written by Adilene
I was raised in the beaches of San Diego, CA.
The culture shock was something I did not expect since Alaska is still part of the United States. Its safe to say I assumed that since it was not a third world country I would not notice the difference except for the weather.
Here is a list of fun facts I learned through personal experience:
1. Coffee Shop in trailers are in every corner like Starbucks are in Cities
What Anchorage had in regards to shops that was new to me was that it had tiny trailers parked in many corners, that sold coffee as a thrive thru.
2. Friendly staff will talk for prolonged period of time in all stores
What was even more shocking to me was how friendly the workers acted. The staff of the coffee shops was genuinely interested in how your day was going and answered you with real feedback about their own day. The would share how they felt and what was the latest thing that they were going thru. That was amazing, and took about a year to get used to. Where I come from people do not have time or the mental ability to express small talk. In San Diego people are always stresses on the go, probably because it is over populated and they have to keep up with the clients in a urgent pace. Here people are so few that the pace is considerably very slow. I loved calling to ask questions in this city because the staff was so warm and loving in their voice. I was used to a hostile voice and harsh quick answers.
3. Minimum one hour doctor appointments with no rush
Any type of appointment be ready to read or take a friend because you are in for a looong ride. My appointments in San Diego would not exceed 15 min on average, here it takes about minimum an hour. There is truly no sense of urgency. Which has a positive side to it, you feel they take the time to ask the right questions.
4. Slow work flow at offices in general
I did work as a temp worker who filled in when staff was absent to work. In office settings, there was only a maximum of two calls in an 8 hour shift that I would usually have to answer. That meant it was a little tough not falling asleep specially during pregnancy. I would take books to read but I also had to drink coffee to stay alert.
5. Black Ice driving is very normal
A funny story that did not end well for me. I was told not to brake when my tires slipped in the ice. Yet, for my wonderful ability to fill in the blanks and assume things. I imagines that I had to accelerate, do the opposite. That took me to lose greater control and smash into a concrete wall. Earning me my first al time car crash while four months pregnant really set me off to a scary start in this City. For three months I had anxiety every time my (back then) Fiancé drove by my vacation home because I crashed literally a block away from where I was staying.
6. Super expensive avocado and limes
My latino/Mexican side I never knew I had really suffered while I lived in Alaska. I was used to putting lime in every dish, and avocado as well. Yet all the avocado was HELL expensive and black inside. The lime was also mucho dinero! So it was physically painful to know I could not even get my Tostilocos….because literally nobody knew what that was. This things I took for granted, not knowing how important they were to me until I had them not. Now that I'm back in the lower 49, oh boy! do I eat Tostilocos every week and my avocado/lime is always on my grocery list.
7. The occasional moose standing in your front door
I mean I saw them walking around the sidewalks but when they show up on your front step, that always takes you by surprise.
Well this are the things I noticed to be different besides the obvious extreme climate switch from California.
~Written by Adilene
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