Things here are fantastic. Training is going really well so far and it only continues to get better. In no time I will have my CDL done and I'll be hauling loads of people all over Fairbanks, and down into Denali too.
Here's a basic run down of what's been going on since I left Utah:
Both my flights were FANTASTIC. Which probably isn't saying much because it was my first time flying. But, I thought they went really well, and it was TONS of fun. Flying into Alaska was the coolest thing ever, because once you get over the state you come down to a lower cruising altitude and you can see the mountains really well. And it's COMPLETE mountains from the shoreline to Fairbanks. It's crazy. But super cool. My flight got into Fairbanks about 10:30pm local time on Sunday May 15th... which is 12:30am Utah time. The weirdest thing was I could see out the windows of the airplane and airport... because it was not dark. It doesn't get dark here in the summer. The sun 'sets' at 11:45pm. It rises at 4:15am. Between those times it's not really dark because the sun never drops low enough below the horizon to make it dark. So when it's 12:30am the light level is comparable to when it's 7:30pm at home. And it's like that for the 5 hours of 'night'. Once the sun rises it's back in full force, and it's bright by 5am... so bright that you need sunglasses. It's super weird. And my body and brain are still not used to it... but we're getting there.
Anyway, I spent the next couple days getting settled in. Grocery shopping... on bikes, when Wal-Mart is 2 miles, across town... it's difficult. Luckily there is a Fred Meyer's; or 'Freddies' as the Alaskans call it, just about 1 mile from my house. I also went to work to check in with my boss and get set up for training and got that all worked out. Then started training that Wednesday... it was an all day in class session, which was hard. But I learned A BUNCH of stuff that I never would have thought about before... :) That's the point of training right? So since then I've done some behind the wheel training out on the skills course (in a BIG parking lot). And it is A LOT of fun. I love it so much, and it may just be that I am so small; officially 5' 1", I found out at the doctor for my DOT physical... :) Yes, I continue to break records! I love driving big, huge, monstrous, behemoth size vehicles. It makes me feel like I have just a bit of power. Ha.
Anyway, so training is going well. Other than training I've mostly just been catching up on sleep, because for some reason I'm really tired all the time... which is only going to increase because I will be working 70-80 hours a week. YAY... But that also means I won't have a whole lot of time to go out on my own to do things... which I think is okay. I will be going out to Denali enough that I will be able to get lots of photos. And I'll be around town enough that I'll be able to go out once in a while and do fun stuff... like bowling, movies, etc.
Anyway, Sunday... YAY! My favorite day... and it just keeps getting better everywhere I go. :) Church was AWESOME! My branch... yes branch, (singles branch at that) is a little over 70 people. I would guess, I mean it could be less and it certainly could be more. BUT, it was fantastic. I met a lot of really cool people and a lot of the people I work with are in my branch. So it's nice to see some familiar faces in a sea of unfamiliar. All the talks were really good, and very much inspiring (which I was in desperate need of). The lessons in both Sunday School and Relief Society were also very good, and spirit filled. Which I LOVE! Anyway, the I went to Branch Choir practice. :) haha, I know it sounds funny... but we are doing some really beautiful songs and I'm excited for it. Anyway, despite the fact that we meet in the Institute building which is a good 3 miles away... one way, we bike to church. In our skirts and all... :) Fun times. I'll have to take some pictures of it sometime. But, I think I am going to really enjoy going to church. (I'm not saying that I wouldn't anyway... just saying...)
This week has also been full of training and getting the hang of checking in at work, and the logistics of pre-tripping a coach, and the details of filling out my log book... etc. It's been a crazy roller coaster, and I did have a day where I completely fell apart (just ask Audrey!)... but I got through it and I'm feeling like gold! :)
So the rest of the week will be more training, and going out and shadowing (following another driver) to all the different destinations and learning all the routes... that is what I'll be doing for the next two weeks... It's crazy fun.
Other than that! I hope this has been an adequate update... I might not get the chance to get another one up soon, so don't fret if you don't hear from me! I'll be taking A LOT more pictures in the coming weeks, so be prepared for those.
I'll leave you with a couple photos from my flights. :)
Mt. Timpanogos on the way to SLC airport on Sunday May 15th at 2pm. GORGEOUS!
Sunset at Sea-Tac Airport, from my window seat on the airplane. :)
And this is what flying over Alaska looks like. :) Mountains, and GIANT rivers. It's gorgeous.
More info and updates to come as soon as I can get to it. :)
Much love,
Rachel Lynn
