I were looking at Kotz when we moved up here. After some careful consideration we changed our minds. Now that we have been here for a while I can see were at some point experiencing Kotz would be an interesting learning and cultural expierience.