Adjusting from a Move to Alaska

Moving to Alaska can present a huge change for almost anybody. People know that Alaska can get very cold and that their winters can bring a lot of snow, but some people forget that Alaska has extreme polarity in daylight hours between Summer and Winter, meaning it can be daylight for 24 hours at a time during summer and dark for 24 hours at a time during winter. The residents of cities like Fairbanks are use to this phenomenon, but it can take getting used to if you’ve just moved to Alaska and are not familiar with the conditions. Alaska.net has a very informative quote regarding winter days in Alaska:

“The most important thing to be prepared for, however, is not the cold or the snow, but rather the darkness. Mid-November to the end of January can be difficult weeks because of the lack of daylight, and many Alaskans take a one- or two-week vacation warm-weather vacation during this time. If you can do that, too, the lack of light probably won’t get to you. Of course, if you enjoy the outdoors, winter is a beautiful time of year — you’ll be outside with picture-perfect low-angle light and an Alpenglow that illuminates the sky. And by mid-February, the days start getting longer again and you’ll start to dream of another great Alaskan summer. “

If you don’t have a job when moving to Alaska, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the type of employment available in the state. Despite it’s reputation, Alaska is home to lots of jobs outside the fishing and petroleum sectors. During the summer there are many temporary jobs as hotel desk clerks, bus drivers and lots of other positions in tourism. Health care and transportation industries are also rapidly growing to due Alaska’s strategic positioning between North America and Asia. There are also many great government jobs available for people who want to help with Alaska’s vast natural resources.

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