Hey Southerners!
Well I survived my first 24 hour shift on the job. I woke up at 6am on Saturday and was up until 9am on Sunday. I spent the first half of the day doing customer service stuff (selling fish, dealing with FedEx, and shipping), cooking for all the guys, and then started my first stint as a fish processor around 8pm at night. I was at the processing facility until about 9am (13hours!). While at the processing facility I spent most of the night vacuum packing Sockeye Salmon fillets and another part of the night scraping the rib cages of the salmon in order to collect enough meat to make salmon patties. It was super tiring, but interesting work. I've never been a part of processing any type of food before and it was a whole new experience to see it on such a large scale.
It was cool to see the process that goes into preparing all of this fish for shipment. There is a very precise way that everything must be done in order for it to run quickly and efficiently. I learned how to fillet as well (although my skills are far from good enough to package for any of the customers haha). I don't think I have ever been so tired and sore before! I slept for about four hours after my shift and then it was back to work. I managed to get a bit of sleep last night too before waking up at 2am today to start calling our East Coast customers. This schedule is pretty grueling, but I like it so far...it is definitely a crazy experience!
Also, weird coincidence...a kid from SIU (my college) came up here to work, which is coincidence by itself. Then, I found out that he is the roommate/BFF of a kid I went to high school with and was friends with during my childhood. I can't believe I ran into someone with a mutual hometwon friend in such a remote place. It's a small word!
Well, I hope you are all doing well. Things are pretty good here and a good temperature (50's) which I hear is the opposite of home. So good luck with the heat wave!
Love from Alaska :)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Early wake-up, solstice parties, and bears.
Well, we have finally started fishing!! Monday was the first day for fishing, which means I now get up between 2am and 4am everyday to start calling customers. Quite a few of our customers are on the East Coast and open at 6am, which is why 2am is now my new breakfast time. Steph and I are starting to have a vastly different schedule and so are the boys. They start work around 5pm everyday for fish processing and process until 8am. So we are all trying to adjust to sleeping only a few hours in the afternoon and being awake the rest of the time. I am struggling with the lack of sleep due to my usual daily sleep amount of 12 hours (I am such a typical college kid haha). But, it is pretty fun so far.
The people here have been an adventure to meet as well. Everyone here thinks that it is about 1980 and every car reflects that. There is no such thing as a new car in Naknek or King Salmon. One of our cars is a mint green wagoneer from waaaay back in the day that someone felt was necessary to write Naknek Cadillac on in permanent marker. Even though the car is a POS it is definitely a Cadiallac by this towns standards! Most of the vehicles I see driving around town though are four-wheelers. Very few actual cars!
Monday we got the night off and we all went to go to a Summer Solstice party on the beach. There were a ton of people and a big bonfire. The tides are crazy here so when it got high we were stuck down at the beach for a few hours. It was really fun and a beautiful place to spend some time! We met alot of the other processors and locals from the area and there are some awesome characters in Bristol Bay, to say the least. I do not think I have ever met such eclectic people in all of my life. I have really loved everyone I have met!
Also, I saw my first bears up close! There were two cubs (still probably about my height even though they were young) playing in a field yesterday. We waited and watched for the mama bear to come for a bit but she never showed up. It was awesome to see them so close. We were probably fifty feet from them. Thankfully, we were in the car and they didn't notice us.
Well, I must go call more customers. Hope you are all enjoying the heat (I hear its been pretty toasty there). Miss you all!
The people here have been an adventure to meet as well. Everyone here thinks that it is about 1980 and every car reflects that. There is no such thing as a new car in Naknek or King Salmon. One of our cars is a mint green wagoneer from waaaay back in the day that someone felt was necessary to write Naknek Cadillac on in permanent marker. Even though the car is a POS it is definitely a Cadiallac by this towns standards! Most of the vehicles I see driving around town though are four-wheelers. Very few actual cars!
Monday we got the night off and we all went to go to a Summer Solstice party on the beach. There were a ton of people and a big bonfire. The tides are crazy here so when it got high we were stuck down at the beach for a few hours. It was really fun and a beautiful place to spend some time! We met alot of the other processors and locals from the area and there are some awesome characters in Bristol Bay, to say the least. I do not think I have ever met such eclectic people in all of my life. I have really loved everyone I have met!
Also, I saw my first bears up close! There were two cubs (still probably about my height even though they were young) playing in a field yesterday. We waited and watched for the mama bear to come for a bit but she never showed up. It was awesome to see them so close. We were probably fifty feet from them. Thankfully, we were in the car and they didn't notice us.
