Remember that old quote? I think it went something like, “You can never have too much of a good thing.”

Well I beg to differ.

Here in Alaska, they have what you call comfort food. Chicken fried steak smothered in gravy, piles of reindeer sausage (sorry Rudolf), and my personal favorite, delicious artisan pizza. By artisan I mean the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life and they had dozens of flavors ranging from traditional to extreme. My waistline does not agree with all of these “good things” and my wallet is screaming for me to stop eating out (for reference, I usually treat myself once a week). Now I know Alaska is not New York City where the cost of living is outrageous, but it’s nowhere near what I am used too. Most of everything you buy in a grocery store in Alaska is imported from the “Lower 48,” as they call us. Groceries and basic amenities are expensive, and you quickly learn to go without that triple-shot-light-foam-caramel-macchiato-cappuccino-grandee-latte from Starbucks in the morning.

All joking aside, it is hard to afford basic necessities in Alaska. Aside from having the most breathtaking national parks and landscapes, Alaska has one of the highest homeless populations in the United States. For such a beautiful state to have such a deficit is tragic. Although homelessness had increased in Anchorage, so have the programs. Multiple churches and organizations have increased aid for individuals who are struggling. More shelters have expanded and multiple programs have been implemented to help people get jobs and places to live. Living in Alaska for these two months will be an adventure and I hope in return I can bring you along for the ride. Whether I am hiking, canoeing, running from a moose or volunteering at a local shelter, I want to not only share my experiences but share all that Alaska has to offer.