First Week Working

My first week of work is almost over.  I can’t believe how much I love my job as PA.  It is so surreal to achieve your goal after so many years.  One of the major differences between Alaska and Texas PA laws is medications.  I can write for any medication in Alaska compared to Texas where most PAs don’t’ write for Hydrocodone since the changes in Federal low.   I accepted a position in a practice where it’s just me and the physician.  It’s helpful as Neurosurgery PA to be able to write whatever the physician writes for so I can contribute to the practice especially since I split call with my physician. I know there is many sides to the laws in Texas about should we or shouldn’t we be able to write Schedule II.  The main reason for the broader laws in Alaska is because of the remote PAs.

Speaking of call, I start taking call next Monday on my second week.  Fingers crossed that week!!   Actually, it’s just office call next week.  I have emergency neurosurgery call every 6 weeks.  Alaska doesn’t have many neurosurgeons, so they split call.    Every 6 weeks isn’t bad at all!  I get to train in the OR, clinic, and emergency neurosurgery.  The next 2 years are going to be amazing experiences to build my career as a Physician Assistant.

Real Grown up PA

When Ryan English first asked me to write this blog, he told me he wanted me to write about my life and share a picture of what I wake up to every morning in Alaska.  So here it is Ryan, my amazing view of the Chugach Mountain Range overlooking the Eagle River!

Today is my first day as an ACTUAL Physician Assistant.  I got to scrub in and assist during surgery.   I can’t believe it!!!!  After all these years, numerous tests, 11 clinical rotations, and months of waiting to start.   I am finally getting paid to do what I love and have wanted to do!  

Well…….. if only reality went that smooth.  I am only credentialed at 1 out of 3 surgical places so this is my only surgery for over 3 weeks.   The getting paid part is not really happening yet either.  I will get paid in 2 weeks for only 1 week because of pay periods.  I can afford to pay my bills…..... in a month after I get settled in getting my paychecks consistently.  It turns out even when your move to Alaska is covered in your contract, it still costs A LOT of money to move.   So I am still broke, I had to scrap together my expensive rent because my security deposit for my house was like paying double.  My credit cards are also maxed out since I ran out of loan money in March and what little I did work between graduation and starting as PA barely covered bills.  I had so many extra expenses buying stuff in Alaska and flying up to find a place.   

But the view still makes me happy!

Made it!

I finally made it to Eagle River, AK!!!!  I scrambled to schedule my U pack, movers, and deliveries.  I finally got to pick up my new 4x4 truck too….. I didn’t want to die with all this ice and moose on the roads.  Even with the exhaustion and constant errand running, I start my first job as Neurosurgery Physician Assistant in less than a week.   I should be stressed out about start working for my first PA job ever, but I’m so tired from moving I’m not even nervous.  It also helps that I am so excited to work with my doctor, office staff and everyone else in the OR…..including the surgical PA who reminds me that I am replacing him so he can finally retire.

It also turns out the weather isn’t so bad.  Its frosty in the morning around 32 degrees and the high during the day is around the low 50s, high 40s.  Apparently, a significant event has already happened before my arrival……termination Dust.  

Fun Alaska Fact #2:  Termination dust is the first snow on the mountains.  Once this snow arrives, it means winter is about a month away.   During the height of winter in Anchorage, there is only 5 ½ hours of daylight…. And it’s cold.  The lowest temperature is around -30 ⁰F, but it averages in the single digits and low teens with the high around 20 ⁰F.

I can’t wait to see what Alaska has in store for me!!

Settling in

After 4 days in Canada, I have made it back in the United States!  I have been to 6.5 countries over the past few months.  Canada has definitely been one of my favorites. They have the nicest people, all the food is fresh and every single bathroom smells amazing!!!  Seriously though, Canada has the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen.  Along the Alcan highway, which is the highway in Canada that connects the lower 48 to Alaska, there are outhouses about every 30 minutes.  These outhouses have no odor what so ever!! I’m not sure what they put in there but they did it right!  Besides the amazing bathrooms, Canada has the bluest waters and magnificent mountain ranges I’ve seen.  One particular place in Canada has to be one of the most unexpected surprises on this journey.  In the Yukon, there is a town called Watson Lake.   In 1942, an American solider working to build the Alcan Highway started what is called today the Signpost Forest.  In the middle of nowhere Canada is 75,000 signs nailed to a group of trees.  The signs range from a post of multiple towns in Germany to names of families and their state of origin on a pizza pan.  The nature and drive through Canada was unreal.  This country has such hidden beauty that I would have never expected.  The closer to America, the more writings on the bathroom wall or “washrooms” as they call it in Canada.  So many people writing their names, state and when they drove the Alcan Highway.  I’ve joined this club I would have never even dreamed of a few months ago……..and I feel honored to have made this journey with the rest of the names on the bathroom wall. 

