Summer in Skagway

View from work

Since getting back from Senegal I've been spending most of my time away from the internet, working and playing and trying to figure out how to readjust to this crazy American life. I'm living in Skagway, Alaska for the summer and working as a zipline guide for Alaska Excursions. I figured I just spent the last two years working for free, I might as well get paid to play for a while. Being surrounded by mountains, lakes and waterfalls makes it tough to sit down in front of a computer screen for very long, so I've been worse at keeping in touch now than I was when I was living on another continent. Sorry for the lack of communication, but its been nice living in the real world for a while and readjusting to the first world lifestyle at my own pace. Hopefully when I get back to the lower 48 this winter I'll almost be socially acceptable again...although what passes for normal in Alaska is probably not quite on par with the rest of the country. Over the next few weeks I'll try and post some pictures of what I've been up to since April, although if the weather stays this nice I can't make any promises!

Our first suspension bridge

View down our longest line

My office

Master Farmer Madness

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This past week has flown by in a blur of manual labor. I made several trips to the master farmer field in Fasstoucouleur to prepare for a "Permagarden Party" that Jen and Peter hosted this past Friday and Saturday. Permagardening is a method of cultivating that involves double digging garden beds and creating berms (mounds of dirt) and swales (trenches) to maximize water retention and provide plants with an optimal growing environment. All week we saturated the area to try and soften the cement-like soil and took a pick to the ground to loosen up the first layer so that when Carla, Cora, Toby, Andrew and Mollie arrived they would already have a bit of a head start.

The first order of business when everyone arrived Thursday night was to have a little cocktail ($2 bottle of warm wine and fosters clark) and catch up. I had to bike home before it got dark so I missed dinner but I heard it was a colossal mountain of beans on top of millet (my favorite!). The next morning I had to travel to 15k down the road to check out another possible site for the incoming stage so I missed the first few hours of work, but by the time I biked back to Fass the group had made amazing progress. All of the beds had been double dug to 20cm and I arrived just in time to help amend the beds by adding manure, ash and leaves to the soil like a layer cake. By the time we broke for lunch (rice and fish and veggies!) we had three 1x4 meter garden beds surrounded by a 1m x 7m square raised berm and two holes on the downhill side for collecting runoff water.

After lunch and a couple rounds of dice most of the volunteers headed back to Kaolack and Mollie, Jen, Peter and I went back out to the field. Abdoul Salaam and his friends had already watered and manicured the new beds so they were ready for planting by the time we arrived. While the men watered the 24 regular garden beds, various trees and starter plants we transplanted tomatoes, eggplant, and hot peppers into the three separate beds and intercropped them with lettuce. By the end of the day we had transformed a bare patch of earth into a textbook worthy permagarden, and we even had time to play with our new mascot, a puppy that Abdoul Salaam has adopted to guard the field.

The regular garden beds are already bursting with tomatoes

This is my intimidating face

Ok, so it needs a bit of work. Thankfully I haven't needed to intimidate anyone so far on this job...mostly I just patrol around or sit in my car at the entrance. I'm almost halfway through a 12 hour shift right now and the sunny 60 degree weather is torturing me with the temptation to run away and go climbing. Must. be. responsible! Since I can't be on the rock today I'm getting my climbing fix watching The Sharp End in between patrols.

Decision Confirmed

Apparently making decisions in haste isn't always a bad thing. I just found out that the New York Sports Clubs I was working for is going out of business in December, so I would have been left without a job anyway. I guess life rewards those who chase their passions...that or I just got incredibly lucky...

Passion Before Paycheck

I love spontaneity on a daily level, but when it comes to big decisions I’m a serious over thinker. I like to weigh all of my options, look at the pros and cons and sleep on it…preferably for several nights. Even shopping, a seemingly simple task for most Americans, is a highly calculated process for me. No matter how small the price tag I will carry the object in question around the store with me for at least 20 minutes trying to justify the purchase, and I’ll most likely end up putting it back. I have long since come to terms with my glacial paced decision making process…which is why I am slightly surprised to find myself blogging from my new room in Stafford, Virginia. Let me rewind...

Last week I had an epiphany. I realized that not only was I not making any money, I was also absolutely miserable. It wasn’t all bad…I liked my coworkers and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know some of the regulars…but to be honest most of the time whenever I thought about work I got slightly ill. I promised myself a few years back that I would never stay in a job I hated just because it paid well, and I would never turn down a job I loved just because it didn’t pay a lot. So it seems that what to do about a low-paying job that I hated would be a no brainer. Of course you just can’t up and quit a job without having some sort of alternative plan, and finding someone willing to hire me knowing I was leaving with the Peace Corps and needed two weeks off at Christmas would be nearly impossible. So I called a friend in Virginia who owns a security company to see if he had any temporary work available, and as soon as he said he could help me out I up and quit my job. I wish I had dramatically walked out of the gym never to return, but in reality I gave them my weeks notice and quietly finished out a few more shifts. No sense in burning any bridges.

