Inhale Alaska
by Cub Reporter Gloria Howard,
Pacifica Graduate Institute

Ten hours spent traveling to Anchorage and twelve hours spent traveling to get back home to California. Who knew it was that far. Was such a long trip worth it?

At first, Anchorage appeared to be like many other U.S. towns where strip malls and suburban neighborhoods dot the landscape. But unlike those other towns where pools and swing sets are the norm, Anchorage residents have airplanes in their back yards. That was a new sight for me. I am still wondering where they land those planes.

Yet even that odd sight is not what I will remember most about Anchorage. What stays in my mind is the way it felt to breathe the air there. It seemed to have an essence that was clean and crisp. I'd inhale deeply and think, "This is what we were meant to breathe before industrialization of the world." How novel this was for me - air that you couldn't see and that didn't smell bad (I've spent a lot of time is big cities). Each day, I could hardly wait to get outside and breathe the air. I'm certain there are other places in the U.S. like Anchorage where the air quality is good. However, for me it was a new experience and it is what I will always remember about Alaska.

As for the time spent traveling - it was definitely worth it! The conference was great; I learned a lot and met some great people. Thank you to the Ethnic Diversity Action Committee for the scholarship to attend the conference. Alaska was a trip of a lifetime and I am grateful to have had the opportunity.