A Whole New World

My life has changed all in a matter of a couple days. Graduation from Southern Utah University, finding out I'll have two nieces or nephews by the time I return to Utah in October and the new adventure of life in Ketchikan, Alaska. I was a lil homesick when I got here last night, but after today that is starting to diminish a little. Everyone is really nice and the view is GORGEOUS. One of my co-workers is also from Utah and is LDS so if I get to go to church I will have a friend to go with me. I know I'm next to the ocean, but driving around it to get to the Lodge from Ketchikan (which is 12 miles away from town) reminds me of driving around Flathead Lake in Montana. It is gorgeous. This is definitely a NEW adventure as well. So many different people from different parts of the world and country I get to work with and get to know.  After a long two flights to Ketchikan and riding my first ferry across from the airport I made it in last night. We had one cruise ship come in today and I observed those who I will be working with. Met some people who know one of the sister missionaries I served with in Montana and another couple who have a love for southern Utah. It's a small world on the last frontier as well!

There's a reason why I didn't live in dorms in college but I guess I can't avoid it altogether coz that's pretty much what I'm in here ;) Good thing I am a people person!  Below is a picture of how we store our food. We have bins and four fridges in the kitchen.

 This is our lounge area. We have a tv, couches and we also have a pool table and treadmill.

 This is the sign on my door. They are all names of fish and crab. I share my room with a woman named Annette from Washington state, who is very nice.

 Here is the deck outside the lodge.

 Another view from the dock and the gorgeous ocean

 This waterfall is outside the lodge. Annette and I can hear it from outside of our bathroom. It can easily be mistaken for a fan in our bathroom because of how much water flows out of it.

 Here's the dining room in the lodge for guests

Here is "The Miss Patricia." One of the boats I will give tours on. We went out on one today and I got to observe and see the Ocean and its life for the first time. We saw many porpoises, bald eagles (which are very common here) and crab.

          
 Sara, who will also be a narrator(aka tour guide) on the boats.

The beautiful view of the rain forest, ocean and mountains from the boat

Below is Mahoney Mountain and if you look closely you can see the water flowing down the mountain. It looks like snow, but you have to get binoculars to notice it is water.

Buoy's are set out  to catch the crabs and while on the tour we pull them up to show the guests and let them touch them.

Evie, tour guide of the day. She has lived in Ketchikan for 9 years. The crab on the right is prego and the one on the left is a male.

Don't worry he didn't  pinch me.

First nervous, but I am now excited for all the adventures I will have with my job here. I can't wait to go running around the island. There are some great places to run. I don't need bear spray yet ;) but my boss said later on when bears might be around to have someone run with me so if I get eaten the other can run and report it jk haha.. I am definitely in a secluded area. Cell phone service is extinct out at the lodge so if you want to communicate with me you can facebook, or e-mail me at krazyredhead04@gmail.com. Mailing address is also 11728 South Tongass Highway Ketchikan, Alaska 99901. I sure do miss all my friends and family out here, but I know the Lord had a reason for me to be here. I look forward to the next five months here.