Last Saturday I packed everything I would need to live for the next four months into my car and said goodbye to New Jersey. It still feels very strange to be here. I’m not one to make rash decisions, so I can’t help but wonder if it was the right one. I suppose only time will tell. One thing is for sure, I have friends down here and a lot more chances to climb. If nothing else comes of it, at least I will have had the opportunity to do what I love a few more times before the winter sets in. Part of me doesn’t even really want a job and would rather just have as many adventures as possible between now and when I leave in March. Between family vacation at Christmas and taking a few weeks off prior to departure to pack and tie up loose ends, I actually don’t have that much time left to work, but I suppose I should be responsible with my finances and try and save as much as possible.

Either way, look for some interesting updates in the future as I figure out what I’m actually doing here. As a side note I made an interesting observation as I was packing. My trunk and backseat are full of climbing and camping gear, and all of my clothes fit into a milk crate. What does that say about me?

July Recap

First things first, the reason I haven't written anything in so long is not because there hasn't been anything going on. Quite the contrary, there has been quite a lot going on in the past month.

Item of Business #1

The reason I've put off writing for so long is because I didn't want to talk about Oxford. A few weeks ago the neighbor's cat got him during the night. It didn't get into the kennel but he was sticking his head out to look for me in the morning like he always does and the cat got a hold of it. I like to think that he didn't suffer much, and I know that he had a great life, but it was still really sad. Ox was pretty much my only friend in New Jersey and doing things without him just isn't the same.

Item of Business #2

The funny thing about life is if you have the money to do what you want you don't have the time, and if you have the time then you don't have the money. It's not too bad if you have a job you love, but that's not exactly the case right now. Still I'm trying to make the best of the job I have. I'm using our slow times to train for climbing and I've managed to drop 10lbs since I started working there. I'm also looking at taking a second training job at LA Fitness. If I've got to work all the time I might as well make as much money as possible.

Item of Business # 3

After only a month at New York Sports Clubs I was already in desperate need of a vacation, so I took six days off and ran away to West Virginia to climb at New River with my friends Jen and Kevin. Definitely ranks as one of the best trips I've ever been on. The weather was great, the company was awesome and the climbing was superb. On my way down I stopped in Farmville to see Dr. Koesler and Dr. Morrison and to get my hair cut by Mack. He was so shocked that I drove 8 hours for a hair cut that he did it for free! I stayed with Jo and I got kind of a late start in the morning because the Tour de France was on, but I managed to get on the road by 11.


We got to Rogers around 5 on Saturday and almost as soon as we got our tents set up we were treated to a fantastic thunder storm. The next morning we were up early and climbed at Kaymoor for the day because we knew it would be dry. It turned out to be a great day for climbing and I even got up on a 5.11 and flailed around a bit. I got farther than I expected but I think its going to be at least another year before something like that will be possible.


Monday we did a bit more hiking than climbing. We got a warm up climb in when a big group showed up and set up on a few of the climbs we were looking to do, so we decided to head to the other end of Bubba City. It looked a lot shorter in the guide book than it actually was. We ended up hiking for two hours through the jungle, the valley of death and the evil den of teh satan spiders. We ended up getting so tired that we bailed on the climbing and decided to just go back and make hamburgers, but not before we took a well needed break at an overlook. I think this picture just about says it all.


Tuesday we headed to Summersville lake to take a swim/bath and finish on some climbing. Once again a big group of kids showed up but this time we decided to work around them rather than try and go somewhere else. The last day was definitely my best day as far as climbing was concerned. I had a bit of a foot problem that I think was caused by hiking in shoes that were just too small, but I managed to get it taped just right and so it didn't hold me back too much.

All in all it was an amazing trip, and it was definately depressing to have to leave. It was nice to climb with people a little closer to my skill level. The last two times I was at the New I was climbing with people who were much better than me and I always felt like I was holding them back. Hopefully we'll be able to get together for another trip sometime soon...I really need something to look forward to in order to survive work.

Item of Business #4

I'm 22. I spent my birthday driving about 11 hours back to New Jersey, but it wasn't a total waste. I was giving a ride to Dominik, a friend from Germany that I met at Rogers, so at least I didn't have to drive all by myself. I took him through DC on the way home because he was planning on heading there after New York and I wanted to help him get the lay of the land. It added a bit of time to our drive, especially since we hit it at the height of rush hour but Dominik bought me Chipotle so it was totally worth it. A 2 pound burrito definitely ranks right up there on the list of best birthday meals. To top it off my parents took me to the Bamboo house the next day, which is just about the best Japanese place you will ever eat at. I also got a box of cow tails, Orbit gum and some money to buy a climbing helmet. The cake wasn't bad either.

I Have a Job!

A few weeks ago I was searching online for gyms in my area when I ran across New York Sports Clubs in Freehold. I didn't know if they were hiring, but I went through with the online application just in case. Turns out I applied just as their previous Fitness Services Manager was leaving and I was encouraged to go ahead and interview for that position, which I did. I had a feeling I wasn't quite qualified for it being just out of college, but Dr. Roy told us all to apply for at least one job we thought was unattainable so I figured it couldn't hurt to try. I didn't end up getting the position (which was expected), but they did offer me a personal training job which is what I was originally hoping for anyway.

