There has been a lot of fun going around for the last few weeks. A lot of hard work too, don’t get me wrong. But also a lot of fun.

I’ll start with the hard work part…

I’ve had two tests each week for the last several weeks, which means I’ve been spending time studying in my favorite coffee shop. It’s just a quick walk from the apartment, and they have amazing snacks.

It’s much easier to get through test weeks with a latte and lemon shortbread cookie.

I’m not sure if I have talked about the wellness elective I am taking yet on this blog. It’s offered spring semester for first years and meets every Friday. We talk about how to stay well in school and after during our careers, and do activities to encourage wellness. This week we took a field trip to a local church that let us use their kitchen and we all cooked a healthy dish to share with the class.

In the last blog post, Let’s start the Spring Semester, there was a bit about the Yukon Quest. This 1000 mile dog sled race finished up and we were on call to help at the finish line. During my time on call, one of the mushers was set to get in around 11:00pm. Me and two other students packed into a car and made our way to the finish lines.

It was 13 below and dark as we waited for the team to pull in. A flood lamp illuminated the immediate area. In the distance we could see a headlamp. As it got closer, we began to make out the team of malamutes (an usual choice, most teams are made of Alaskan huskies) trotting in to the finish line and a proud musher cheering on his pups.

It was dark, and late. The team was tired but very clearly proud of their accomplishments. Spending ten-ish days to two weeks in the Canadian and Alaska wilderness, just you and your team of dogs, and completing a ONE-THOUSAND mile race is not an experience many will have.

I was also given the opportunity to help out at a reindeer farm over the weekend. The reindeer were due for a hoof trim, vaccines, and dewormer. It was really fun to learn about working with these guys!

And finally, my parents had sent a chocolate pizza in the mail. Usually for Valentine’s Day, we get heart shaped pizzas at this hole in the wall pizza place, but we weren’t able to make it this year (being in the middle of Alaska can be limiting at times). This was a nice way to still be part of the tradition!

~Angela