As I cross back to into America, I get the same feeling every time I come back to this great country.  I am home!  I have made it to my new home in the amazing state of Alaska!  It must be called the amazing state of Alaska since I reserve great for “The Great State of Texas.”  Alaska welcomed me the first morning with snow and 30 ⁰F …….in September.  Goodbye shorts, hello parka!

Remote to say the least...

Moving to Alaska has felt so surreal over the past few days.  The thought of starting this amazing adventure is so exciting and scary at the same time.  I am moving 4,200 miles from Texas to Anchorage, Alaska by myself to start over for the 2nd time in my life.  

The excitement and fear comes in waves.  Fear of being so far from everyone I love.  Hoping this is the best decision for me.  I can’t just hop in my car and drive home.  Flights to Alaska are usually overnight, long, and have at least one layover.  They are definitely not cheap.  Saying goodbye to friends makes this move even harder.  I am so grateful for Facetime that allows me to see my friends and family. It always makes being far away from home easier.

Yet, everyone is so excited to hear about my adventures in Alaska or ready visit.  People say how brave I am to move that far away.  Their encouragement reminds me why I decided to move.  I needed something different.  I’ll never regret this move to Alaska.  I can look back on my life and say I tried something new.  I am the kind of person who needs an adventure……even if it means moving Alaska.

International in the US

I was so naïve about how easy it would be to move to Alaska.  My move was included in my contract and all of my stuff was in a 10 x 10 storage unit.  I assumed I would just ship my stuff and it would be there in 2 weeks.  I was so wrong!  

Texas to Alaska is considered to be an international move which means my stuff is loaded into a special container that is driven to Washington and then shipped to Alaska.  Moving quotes were based on weight.   Trying to get a hold of these companies and scheduling “in home” estimates was a nightmare. Some of the companies required a physical inspection of my storage unit which really meant they physically looked at it and then just put my dimensions into a formula to come up with a weight and price.  The weight and price estimates where so far apart.  Some guessed 2,000 lbs and others up to 4,000 lbs.  It was a little concerning since I was being charged per 100 lbs.  

In addition to the wild guesses of price and weight, no one could guarantee a delivery date.  The companies gave me a 3 to 5 week window for delivery.  How can it take 5 weeks for delivery?  I could drive there in 8 or 9 days.  The price to ship my stuff was also unbelievable high.  If this was not a paid move, I would be arriving in Alaska with only a suitcase.  

With all my frustrations, I ended up going with U Pack.  They were they only moving company who did not based it on weight and could guarantee it in 11 to 13 business days for a fair price.

There were a lot of other scheduling stressors with this move. My move date is actually over multiple days since I don’t know when my stuff will actually arrive.  I had to schedule utilities, deliveries and pickups around an estimated move date while I wait around in Alaska for my all of my stuff hoping I get my bed soon so I don’t have to stay hotel for too long.    

Road Trip!

Right now, I’m on a 12 day roadtrip from Texas through New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and the Yukon to Alaska.  I’m driving with my parents and their dog exploring the west Coast.  I had never seen any of the western United States so this was an amazing opportunity to experience a piece of my country.  Actually, my first time to the west coast was my interview in Alaska.   

The trip will roughly be about 5,000 miles since I’m taking time to see America.   I have seen such amazing places in nature over the past few days such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, the Redwoods and the Pacific Coast. Numerous cities such as Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle.  Canada turned out to be one of the most beautiful places with friendly people and the cleanest bathrooms of my entire life!  

I can’t think of a better way to start a move than see what lies between where I am from and my new home.