I had heard a lot about the size of the mosquitoes in Alaska and never gave it much thought until I actually came here. To me, mosquitoes helped defined Alaska as a place, along with the wildlife, scenic beauty, and sense of isolation; a real feeling of wildness. Fortunately, the Kenai Peninsula is relatively mosquito free. However, it still exemplifies the other qualities well. The other day, I looked out the window from my office and watched a moose wandering from bush to bush nibbling on browse. Just yesterday as I was leaving the school to begin my weekend, I was spellbound as I looked up and counted ten bald eagles perched high in the trees behind the building. Also, unfortunately, a brown bear was killed this fall while attempting to take up residence in a neighborhood in the middle of town not far from where I live. At any other Place that I have called home, any of these events would be extremely noteworthy. But not here, its just another day in Alaska.
Place also deals with an element of belonging. One of the things I am really pleased with about Skyview High School is the high degree of acceptance that the students exhibit. It is not uncommon to see a wide variety of hair colors and fashion statements walking the halls each day. One particular group of students even express themselves through the use of face paint. A couple of these students even wear wings on a regular basis. From what I understand, things have been this way for years. To me, this is essential to what Place is all about. One must have a feeling of belonging at his or Place.Examine Question: How are newcomers or outsiders regarded in your community?
Do you think that this question may have something to do with who you are and what you are doing? If I were a dog owner or a cyclist (especially between the hours of 1:30am and 3:30am), I might not feel too welcome until I realize that behind the dog sign is a school yard and the park is really too small to ride a bike in and it is usually full of small children.However, according to the pictures of the guides furnished by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce, move-ins and visitors are welcomed with open arms. Much of the local economy is dependent on tourism and recreation. Without the dollars that come into the area during the summer fishing months, I am sure things would be a lot different around here.
From the standpoint of a newcomer to the peninsula, my wife, Iris commented on how friendly the people were with whom she came into contact with in the few days that she was here. Also, I had been amazed to find out the number of people who moved here and then were joined by family members and even extended family members.
Extend: What are the population dynamics in your community?
According to the US Census, the latest figures show that the population of Soldotna is 4,266. Of that, 80.7% are Caucasian, 8.3% American Indian & Alaska Native, 5.1% Hispanic, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Other, and 4.8% are listed as Two or More Races. Accordingly, Skyview High School's enrollment numbers reflect those of the community as a whole with one exception. Skyview has an African American population of 0.56%.
Evaluate
This assignment caused a lot of self-reflection. As someone who recently moved to a new, far away land, I remembered before I moved here wondering if I could assimilate into a new life. I pondered if I could adjust to a new community with different values, attitudes, and ways of being that I may not have been accustomed to. So far, so good. Only time will tell, especially in my associations with those of different cultures and backgrounds. I also hope that I may honor and respect what they have to offer.
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