Samoa

is a group of tropical islands approximately 5,300 miles from Anchorage as the plane flies.  The average temperature is 77 degrees while the average temperature of Anchorage is 55-78 in the summer and in the winter the average is 5-30 degrees. So it is very surprising for me to discover that Anchorage, Alaska is #14 in the US with the highest percentage of Samoans.  Samoans compromise 0.5% of the population here.  Carson, CA is #1 and Honolulu is #2.  I don't know what the draw is to Anchorage, but they are here and sometimes they are even easy to pick out.  I know that I have mentioned several times that there are many different cultures here (the Anchorage School District serves 87 languages), but recently I have had the opportunity to view a Samoan family from afar.  My statements here are very generalized and are in no way meant to be construed as anything but observations - Samoans, culturally prize larger body sizes.  Historically, a large body size was reflective of age, importance, wealth, etc.  Family life is very important and families tend to be large with extended family members living together.  We saw this first-hand with a Samoan patient who had a very large family that came to visit.  Discharge planning was difficult as the patient was going to require extended care and home was a two bedroom apt. filled to the brim with family.  But the family banded together to make it happen.  However, what struck me most, was that the weather at the time was well below zero and many of the men in this family were wearing shorts.  And lightweight coats.  I don't think it was because they couldn't afford anything else because since then I have seen other Samoans wearing the same attire.  These folks just look large and sturdy.  They radiate health and vitality which I guess helps to explain why there are over 30 players in the NFL of Samoan descent and more than 200 guys playing Division I ball. It is such a contrast to see them walk down the street in shorts and light coats when everyone else is in parkas and mukluks.

The weather last week had warmed up producing some rain and melting snow.  It was nice while it lasted, but the temperatures dropped back to the single digits and all that water turned to ice.  My street has a slight slope as it departs from the main road down toward lake level at the other end.  My driveway also has a decline down from the street.  I back my car into the driveway, because I need some running room to get up the hill and out of the driveway.  If I stop because of an oncoming car, I have to back up and start over.  Most of the time it isn't a problem, but with all the icing on the street, getting up the street itself turned into a major escapade. My rental car has a dummy light on the dash that glows yellow and looks just like one of those caution, icy road signs. That dummy light glows frequently as I try to drive up the street.  If I go the other way I start sliding downhill and through the stop. It took two days for the city to come around and put pea gravel down which helped, but then we got 4 inches of snow on top of that.  Actually, the snow wasn't to bad to go through, but I will be glad when I have a four-wheel drive vehicle and not just a front wheel. I don't know what it is exactly, maybe it's because we are in Alaska, maybe it's because we don't pay state taxes, but the city is in no rush to clear snow off the streets.  But when they do, they are pretty efficient! 



Alaskan snowplow



As I have stated before, we have a truck in Juneau that we have been trying to get to Anchorage, but as there are no roads out of Juneau we have been at the mercy of the ferry schedule, passports, time frames, etc but the time finally came and Steve flew from Anchorage to Juneau (around 569 miles apart, about a 2 hour flight) last Monday.  The original plan was for him to take the Wednesday ferry (this past Wednesday) and be back home by now.  Well, nothing ever goes as planned so Steve is still in Juneau, hoping to get the ferry tomorrow.  This past week he took the car to the dealership, (I think there is only one in Juneau) to get some servicing done prior to his trip.  The Suburban in 16 years old and has been sitting outside since October.  According to Steve, the car is packed from top to bottom with his belongings that were in his apartment in Juneau.  One of the things the dealership told him they did was put air in all the tires, including the spare.  The spare in this car is under the floor in the back of the car.  They admitted they didn't unpack the car, and told Steve he was wrong about where the spare was, that it was actually under the undercarriage of the car.  Hmmmm - it must be invisible. That didn't inspire a lot of faith in the quailty of workmanship.  The next day, the day before the ferry was to leave, the truck stopped working requiring a tow back to the same garage.  They are the only game in town, so the options aren't just limited, they are nonexistent.  The truck required some new parts and of course, being as isolated as Juneau is, they weren't available. (It is a constant theme in Alaska - something just isn't available and has to be shipped from the lower 48).  The parts have now arrived and been installed and Steve grudgingly admitted the fuel pump must have been needed because it seems to be running better than it was in fall.  Just keep your fingers crossed that was all the work that was required as it is about a 2 day drive from Haines, Alaska (where the ferry docks) through Canada back to Anchorage.  Steve said its snowing like crazy now in Juneau, although in Anchorage it is bright and sunny, albeit only 4 degrees out.

That's what's happening this week.  Sorry there aren't many good pictures, but not only have we had poor weather conditions, Jake and I have both had some viral something.  In fact, Jake missed 2.5 days of school, and this is a 4 day weekend - so he got himself a nice winter break, even if he spent most of it on the couch. 

Until next week!