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!