Alaskin' me about art therapy: Two weeks in Kotzebue

 

Hello, everyone! 

     I'll start by saying that I don't feel like I have that much to say. The last week has been sort of difficult, I've been homesick and work just isn't taking off yet so it's been a little harder of a week. I'm writing anyway because I don't want anyone to be under the illusion that this move is all bunnies and rainbows all the time. (Although one could argue it IS rainbows all the time since the sun never sets). Traveling and moving isn't all glamorous all the time, even though it's sort of vulnerable to admit when it's hard. 

   The last couple of days have been rather eventful around here (relatively, anyway). I got internet at home (yay!) and my groceries that I ordered online got delivered. Getting internet was a bit of a process. I guess some wiring needed to be done so it took several days but on Thursday I got a call that my modem was ready to pick up. When I went to pick it up on Friday the lady (who was very nice) hands me this:

Just like that, not in a box or with a bag or any instructions or anything. Just a piece of equipment with a sticky note with my name on it. Internally I was like "so, this is the internet?" But I didn't say anything, I just thanked her and walked back to work. My expectations were extremely low but I got home and plugged it in and what do you know, it works! I feel a lot better having internet at home because now I can use my phone, watch Netflix, and stay more connected to you lovely people. 

I picked up my groceries from the airport this afternoon! Including all the miscellaneous fees from the store, the groceries themselves, and the charges from the airline it came to about $200. If I had grocery shopped at the AC (local grocery store) it would have been around $325 or so for everything that I got so fees and all I came out ahead. I think ordering this way is going to be part of my system. The only issue is fitting all of that food into my mini-fridge in my apartment. When I have a non-mini fridge and freezer and I can stock up even more and stretch my dollars when it comes to all the fees. 

    I was FaceTiming with a friend earlier and we came to the conclusion today that I need blackout curtains. I have a little lavender scented eye pillow I've been covering my eyes with to sleep but I get hot and then I toss it off or I roll over and it falls off and then the sun wakes me up and then I'm not getting good sleep which makes me grumpy when I wake up. Black out curtains it is! I had no idea how much my body needs for it to be dark outside to go to bed. It's been a challenge for sure! I feel like a toddler trying to go to bed every night, I just keep arguing with myself that it isn't bedtime because it is still light out. It is getting darker between like 2am and 4am so that's a start. 

    

  Here's a mandala I made to reflect on two weeks of being here. My therapist told me to make more art (typical) and I knew I needed to reflect on my time here in order to move through these feelings so there you go. I did it. The stars represent the Alaska state flag. I think the part I am the most curious about is the bubbles in the top left, those are interesting to me. 

  

Even though my little apartment is quite messy that's just how it is so here are some pictures. It won't ever not be this way so I decided to go ahead and share. The only thing not pictures is the closet which to floor-to-ceiling boxes so I'll let you use your imagination on that one lol. 

  

    

    

    The last thing that I have to share is that it's difficult not to have a car. I'm not really a fan of walking everywhere although it is kind of empowering to be that self-sufficient. Mostly it's hard not to have a car because I feel so stuck here on this little almost-island. To the point that I'm feeling kind of claustrophobic-ish? It's just that no matter where I've lived before I could technically get in a car and go home, even most of the places I've traveled. It might take forever, but it's possible. I'm so far away from home here, and the only way out is to fly. I'm surprised by how much this bothers me but it is on my mind quite a lot. To help cope with this, and for other reasons, I'm spending Labor Day weekend in Anchorage. I'm really excited! Just from the airport it looks absolutely stunning so I'm really excited to visit and actually get to spend some time there. Plus I need a new phone so there's that too haha. 

  I hope you all have a lovely rest of your weekend! 

Veronica