You step outside with your layers of warm cotton, rain resistant
nylon, and cozy wool to breathe in a clean, crisp, breath of ocean air.
Welcome to your morning in Nome.
For
my first few weeks here, the smell of ocean air paired with the chilly
atmosphere totally baffled my senses. I would step out for a walk, take
in my fair share of oxygen and immediately my mind would flood with
thoughts of sunscreen and hot sand. It only takes on frigid gust of
wind to dispel those thoughts and bring you back into the reality of
being in Nome, Alaska over, say, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The cold
air and lack of conventional seaside frolicking hasn't kept Nome's
shores from becoming my favorite haunt in town.
Maybe
it's the fact that no matter where I am in the world, the beach reminds
me a bit of homespun vacation memories tucked back in the 'North
Carolina' box of my mind, or perhaps it's just the fact that the feel of
yielding sand beneath your feet paired with the sound of crashing waves
is always a recipe for a zen moment, but I find myself walking the same
seaside paths week to week. When you're off having an adventure far
from home like we volunteers are, it is important to take time and space
to reflect and continue to develop the connection between where you
are, where you've been, and where you're going. I know, I know, I'm
getting a little sentimental and deep here. That's probably because as I
am writing this I am occasionally taking glances out toward the sea.
You see? It just brings out the inner-peace in me. It is magic.
Going
to the beach doesn't always mean being alone with your thoughts. You
can always find a friend to take a walk with at the Volunteer House.
This especially is a fun time of year to hang out at the beach as you
can take turns chucking ice into the water, acting as lookouts for
marine mammals, and climbing the rock wall. Watching the ocean freeze
over is such a surreal experience. The closest experience I have with
bodies of water freezing in my presence is when I load the freezer with a
freshly refilled ice cube tray. I can't wait to have the opportunity
to walk on the ocean. Hello whimsy. Until then I'll just keep track of
the progress it is making from my window view.
(You'll
have to excuse me for all of the slight altered photos. I enjoy
editing all of my photos to look like they came out of Lana Del Rey
music videos.)
