Once you accept that you are going to be wet, you will be much, much happier...

That advice was given to us by our new friend Tyler, who took myself, Nick, and Natalie salmon fishing today. Terribly unsporting, but made for a good dinner. Anyways, I have made it and I am in Alaska! Sitka is gorgeous. It is so pure and beautiful. But let us start back at the beginning...

Last Sunday, August 2nd, Zach and I met up in Portland to hang out and explore the city. That was awesome. We explored the Saturday market (is pot legal in Oregon? Any one have any clue? They had a ton of pipes at 3 or 4 stands) and the Pearl District, the Elmwood/Central West End/Washington district of Portland. Had linner at a cool micro brewery. We then were lame and turned in early because we had been up for almost 20 hours. Then we went off to orientation...

After guessing wrong on a college aged girl with lots of luggage (a common sight at the Portland train station apparently) we met up with Julia and Sean, two kids who were heading off to serve others as well. we struck up a conversation with the two of them, and then met up with the rest of our group. Turned out we all knew the same people. "Oh, you went to SLU. Do you know so-and-so?" "Yes, they were some of my best friends," was a common conversation had over the course of the week. Oh the small Jesuit world...We then arrived at Camp Adams (Sorry for the 'And then this happened. Then we did this.' Hoepfully that will end soon...) and checked in and started to all get to know each other. After an amusing time at the swimming hole we all started to meet up with people in our communities, as well as other JVs. It was then I realized that it sucked that I was meeting all of these people, because I won't be seeing them this year. I will go on retreats with the other people who are in the Alaskan communities, but as for those in the lower 48...nope. Kind of a sucky realization, especially since I got to know some people pretty well. The bonds we formed were pretty amazing. The sense of solidarity we had sitting in really uncomfortable chairs, singing campy songs, and realizing that we weren't just going on vacation, but really and truly commiting a year of our lives to those less fortunate really is a powerful force. Anway, after a week of pretty intense conversations and games of Jenga, tossing the disc around, and just generally enjoying the camp, it was time to leave Camp Adams. After five months, it was finally here, I was finally going to Alaska.

It was a long day of travel, but we got here on time. Flights were easy, and the fly-overs were incredible. Landing in Sitka was...wow. It is so beautiful here. Even in the rain it has a sort of untouched beauty that I have never seen anywhere else. It is hard to explain but I am going to try. Through words and through pictures. Our house is located about 100 feet off the water. There is a house and a road seperating us. We are surrounded on three sides by mountains. The fourth side being water. There are two main roads, each of which run about 7 miles outside of town and end with a big sign marked, "End." I know. Suspenseful. But the ride is incredible. Hopefully I will be running that soon (more on that later). The town is very small, only three grocery stores (I almost typed supermarkets, but, yeah, that would be a lie). Other than that, not too much going on. Oh, and tons of hiking trails. We have a book in our house with all of them listed. Cannot wait to get started on those guys.

The people. The people have been incredible. We got to the airport on Saturday and there was a welcoming party out in full force. FJVs, supervisors, kids. It was awesome. At Mass yesterday the priest (Fr. Steve) noticed us walk in and had us stand up and be welcomed. Eileen, a FJV (former JV), took her entire day to drive us around town. Today, I went fishing with a guy named Tyler, a third grade teacher here who supplies a lot of meat to volunteers around the area. We are some of the first to actually go and catch them with him. I fileted my first fish today, a salmon! Also fired my first gun, almost went deaf. He offered to take us deer hunting and along his trap line, and I may take him up on that offer. I think it would be really interesting to go hunting with him to actually get our food. Tomorrow and Wednesday we are going to potlachs. I really don't know how to express how strong the support is for the JVs here. It really does seem as if we are supported more by the community than we support them. Anyway...

Our first day of work is on Monday. Katie's super stopped by today with some paperwork and stayed for a little while. He asked us all where we were assigned. When I said Haven House, he sort of stopped and said, "Wow, you are in for a challenge." Probably my first true reminder about why I am here. See, right now it really feels as if I am here on vacation. I am here with 4 people the same age as me and I am going fishing and hanging out and getting stuff done. But I am not working. I am not doing what it is I was sent here to do. And that day is coming soon. I still find myself conflicted. It is hard to be here without any of my supports. But it is going to be good for me...I hope.

Library is closing so I am going to finish up here. The deal with this blog: I will update every week or so, sometimes twice. I will not be recounting my days, instead going over the key points, putting forth my thoughts, ideas, good times, challenging times. Hopefully painting a good picture of Sitka, its residents, and the people I am serving, as well as my community members. As the year goes on I hope to introduce you to them, because they are some pretty great people. If you want to check out the pictures I have taken already:

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Peruse, comment, and feel free to ask any questions. I hope you all are doing well.