To be honest I'm glad things worked out the way they did...I don't know if I would be quite comfortable being in a management position at this point in my career. I've got orientation on the 16th and I'll start working shortly after that. I've changed my volunteer times with Rein Dancer to Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings so hopefully the two schedules won't conflict. I'm really excited to get back into the fitness world and start personal training again. Working for NYSC is going to be a bit different than training for Longwood...I've got a certain amount of floor hours and I've got to recruit my own clients and do a certain amount of training sessions each quarter. I think I might even get to teach some group fitness classes, which will be great! I'm looking forward to getting some really good experience out of this position as well as making some much needed income. Wish me luck!

The Graduated Life

After graduation I did something I swore I would never do...I swallowed my pride and moved back in with my parents. Honestly its a bit embarrassing and makes me feel like a bit of a failure, especially considering I've been working and saving very hard these past four years and I could afford to be living on my own. Not the easiest decision, but the most sensible since I don't know when I'll be leaving with the Peace Corps and therefore cannot commit to leasing an apartment. Hopefully I will hear something soon, as I finished my physical exam and mailed everything in the week before graduation. So far my dental and legal records have been cleared, but my physical exam is still waiting to be reviewed.In the mean time I'm on a temporary job search.

I heard a report on CNN the other day that said only 20% of 2009 college graduates will find a job in their chosen career field within the next year. Depressing, but I suppose McDonald's is always hiring. Its tough finding a position in the fitness industry in New Egypt when the closest gym is 45 minutes away from home...still, things aren't too bad yet. I've had several interviews so far and was even offered a personal training position. Unfortunately I had to turn it down after I was told I would have to work 70 hours a week to meet my sales quota, but I would only be paid for 25. I know, I know...I should just take what I can get...but there come's a point where your own personal sanity is worth more than $350 a week. I've got two more prospects within reasonable commuting distance and if that doesn't work out I might have to think about moving someplace else and perhaps renting a room from a friend.

To the gainfully employed it might seem like a pretty sweet gig laying around all day with not much to do, but I can assure you it's absolute torture. Still I've been managing to keep fairly busy. I'm volunteering twice a week with the Rein Dancer therapeutic riding program walking horses for disabled children. So far its been really rewarding, although I was disappointed to find that I'm still hopelessly allergic to horses. I've also been taking Oxford down to Prospertown or Colliers Mill lakes almost every day for a bit of exercise. Today we spent a couple of hours with a retired gentleman who shared his sandwich with Oxford and took us for a ride in his rowboat. Ox swam along side for a while, but was really more interested in sitting in the boat than the water.

My limit for watching TV is about 2 hours before I start going nuts, so I've been doing a lot of reading. One of these days I'll go down and get myself a library card, but for now I'm enjoying re-reading some of the books I left at home while I was in college. I would say I'm averaging about 6 hours a day of reading. C.S. Lewis once said "If a book isn't worth reading multiple times then it was not worth reading even once." Here's a list of what I've read since graduation...and of course I would recommend them all, but the ones with the stars are seriously worth going out and buying:

Watership Down (Adams)*- the pages are falling out of this one I've read it so many times
The Silmarillion (Tolkien)
Ahab's Wife (Naslund)*- beautifully written, and no need to read Moby Dick to understand it...still Ahab's character is richer if you have...
Infidel (Ayaan hirsi Ali)*- memoir of an unbelievably inspiring Somali woman
Harry Potter 1-4 (working on 5 now...)
The Hiding Place (Ten Boom)
The Bookseller of Kabul (Seierstad)*-portrait of an Afghan household written by a journalist who lived with the family
Three Cups of Tea (Mortenson)*- serious inspiration for the way we should be going about this so-called "war on terror"
Redeeming Love (Rivers)
The Shia Revival (Nasr)
What is the What (Eggers)
The Zanzibar Chest (Hartley)
There are Mountains to Climb (Deeds)
A Long Way Gone (Beah)*- memoirs of a child soldier (stock up on tissues)

ACSM Certified

Friday I drove to Lynchburg to take the American College of Sports Medicine Health Fitness Specialist Exam. I was pretty nervous, not just because I hardly got to review for it, but because it cost $275 to take the test and re-take would cost another $150. Apparently I didn't have too much to worry about, I finished in just over an hour (the max time is 3.5) and I passed with flying colors!

Spring Break

Lots of people go somewhere warm for spring break. I go to New Jersey. I put in more than a few job applications...three for Rec jobs on McGuire AFB and two at Health and Wellness facilities, one in Hamilton and one at the hospital in Freehold. I also drove up to the highlands to see the facilities at Project U.S.E., which would be my first choice of jobs between now and the Peace Corps.

Maddie came up to visit on Tuesday and Wednesday. We didn't have much time, but we managed to make it to White Castle and to the city to see Guys and Dolls on Broadway. We also managed to take our third ever picture together while we were in Times Square. Three pictures in four years....I guess we're just not the picture taking type!