Well, I must go call more customers. Hope you are all enjoying the heat (I hear its been pretty toasty there). Miss you all!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Tides
Greetings from Alaska!
So today I learned how to do something pretty cool...read the tides. Tony taught me how to read a tide book so now I can tell when the fish will be coming in and when the water is high/low. It is so strange here because the tides control everything! Everyone carries around tide books so that they can keep track of them. There are two high tides and two low tides a day, each in the morning and afternoon. When low tide comes here it is insane because the entire inlet river gets sucked dry. Yesterday there were some whales that got caught in one of the tide pools down by the docks. I didn't get to see them but some of the guys that were pouring concrete down there got to see them. (Samantha- if you read this you should pass along the whale info to Ashlie since she was wanting to know about them!)
Also, I am beginning to realize how West Nile was spread. The mosquito's here are awful! I have to be covered in bug spray at all times, but I still will be swarmed by about fifty of them at any given moment. There are these evil ones called white socks (sp?) and they will suck your blood until you have a welt! They are teeny tiny and look like gnats though so they are really hard to spot. I am considering bathing in deet and wearing a full-body suit. Seriously, it is that bad.
Well, I must go pull the insides out of four chickens in order to prepare for the twenty+ people I am now cooking dinner for each night. If anyone knows any great recipe's feel free to send them to me!
So today I learned how to do something pretty cool...read the tides. Tony taught me how to read a tide book so now I can tell when the fish will be coming in and when the water is high/low. It is so strange here because the tides control everything! Everyone carries around tide books so that they can keep track of them. There are two high tides and two low tides a day, each in the morning and afternoon. When low tide comes here it is insane because the entire inlet river gets sucked dry. Yesterday there were some whales that got caught in one of the tide pools down by the docks. I didn't get to see them but some of the guys that were pouring concrete down there got to see them. (Samantha- if you read this you should pass along the whale info to Ashlie since she was wanting to know about them!)
Also, I am beginning to realize how West Nile was spread. The mosquito's here are awful! I have to be covered in bug spray at all times, but I still will be swarmed by about fifty of them at any given moment. There are these evil ones called white socks (sp?) and they will suck your blood until you have a welt! They are teeny tiny and look like gnats though so they are really hard to spot. I am considering bathing in deet and wearing a full-body suit. Seriously, it is that bad.
Well, I must go pull the insides out of four chickens in order to prepare for the twenty+ people I am now cooking dinner for each night. If anyone knows any great recipe's feel free to send them to me!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Traditional Sweat House
So last night I got to do the coolest thing! Steph and I met this woman and her husband, who are friends with Tony and Heather, and they invited us to their house last night to use their sweat house. It was this super rustic outdoor sauna that is heated with hot rocks and a wood burning stove. It was so awesome! We sat in it for hours! I've never been in a normal sauna, let alone an extremely rustic one in western Alaska. Apparently, it is quite common in remote areas in Alaska for the residents to have sweat houses. This was news to me! VERY good news :)
It can also be used as a shower so I got to bathe outside. The experience was so unique and invigorating. Anette (the woman who owns it) said she always showers in there. I have to agree with her that showering in there was the best way to get clean. I felt so relaxed and wonderful after my steam/shower. Stephanie and I are hoping we get another invite this summer!
On another note, one day soon I think I may go down to the shooting range with some of the guys and learn how to shoot a gun…it is a little scary to think about but it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. I hear the view from the range is incredible as well so I am looking forward to that. Hope you all have great days!
Sending my love from the North!
It can also be used as a shower so I got to bathe outside. The experience was so unique and invigorating. Anette (the woman who owns it) said she always showers in there. I have to agree with her that showering in there was the best way to get clean. I felt so relaxed and wonderful after my steam/shower. Stephanie and I are hoping we get another invite this summer!
On another note, one day soon I think I may go down to the shooting range with some of the guys and learn how to shoot a gun…it is a little scary to think about but it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. I hear the view from the range is incredible as well so I am looking forward to that. Hope you all have great days!
Sending my love from the North!
Monday, June 14, 2010
No Fish
Well it has been a few days since my last post so I suppose I should fill you all in on the stuff happening up in the far north. Today is the opening day for salmon fishing to start, but not many people (including us) are heading out yet. I guess the fish haven't moved this far north quite yet. We are working on other stuff while we wait for them to get here (cleaning the processing plant, stocking up on food, repairing nets, etc). I will let you all know when the boat actually heads out into the bay! It should make for some VERY long workdays.
