Friday, September 18, 2015

Alaska in the Eyes of a Dutch Intern

Our colleague, Maaike, originally worked with us as an intern and has since returned. Here, she shares her first impressions as a student from Holland.

In March 2012, my big adventure started: six months working in Alaska. Coming from a country fully packed with cities and people - and as flat as a quarter - Alaska is a whole new experience. I immediately felt welcome because of the warm and kind people. Everybody was thrilled to show off the beautiful state they live in and their exciting stories.
There are so many things to do here. I went fishing for salmon and halibut on the Kenai Peninsula, did flight-seeing in floatplanes, went on cruises where I saw glaciers and sea life, I went searching for bears at Katmai National Park and did several hikes in different places. Every excursion was amazing and showed me Alaska in a different way.
The best thing about Alaska is that everywhere you go, you will have different views. It never gets boring. From the Kenai Peninsula with the beautiful views over the ocean, surrounding mountains and volcanos, to the majestic mountains north from Anchorage, including Denali, there is always something new to see. That’s not even mentioning about all the wildlife you can see here.
Alaska made me appreciate nature and outdoors, like no other country could do. It has a place in my heart and I will never forget the memories I made here. I wish I could show this place to all my friends and family, so they will understand why I fell in love with Alaska.