the UAF, university of alaska in fairbanks, became my second home. i am seeking a research mission up on the north slope, by the arctic ocean, which i could volunteer and join. this way i'll have a chance to tour the arctic terrain in an academic environment. it is important to be part of a group when heading above the arctic circle; there isn't much up there when it comes to civilization. the lack of roads, electricity, running water and convenient weather are only part of the hardship up there. i met with several professors and faculty staff members and offered myself as a volunteer. now i am waiting for an answer.



as i wait, i spend my time reading books and learning japanese. (hmm?). yup. japanese.

Kumiko Ishida San, the lovely woman who teaches me, is a japanese teacher at the university. by fortunate luck, we share the same roof at Billie's backpacker's hostel. i spend the evenings practicing my japanese with her.

say ha-gee-me mash-te, ishida san:

besides the university, books and japanese, i wander around town. due to the poor number of things to do around here, the saturday market is a great thrill.

the locals come out to sell their homemade bread, own grown fruit, self made jam, art work, manual massage, what have you. one of the older locals allowed me to take her photo, after i purchased an apple roll for brunch.

not far from fairbanks is a small town named North Pole. it is not really the north pole. far from it. but still, the 1600 residents of this town chose their towns name along with a decision to hold a christmas theme in the town all year round. the christmas decorations across the town are nothing compared to their main attraction: santa claus house. this is probably the most chichi tourist attraction i've ever been to. santa claus house, north pole, alaska, receives every year thousands of letters from kids all over the world asking for christmas gifts from santa. darn materialistic capitalists.

the santa claus house is a store that sells clothes and souvenirs to remind you... of the santa claus house. (selling souvenirs that remind you of the souvenir shop? only in america). this could be a good lesson in mathematical recursive functions.

i'd like to end this blog with a sunset picture in the chena river. (though the photo above was taken at noon). until next time, ma-ta-ne!