It’s the beginning of season, early May. I’m still getting to know everyone and vice versa. I’m helping set up for the first ADC (Alaska Dream Cruise). I definitely don’t understand what my job is[…]
Category: Work
1st Intro Peace Corps Call, Conversations in Alaska | 21 of 50
It’s July 15. It’s my Grandmother’s birthday. I’m in Southeast Alaska, the nation’s largest national rainforest. It rains 13 feet a year annually in Ketchikan. But today it’s all sun and civilized life as I[…]
“You Can’t Afjord to Mist It!” Conversations in Alaska, 24 of 50
“Dock Dock St. Nona” “Go Ahead St. Nona” “We are off the dock at 07:18 with 46 passengers, 6 crew and one native artist, Good Morning.” “Have a good trip.” I walk over to John[…]
Job Prodigy on Dude Mountain | Conversations in Alaska 25 of 50
We were still driving to Dude. I guess all the meaty conversation started in the car on the way there. “So Chaz, what do you do in Seattle?” I hate that question. I really hate to[…]
Coming Out as a Vegan at the Mayor’s: Conversations in Alaska 30 of 50
http://www.wheretheeaglewalks.com/ Joe Williams is the former mayor of Saxman and the Ketchikan Borough. I first noticed Joe when I saw him starting tours on the dock, wearing a hat with a feather and a beaded embellishment[…]
Sandy, Conversations in Alaska 34 of 50
I wade over to Gravina Island on the shortest ferry ride of all time (one minute). I get to the airport, pay at the toll booth, and park. This is at the end of a[…]
Peridot Sally, Conversations in Alaska 35 of 50
I was stationed at Tongass with the flag. Someone gets put at Tongass with the flag when there is a ship on 2 and a ship on 3, and we are loading at 3. When[…]
Conversations in Alaska: “There should only be Tsimshian People in this line” 37 of 50
I stood in the unrelenting sunlight all day to load passengers to to go Annette Island. About 1,400 people live on Annette Island and every year they celebrate Founder’s Day (they were founded in 1887). It’s[…]
Conversations in Alaska: Waiting for our Pee Test: “It’s changed so much, it makes me sad” 39 of 50
John and I saw each other in the lobby. We met during training but haven’t really talked since. He is a naturalist with our company. We won the lottery for drug testing (plus two more[…]
Conversations in Alaska: “We saw where the glaciers used to be” 42 of 50
A wandering soul read my sign and said “Oysterman?” I laughed, dismissively. “Yep.” He said “Sounds like a super hero.” And a few minutes later he said “Have fun with the super hero” and walked[…]