Welcome Winter and Season's Greetings

 
    Winter is definitely upon us in Alaska; though the time is currently 9:00 AM there is not sign of daylight yet in the sky. We're making the most of it however, and keeping busy in preparations for the season and for the coming year. 2010 is certain to be a year to remember - and a busy one at that - getting ourselves oriented on the correct heading for the near future and for the rest of eternity (or so it seems).

    Fall semester has come to a successful close at University of Alaska and now graduation is close enough to fathom a life after school. The semester was an extremely challenging one with little time for outside interests except keeping the finace happy and well cared for. On the positive side, my degree is certainly reaching the integrative stage and the point whereafter this knowledge will be somehow applied. Just to sum up the curriculum of the semester, I have been mentally stretched by presenting peer lectures on molecular techniques of genetic research, by composing a term physiological essay on human dysregulation of wound regeneration and scar formation, by drafting a clinical laboratory setup for a remote medical laboratory in rural Alaska, and also by testing ad nauseum on retro-synthetic synthesis of organic chemical compounds. I have one more exciting semester left involving biology of microorganisms, organic chemistry, physics, and a few more credits to make sure I stay really busy! In light of my challenging and busy studies I have had to forgo my work with the UAA campus recycle team, though I seem to have left a positive impact on the program. During my tenure of the program over the summer, I fought for recycle assistant pay raises, worked out better processes of collection, and worked closely with the administrative directors. I like to think that I even furthered the cause of campus recycling and sustainability. In addition to completing the Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Science and pre-medical studies, by the end of the semester I will also be trained and certified at the Emergency Medical Technician level I to enlighten the didactic medical knowledge and qualify myself for gaining experience in patient care. My hopes are that these credentials will assist in attaining clinical and volunteer support jobs in the medical field. The bottom line is that you must have some hands on experience in the medical field in order to be successful in medical school application; and so to this end there will be a short break from schooling and a perfect window of opportunity to get out and experience what the world (and the medical world in particular) has to offer.

    Stefanie has been similarly waiting and preparing for that hopeful window of opportunity to go out and make a positive difference. She has already made an excellent start by diligently working and serving the largest non-profit women's organization in the state and advocating for those in need. Her work has not only required infinite patience and compassion with primary clients but has also expanded her knowledge and mobility within the social services of Alaska, the law enforcement network, the medical crisis response infrastructure, and the judiciary system even in personal legal advocacy. While this has never been an end-goal for her ambitions, it has nevertheless been a great stepping stone in preparations for the future. In short, her position and experience therein has been all encompassing within the social services realm throughout the entire state. Moreover, enshrouded in her general advocacy duties have been greater issues concerning native cultures, justice issues, modern cultural shifts, social problems, and even mental health. In parallel with these interpersonal, social and cultural issues, she has also fostered a strong sense and desire for environmental protection and conservation. These began casually enough as we chatted on long winter night walks throughout the beautiful parks system within Anchorage. While during my first semester I had been studying Environmental Science, I would unassumingly bring up one of the case studies or journal articles we had been reading for the class about modern environmental and conservation problems and would unwittingly unleash a torrent of passionate opinion and debate. Over the past few years, the more she has learned, the more refined her opinions and arguments have become and have led in part to her current interests in graduate studies within the environmental realm. As she prepares for the opportunity window she has also contemplated volunteering in environmental quality and health/human-welfare.

    As an applicable form of community service and experience we have both been collecting and testing water samples from one of the large glacial rivers in the area as citizen environmental water-quality monitors. The testing, though quite simple has provided an opportunity for scientific and environmental field work to help us both in future endeavors. The part which has not been so simple is the collection of samples 12 months a year. After about October, the river begins to seize up with ice and by the time our November or December test dates roll around, the water is near impossible to reach without an ice-agar. As ice-agars of sufficient diameter are quite expensive, and we are only one of several dozen testing sites with the same problem we have on occasion resorted to chipping away at the ice with a simple wood axe. No need to worry here though, since the water is already so cold coming from the glacier and the subzero outside temperatures aid in the freezing, the ice depth has never been smaller than 12-16 inches (impossible to break through with an axe, much less with the weight of a person.) Safety has always been a primary concern but we have continued no less in hopes that our service will pay off on our resumes and with positive reference for our future positions.



    For the coming summer, we are planning yet another life-changing milestone. As my studies and certification come to a close over the month of April, Stef and I will both be preparing to pack up our belongings and make our way out to the Alaskan wilderness for one final summer before we set out. As I have worked deligently over the past three summers with the outdoor travel company Alaska Outdoors, I have become an integral ( I should like to think) component of the tour operations there. With this positive experience and reference for my work ethic, I secured an interview for both of us with the company owner and boss. We had a great discussion with him and pending some great change in business or otherwise, we will both be employed full time throughout the touring season guiding multi-sport, week-long, camping and adventure trips throughout the state. This will be a great opportunity for both of us to fulfill our desire for the outdoors as well as save up money for our future plans. As another positive side benefit, we will be passing through Seward, AK on a weekly basis to help finalize and prepare for our wonderful Alaskan wedding in August of 2010. Though we wish everyone in our lives would be able to attend, we realize also that it can be impractical at best to take a family vaction to to the edge of civilization. Regardless of whether you can make it to the wedding or not, I'm sure we will see everyone at one time or another as we make our way back down to the lower 48. We are planning open-house/receptions in both Idaho and Illinois in the late fall of 2010 to which we hope all of our loved ones can come. We realize and mutually feel the heart-ache of being far away from the ones we love, yet we hope those that make it to Alaska will see and understand that it is a difficult place to leave behind. We will sincerely miss everyone we cannot visit this holiday season but hope that you can all feel our love and compassion radiating from the frosty north land during your holiday merry-making. Season's greetings to you all and we hope the warm feeling lasts until we meet again.

Warmest regards, Love,
Trevor and Stefanie