Hebitch in the US of A: July 2008

Probably this would be one of the last few updates before I leave Skagway to travel around the east side of the States next week.

Yup, one more week.
One more week of Skagway and I would be done.

I'm feeling all kinds of mixed emotions: glad to finally be traveling, happy to go back home but the strongest feeling I have right now is sadness. Yes, sadness. I feel so sad that I would be leaving this place. This place that has been home to me for the past 3 months. Of course, its not a place worth missing if not for the people.

Yes, I know you are probably reading this. I will miss you guys so much I cannot put it into words (I will try, but not now).

I was so ready to come back next year, but after hearing that some of you guys are changing plans about coming back, then I'm not so sure anymore. Like I said, Skagway would not be worth coming back to, if the people are not around...

Kenneth is the first few to leave (so are the Vietnamese girls). In fact, he is leaving now to go to the airport. Just looking at his empty bed reminded me that I would be gone too in a week. Its a terrible feeling I think, leaving all this behind- Skagway and the people you have come to love. All that you leave behind is an empty room but you take so much with you. All the memories, the experience and the sights you have taken in. I have learnt so much.

Argh... I can't bear to leave.

So much has happened since my last bitching entry. Linda has done a complete 360 on her behaviour (well, almost). She was actually fired from her job at the laundrymat in Westmark. She has a couple of other jobs to fall back on. She is still hall monitor, which is a good thing cause she is now actually being a darn good hall monitor. She cleans and picks up after us without any fuss. That means no pots and pans out on the sand pit. Just the other day, I found my laundry done (dried, even folded and pressed) in the laundry room after leaving it in the washer overnight. She is back to being her chatty self again... (err.. she is probably too chatty now).

Sandy was fired too, because she was taking tables when she was repeatedly told not to. I mean she gets assistant manager's pay so taking away our tips is still unfair. I feel kinda sorry for her, she's been working here for 3 years or so. But then again, she has a second job to fall back on.

Then guess who has to stand in for her as the assistant manager?

*drumrolls*

Moi!

Not a big deal though. Not getting a pay rise. Just getting more responsibility behind the cash register and doing the hosting all that. Still serving tables once in a while (I still want my tips!).

I was actually supposed to be just the manager for breakfasts but last night was my first as a night one. Even had to be the bartender behind the bar (made my first drink!... "Err... how do I make Bacardi and Coke?" *faints*)

Who would have imagined 3 months ago, while I was still learning how to wait on tables... that I would now be sitting people, handling the register and 'bank', and making drinks (of course, being a manager is more than doing that)?

But yeah, I have learnt so much.

And that is a pity cause I only have a few more days left.

Everything has almost come to a complete circle, even the weather. The days are getting colder (just like on the first few weeks that I was here). Hopefully I can see the northern lights before I leave...

...

I am already feeling so miserable right now at this very moment. I cannot imagine how I would be like next week.

Took a ferry down to the nearby town of Haines; there were me, Grace, Mariya, Ralitza, Tsveta and Tyler (not in picture):

Saw two humpbacks on the way there (I took a video, not pictures), really awesome!!! Finally saw bears and whales! My Alaskan experience is complete!

Really nice weather when we left Skagway; I was wearing my berms:

We saw seals too, lazing on the stones:

The three beautiful girls; Ralitza, Mariya and Tsveta:

More seals:

Welcome to Haines:

A less tourist-y area than Skagway, minus all the fake looking buildings... Haines is beautiful in its own way:

Reliving our childhood:

The main reason why we went to Haines:

State Fair!:

Is this going to be just a miniature Skagway?:

There were booths and stages:

And rides:

And food stands!!!:

Lots and lots of foodstands:

The gang had steak sandwich:

Turkey leg:

Waffles with hot cocoa:

Burritos:

There was even bubble tea and popiah (ok, they call it springroll). 5 bucks for the bubble tea?

And there was a hawk that came to 'visit':

Young and old were loving the atmosphere:

There were mechanical bull rides:

The three girls enjoying ice blended juice:

Axe throwing competition:

Winner (in blue):

Rides:

Tyler trying that hammer thing. He broke the record for the number of consecutive hits for this year's fair:

A barn:

More cool stuff inside:

Crazy mirror:

Petting zoo!:

Aww...:

A cute baby goat!:

It was head-butting itself in the mirror! How adorable is that?:

Fortune telling:

Sumo wrestling anyone?:

Booths selling clothes:

How can it be a fair without clowns?:

Puppet show:

State fair posters for the past 40 years:

This is what a state fair is all about:

First place photography:

Artworks:

Vegetables?:

Boat?:

Quilt and needlework:

Flowers:

Even had an army fair, showing off their chopper:

Flew over us and made mud flew everywhere just before it took off:

It was actually freezing cold... poor boy:

Glass maker making beads:

Vote 'Yes' to abolishing mining in Alaska:

Vote 'No':

Dalton city... nah... its just a fake town:

So we left the fair to travel around the other parts of Haines:

And walked all the way to the state ferry, all 4 miles... NOT. We hitched a ride halfway there:

The girls stopping at every second to take pictures:

Finally got to the state ferry terminal where there was stuffed animals. Been wanting to see a moose... sigh... At least a stuff calf would do... for now: