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Old 07-28-2009, 01:47 PM
 
Location: Over the Rainbow...
5,963 posts, read 11,853,217 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeterific2000 View Post
i thank you for your honesty, but i have to say it's not very encouraging! i am moving there in oct. because my husband will be stationed at fort wainwright. i don't have a choice and i am a city girl from new york, so i know it will be a culture shock, but i will go into it with an open mind and hope i can make it through the 3 years..also, we have a 4 yr old so i am hoping he will get good schooling....
Where in NY will you be coming from? The big culture shock IMO will be the fact that there are "alot" less people in AK.

Last edited by Alaskapat528; 07-28-2009 at 01:50 PM.. Reason: add
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Old 08-13-2009, 03:05 AM
 
Location: Southwest
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Default @jeterific2000

You will be in a better position that many because you will have a built-in community and support system at the base. With two military bases in Anchorage, there are many young military families here and the military tries to provide positive support for them.

One thing that will help is to be sure to get outside a lot. Someone once told me that the only people who can really be happy here are people who get outside a lot. It is harder to do in the winter, but I think it is true. Also, many many people here make a point of leaving for two or more weeks every year-they go Outside and many head to sunny climates. They say it keeps them sane so they can be happy here, therefore they make it part of their budgets and plans every year.

Good luck!
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Old 08-13-2009, 03:08 AM
 
Location: Southwest
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskapat528 View Post
Where in NY will you be coming from? The big culture shock IMO will be the fact that there are "alot" less people in AK.
A lot less people, and much quieter people! New Yorkers do everything faster and talk much more, and louder. It will seem very socially quiet here compared to there.
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Old 08-13-2009, 03:13 AM
 
Location: Southwest
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollym313 View Post
Do you think certain experiences/climate that people come from will affect how well they adjust to Alaska. I live in Missouri and the weather is less than desirable but I do like it here. There is a big downfall here though just as I'm sure there is in Alaska too. I am very excited at the prospect of moving to Alaska but I am anything but naive. I love the outdoors but theres not much to look at around here. I love the snow but lately we have been getting inches of freezing rain instead of the pretty white stuff.

Although I have been in MO from 20 years, I spent my childhood years in Oregon. I am just curious to know if there is a common factor for those that only last a couple of years there.
The weather in MO can be pretty harsh. My siblings lived there for about 30 years and finally left thoroughly sick of the weather. They moved to WA. Oregon weather is milder than both MO and AK. The cultures are all quite different from each other. Because AK is isolated, one just cannot expect to have all the same things as those in the lower 48, and many social rules are different too, different from OR and MO. Frankly, we're pretty backward compared to most states, especially OR.

It will be an adventure!
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Old 08-13-2009, 03:31 AM
 
Location: Southwest
720 posts, read 751,346 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollym313 View Post
Do you think certain experiences/climate that people come from will affect how well they adjust to Alaska. I live in Missouri and the weather is less than desirable but I do like it here. There is a big downfall here though just as I'm sure there is in Alaska too. I am very excited at the prospect of moving to Alaska but I am anything but naive. I love the outdoors but theres not much to look at around here. I love the snow but lately we have been getting inches of freezing rain instead of the pretty white stuff.

Although I have been in MO from 20 years, I spent my childhood years in Oregon. I am just curious to know if there is a common factor for those that only last a couple of years there.
I think the most common factors are the high cost of living, and the lack of amenities people from the rest of the states take for granted. It takes some adjustment of attitude and expectations. Between culture shock, the weather, and the high cost of living, people leave before they've had time to really adjust. Plus, it is expensive and time consuming flying in and out of Alaska to visit friends and family and people miss their loved ones.
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Old 08-13-2009, 03:36 AM
 
Location: Southwest
720 posts, read 751,346 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeterific2000 View Post
i thank you for your honesty, but i have to say it's not very encouraging! i am moving there in oct. because my husband will be stationed at fort wainwright. i don't have a choice and i am a city girl from new york, so i know it will be a culture shock, but i will go into it with an open mind and hope i can make it through the 3 years..also, we have a 4 yr old so i am hoping he will get good schooling....
I apologize for not noticing you said your husband will be stationed at Fort Wainwright. That means you will be living in Fairbanks. Fairbanks is inland and is smaller than Anchorage. In winter it is darker and colder than Anchorage, and in summer it is hotter and stays light out even more than 20 hours a day. I do not know anything about the housing situation in Fairbanks.

You will have better views of the Northern Lights!

Be sure to get blackout blinds to keep the sun out at night for sleeping, and use the supports offered at the base, including the built-in community. The sooner you have friends, the happier you will be and the easier your adjustment will be.
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Old 08-13-2009, 07:08 AM
 
12 posts, read 39,613 times
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new york city
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Old 08-13-2009, 08:43 PM
 
Location: Charlotte, NC
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The weather in Anchorage this spring & summer has been pretty much like the weather in the Boston area.
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Old 08-13-2009, 11:30 PM
 
Location: Sevastopol city, Russia.
2,308 posts, read 3,247,652 times
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Friends, as for Alaskan Nature I'd like to say it is like southern part of Chukotka(Russia) or may be Kolyma (Russia).
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Old 08-14-2009, 03:15 AM
 
Location: Detroit, MI
84 posts, read 299,404 times
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I'd like to visit Alaskan cities with a skyline.
Anchorage:
http://www.railtravelcenter.com/images/Anchorage%20Skyline%20web%20version.jpg (broken link)

Fairbanks:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/Fairbanks05.jpg (broken link)
Juneau:
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