Info on Bethel? (theater, school, babysitting)

[mal_flisk]

Rob

UAF is rated as the fifth best small university scholastically, nationwide, and has the top rated environmental and climate doctoral programs in the nation.

But, winter is tough. Fairbanks is Interior Alaska at its best and its worst. Average temps are -15F to -20F below zero. Any wind at all makes it that much colder. Fairbanks itself has kind of a small town feel to it. This is NOT a bad thing. People are friendly and have a great sense of humor.

My favorite restaurant is Sam's Sourdough Cafe. Their sourdough pancakes have to be tasted to be believed.

Fairbanks has some outstanding festivals, and the ice sculpting should be immortalized in stone in many cases.

UAA on the other hand is much larger, and has an okay rep. It's programs are more geared to other pursuits than Fairbanks. Anchorage definitely has a "big" city feel. I grew up in Chicago (GO Bears!), and can tell you that in attitude, Anchorage is a lot closer to Fairbanks in size for me, but that's my historical perspective speaking from within. It is a large city. Population is 260,000. They have all the amenities that you could want, but with those come the concommittent problems of crime and crowding, along with a smidgeon of "I don't know you, so why should I care" kind of attitude. Smaller towns enjoy helping strangers, as it kind of livens up their lives.

Each of the major UA campuses has pros and cons. It is a matter of what you want to study, and what lind of lifestyle you prefer.

Personally, I like Anchorage. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm over 50 and dread Fairbanks winters though, I might be up there.

TV lies to you though. There are no Olive Gardens or Red Lobsters, no Sonics, and only one Dairy Queen (Soldotna) in all of Alaska.

[MidniteBreeze]

Good for you, JB! Thanks for the updates

[Mixcoac]

Just JB, My son is moving to Bethel (with his girlfriend and relatives). I see that you have a good job, great for you. Was it hard to find it. My son went to mechanic school in Houston, he also worked for a while in houston airport, loading and unloading planes. What do you know about this kind of job? What the benefits, like medical insurance, bonus, etc. Any info about it? There are other jobs beside fishing boats (which I dont'n want him to work on them, I saw some documentals about that, and they say that it is very dangerous.)

[Rance]

Really the most dangerous of the commercial fishing is the crabbing. Mostly due to weather conditions they fish in. Middle of winter can ice a boat over quick and it wil flip up-side down if the top heavy coat of ice is not removed. But there are dangers in most all occupations here. I've worked in logging in southeast, commercial fishing from Kenai to Kodiak to Bristol Bay, construction in Anchorage and on the peninsula, and oil feild on the peninsula and north slope. You have to keep your mind focused on the job at hand, at all times, no matter what work your in. Heck even a pizza delivery guy runs risks in traffic. Most commercial fishing is done from spring to fall so ice is not an issue. Getting caught up in a gill net while setting...or getting a halibut hook in your hand while laying long line can do a person in just as fast. Commonm sense goes a long way in Alaska. Danger lurks at every corner. Avalanches, bears, dumping a canoe or boat, getting hit by a drunk driver, the list goes on and on. Don't deny yourself or anyone else the sense of adventure or living life to the fullest just because of a tv show!

[mal_flisk]

As a worker in the power generation industry, I can tell you that my job is nowhere near as dangerous as crab fishing. But, all jobs have their own hazards and inattention to the job at hand is the surest killer I know. Whiteouts on the slope are famous. Electrocution and heavy equipment take their own toll. So do plain old power tools.

[CGC018335]

Originally Posted by it's just JB

Hi people. If anyone could pass some information about Bethel, Alaska along I'd really appreciate it. I've been doing some serious research but anyone who's been able to experience the city first hand might be able to fill me in on more than just statistics. Ok, so here's what I do know(or think I know).... the cost of living is very expensive, transportation is pretty much limited to snowmobiles, boats, planes... am I missing anything?; it's winter about 9 months out of the year, not much of a social scene as far as bars and other nightlife situations.

Now I've lived my whole life(all 22 years of it... ladies) in Ohio. I've never really experienced much more than this state and the ones that border it... so sad. But now I have a chance to make a huge change in my life and I just don't see how I'll be able to pass it up.

My cousin just got a job at a University there and he's already loving the city and how friendly everyone is. We both grew up in small towns so it's kind of all we know. But he asked me to make the move and like I said.... it's kind of hard to say no to a once-in-a-lifetime experience like this, regardless of what you may be leaving behind.

The only thing I'm kind of concerned about is work. The stats indicate there's not much of it available there but he and others he's talked to are convinced otherwise. Now I don't even have a bachelors... just a high school diploma (I'm such a loser). That can't help my chances of finding a job... do you think there's still something out there if I look hard enough?

Anyway, sorry for the novel... Any info is appreciated. Thanks for your time.

You might consiter using google earth on Bethel and other villages along the river, it gives you a good idea of the area.

