Hunting and Gathering

It's been about 48 hours since I arrived here in Sitka, Alaska, and I think I'm already in much better shape than when I left Berkeley. These people like to move it. They kayak, run long-distance, go fishing, hike uphill (both ways)... I mean, seriously. Yesterday, I found myself feeling embarrassed that I've never run a marathon. Um, I'm pretty good at crosswords though?

For those of you I haven't told, I'm up here in southeastern Alaska for a 2-month internship with Raven Radio, a public radio station that pretty much everybody in this region depends on for their news. It's tiny-- from what I can tell so far, there's a general manager, an engineer, a funding person, a reporter, a news director (my boss, and currently, my housemate), and in the summertime, an eager young intern. That's me.

I came here, rather than vying for a spot with CNN or the New York Times (they were beating down my door), because I knew I would immediately get to sink my teeth into some stories here--and that I wouldn't have to go through the requisite looking-over-the-shoulder journalism, which I've done a good bit of already. I can tell already it was a good call-- in the last, long 2 days, I've already learned how to use their editing software (which is a tad outdated, I'll admit), and started discussing story ideas with Rob, my boss. Yesterday I accompanied Rob and his wife, and their 2 teenage kids, to a garden party, where I think I met the whole town. I met Norm, the director of Sitka's recycling program (and a great watercolor painter), Lily, former general manager of the radio station who's now running for the legislature, Barth, whose fabulous garden it was and who designs trails for the forest service, and a number of other folks--all of whom knew the radio station well. In fact, because the station has been making announcements that their summer intern is in need of housesitting gigs, each of them asked me, right away, "Have you found a place to live?" Actually, I have found a few possibilities for short periods of time, but in response I emphasized that no, I'm still looking-- since I imagine they all have beautiful homes with ocean and mountain views and fireplaces and such, and I wouldn't mind a job like that for a few weeks. In truth, it's the variability of my living situation that most requires adventurousness. It's not the grizzly bears, or the weird bugs that eat little divets into your skin (found out about those yesterday--ick), but the fact that I'm not sure what bed I'll be sleeping in one week from now. I've grown so accustomed to (and fond of) my household routine, and it involves a nice, firm bed, and a kitchen that's exactly as I left it. Suddenly, I don't know where the coffee mugs are and I'm not sure I could point the right way to "downtown." Disorientation indeed.

I best be going-- I've got another hike today (yesterday's was stunning--up to a waterfall surrounded by snow)-- and I've learned that if I don't eat a good breakfast, I really can't keep up.

More soon. Sorry no photos--I've run into some technical problems, but will post some soon.