Cooking three meals a day is about the only constant in our daily routines. The cooking has been an adventure so far becuase I have so little experience cooking meat (life-long vegetarian). I made pulled pork last night along with some homemade scalloped potatoes and corn on the cob. I didn't eat the pork (obviously) but everyone told me it tasted really good so I must be getting the hang of it. Other than that I have been cleaning, doing inventory at the processing plant, ordering machine parts, and creating a fan page on facebook for Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood (check it out!) Today I am learning how to vacuum pack bags so when the fish get here I can help in the processing plant. We pack these sealed bags full of crystals that freeze so that we can ship the fish. I will let you know how it goes as the season progresses. I am excited to start getting fish!
Hope all is wonderful down south! I miss you all!
Cooking three meals a day is about the only constant in our daily routines. The cooking has been an adventure so far becuase I have so little experience cooking meat (life-long vegetarian). I made pulled pork last night along with some homemade scalloped potatoes and corn on the cob. I didn't eat the pork (obviously) but everyone told me it tasted really good so I must be getting the hang of it. Other than that I have been cleaning, doing inventory at the processing plant, ordering machine parts, and creating a fan page on facebook for Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood (check it out!) Today I am learning how to vacuum pack bags so when the fish get here I can help in the processing plant. We pack these sealed bags full of crystals that freeze so that we can ship the fish. I will let you know how it goes as the season progresses. I am excited to start getting fish!
Hope all is wonderful down south! I miss you all!
Friday, June 11, 2010
First Days In Alaska
Well I had my first evening and half-day of work so far. I didn't have to do a whole lot last night, which was nice. I did help cook though, and it took two crock pots full of food to feed everyone! I have never seen so much food in my life! This morning I have just been doing work for Heather and Tony (the owners) and cleaning/cooking. I had to be up at 6am to make breakfast for the boys (there are twenty of them living with us). I made mass amounts of ham and scrambled eggs. The other girl up here is named Stephanie and she is really nice. I spend most of my time doing work stuff with her and Heather. Things are hectic and my job is pretty random.
The house we are staying in is pretty nice. I share a room and bathroom with Stephanie, which is better than expected because we don't have to deal with boys filth. The boys have their own bunkhouse that sits separately from the house, but Stephanie and I stay in the main house with the owners. The house faces out to the mountains and an inlet of the ocean so we have constant views of those two amazing things. There is also a huge second story deck that wraps around the house, so I have been taking some good pictures from there. Can't wait to show them to you all (the internet is too slow and limited to post them while I am here). Also, the boys are all pretty nice but will take some getting used to the living situation for sure. There are about twenty of them up here so far and they are interesting characters...with names like Booger (haha). This summer is shaping up to be quite the experience!
Hope all is well at home and I will try to keep you all updated often.
The house we are staying in is pretty nice. I share a room and bathroom with Stephanie, which is better than expected because we don't have to deal with boys filth. The boys have their own bunkhouse that sits separately from the house, but Stephanie and I stay in the main house with the owners. The house faces out to the mountains and an inlet of the ocean so we have constant views of those two amazing things. There is also a huge second story deck that wraps around the house, so I have been taking some good pictures from there. Can't wait to show them to you all (the internet is too slow and limited to post them while I am here). Also, the boys are all pretty nice but will take some getting used to the living situation for sure. There are about twenty of them up here so far and they are interesting characters...with names like Booger (haha). This summer is shaping up to be quite the experience!
Hope all is well at home and I will try to keep you all updated often.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Starting A Blog!
Greetings!
So instead of sending out a billion emails to all of you I am just going to keep this blog. Mom gave me the idea...seemed like a fast and easy way to stay in touch with you guys. I am leaving tomorrow morning. My flight leaves out of O'hare Airport in Chicago at 8:30am. I should be in Anchorage by 3pm and King Salmon by dinner. I won't have a cell phone due to how remote the area is so the best way to get in touch with me is going to be through the Internet (this, facebook, or email). However, my location will have limited internet as well. I believe it is connected by satellite and isn't unlimited data. Contact may be a little limited but I promise to stay in touch! See you all in a couple of months!
Love,
Hannah
So instead of sending out a billion emails to all of you I am just going to keep this blog. Mom gave me the idea...seemed like a fast and easy way to stay in touch with you guys. I am leaving tomorrow morning. My flight leaves out of O'hare Airport in Chicago at 8:30am. I should be in Anchorage by 3pm and King Salmon by dinner. I won't have a cell phone due to how remote the area is so the best way to get in touch with me is going to be through the Internet (this, facebook, or email). However, my location will have limited internet as well. I believe it is connected by satellite and isn't unlimited data. Contact may be a little limited but I promise to stay in touch! See you all in a couple of months!
Love,
Hannah
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