[Takoda]

Things to do in Bethel


Since I have been in Bethel, I have been writing about things that I have done or are available for me to do.

Basketball is huge here, everyone seems to love it. There are middle school games, High school games that everyone attends.

snow machining is also very big, everyone has one. They race them, ride them for fun and substance.

Every other weekend there is a get together or dance at the cultural center, which is a lot of fun.

But the big thing here is dog racing,

If you like politics like I do, there are a lot of boards, committees or commissions to join. Bethel has it’s issues just like every place else, so if you want to have improvements made, join a committee and be a part of the change.

Go to church or join a church. There are 16 of them to choose from. Every faith is served.

Play bingo at the Akiachak native community center. You can win some good change there.

Go to the Akiachak winter carnival fiddling dance.

I went to the Bethel dog show, it was fun!

[richey]

My fiancee and I are also looking at moving to alaska. Well, I should say alaska is pretty well a definite, and bethel is a probably. If not Bethel, then certainly one of the more remote villages. I would love to hear more about things you should and shouldn't bring, as well as anything more about bethel. And I would love to hear from people already there, so when we do move in a couple of months, we'll know people in place, and it won't be quite so lonely of a start.

[HM2FLIP]

[quote=Takoda;383154]Things to do in Bethel


Since I have been in Bethel, I have been writing about things that I have done or are available for me to do.

snow machining is also very big, everyone has one. They race them, ride them for fun and substance.

[HM2FLIP]

OOOOPPPSSS....screwed up the last posting.

OK...so now I start my third week in Ol' Bethel and so far, these are the things I have noticed:

1. Transportation- If anyone tells you that you don't need a car- consider your age. If your over 40 like me and unaccustomed to the weather and exercise…. and still think you can do what you did in your 20's- put down the cigarette and push the beer away…think again- that mile hike to work that you thought would be a good way to get some exercise and get back in shape is a killer when the temp is 0 and the wind chill brings it down to -25. If your young at heart, hey go for it, but I suggest---Bring a vehicle!

2. Cold...not really as bad as I envisioned it, actually, pretty comfortable for me considering where I came from (Guam). I think I have adapted fairly well, still, it IS Alaska in the winter. I have spent winters in Maine and even camped out for a while in a Maine winter but this is much different. Maine, Michigan, Washington and even Colorado all had wet cold, the snow was usually the big fluffy flakes…the good snowball making kind, this here is a dry cold and consequently, I have been suffering for it. In the short time, all of my fingers have cracked from the temp, so…make sure you bring a moisturizer, lotion and Vaseline.

3. Prices-OUCH- I have been some expensive places but this takes the cake- yesterday went to the store to buy a loaf of 7 grain bread that was on sale- $2.99. A package of Jello, $1.25...while in Anchorage I bought a six pack of beer (Bud Light) and it was $9.99... a large pizza in Bethel, $25.00, a pack of cigarettes..$8.50ish...so be prepared for that...my personal suggestion is that if you are moving up here, buy as much as you can ship grocery wise and live off of that, I’m waiting anxiously for my shipment to arrive...even went to Cosco in Anchorage to buy some stuff for one of the businesses here...it cost me an extra $100 to ship it here and it was STILL cheaper than the stores in Bethel...so be prepared for sticker shock.

4. This one should have been first....PEOPLE...DAMN...some of the friendliest folks around seem to have up and congregated in Bethel Alaska. I have been to a lot of places and I tend to make acquaintances pretty easily but SHEESH…this is overwhelming. I'm staying at a B&B until I find a place to live and I’ve pretty much been given the run of the house …traveled to Anchorage for business and probably 6 people from Bethel tried to give me their cell phones and car keys to use while I was out there….the guy at the closest store knows my name already. It’s lunch time and here I sit typing this out…and what do I hear around me…laughter!!!…people really seem to have fun here. If you have a problem with people being too close to you or you’re a “sit quietly in my shell” person, get ready for a change.


5. Thing I did that I could not have done anywhere else- Well…the other day, last Saturday to be exact, I sat in the kitchen of my little B&B apartment staring out the window. The Kuskokwim River is frozen over before me and the ice highway is open for business. Snow machines and trucks drive past make the trip from distant villages. I sat with my cup of coffee, snug at the table and watched an airplane on ski’s practice touch and go landings and take off’s for about an hour, up and down with the roar of the engines…then suddenly… all traffic stopped, the snow machines stopped, the cars stopped moving on the ice and even the ski plane pulled to a stop near the shore. Movement off to my right caught my attention. A little downriver, rounding a bend, comes a parade of mushers and their dog teams, racing up the river in what a later found out was a small local race (only 13 miles) much like the little local 5k’s I used to run. Nothing fancy, just a bunch of folks getting together to do something they love.

Yeah, I think I can get used to this place- I’m sure having fun so far.