Travelling to Faibanks, AK from Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY is well known for its cold temperatures and snowy climate, maybe as a reference to the great Blizzard of 77' or more recently the Snowvember event of 2013 where local areas received upwards of 11 feet of snow in a matter of three days. To Buffalonians this is the norm and we would consider Alaska to be frigid, which was apparent as we stepped outside of the warmth and comfort of the Fairbanks airport. The air was crisp and cold as every breath immediately condenses and any exposed skin feels tight. Steps in the snow at temperatures well below freezing squeak with every footprint in the powdery dry snow. As each of us scramble through our bags for our hat and gloves. We hail a cab and the driver steps outside without a coat, hat or gloves explaining that this is the mildest winter he has seen in years. As he asks where I am from and says "Buffalo, so you know what cold is all about right?" as I was shivering in my 800 fill down layer. Funny how Buffalo is associated with climates such as Alaska. Buffalo Pride.
Day one of Orientation
Finishing up the first day of our week long teacher orientation in Fairbanks, AK, went well. The PolarTREC and ARCUS staff really set the tone for what will be a lot of work in a relatively short period of time. The tightly packed orientation and the expectation schedule for the program made me a little nervous and excited at the same time, but just having the opportunity to work in the field along side scientists collecting actual data is something I wouldn't have even thought was possible as I began my career in teaching eleven years ago. The process has been a rewarding experience already and I am still months away from actually visiting my field site. The support structure this program offers ranges from alumni teachers, the staff, the researchers, and all of the teachers in the same position as myself. That's a lot of brain power in one place willing to help you make the most out of this experience and it has given me a new boost of confidence. To sum it all up, being selected into the PolarTREC program has been surreal.
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