yes i am from fairbanks as well. but i'm American i'm sure you've met a few :) so you probably don't want to meet me. however i have polish ancestors , just got back from poland and its about damn time random people can say my last name :). well they're many polish people in our city for the summer with the J1 visas they come here because they can get higher wages than most other places in the USA and its very easy to get 2 or 3 jobs for only the summer that pay $8.00 or $9.00 an hour with no state income tax and no sales tax here. however if you would like to go hang out with them and meet them it will be difficult because they work 2 jobs and value sleep. why do you want to me polish people? i did by chance i didn't go looking for them.
I know all this :) I met many polish people at the Villages last year. we had great time together. Not only with polish. With many people from europe too.
Hey, Im from Alaska. Both my parent were born in Poland and Im speak polish. I visit there every summer I can. Im currently in Anchorage though, a little farther south then Fairbanks. Nice meeting you ^^.
Speaking of Alaska - I'm thinking with my wife to go there on vacations. Is it worth it? Is it a good place to have a good time? I like the nature etc but a little comfort would be good too. Any advice will be helpful. Thanks!
andy said in the same post that he moved to alaska about a year ago....lol read the entire post
pawel yes its worth it most people who visit alaska come back and alot move here avter visiting. most people are scared of the winters here it just depends on where you live in alaska fairbanks has cold winters and hot summers and anchorage has mild winters and mild summers
Well, frankly, I'm scared too - that's why I'm going to visit in the summer :). That way I'll be able to go anywhere in Alaska because I won't depend on the weather...
Cant be from alaska since he didnt come from alaska, he came from brooklyn. Learn how to differentiate when its appropriate to claim you came from somewhere.
Me and my wife are thinking about moving to Alaska. Now we live in Boston, Ma but its hard to find a job here and living costs ale very high. We are both Pols and have GC. What about finding a job in Alaska? My wife is an accountant and I am a sea transport specialist.
Jobs are very easy to find, last month I had 4 poles with J1 student work visas living with me for 2 weeks so they can live rent free and get on their feet, within 2 days they had 2 jobs, all 4 of them. I myself have 2 jobs one pays $16 an hour and the other $11. The cost of living is high however we have no state income tax or sales tax. and we get a dividend for just living there that will pay $800- $2000 per person living in Alaska. yes instead of the people paying the state the state pays the people :) (the amount varies, its an average of oil prices and the stock market over 5 years.) this also helps with the higher cost of living and by Alaska law the minimum wages are always $0.50 higher than federal. I have lived in other states and Alaska is by far the easiest to make a living. I would recommend living in Anchorage because of your profession, it's the largest city and it's next to the ocean. My sister and sister in-law are both accountants and they don't seem to have trouble finding jobs here. You should try Alaska out and see how you like it.
In the Canadian north, the cost of living is very high. Not much grows there and most goods are imported. People who move there usually get a tax break or an allowance for living in a remote location. I suspect this is what Guest is referring to when he says that people get paid to live in Alaska.
On the Canadian side, there are the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut.
what degree is it down there? is it really cold down there/or up there well hi my name if nikki and i live in amarica im 14 im in alaska for a small vacation im going tomarrow. well thanks if u anwser if u dont its ok
Hi. I and my husband are Polish. We speak fluent English and Polish. I am looking for some info from very kind person who can tell me about living conditions, jobs, renting home/apt, etc...Anything that is needed to know to start living in Alaska. I have PhD in Physical therapy, my husband is a carpenter. We thinking about moving to Alaska in a year/two. I would like to know if we have a chance to find good paying jobs ? Also, is there any Polish community or stores? If yes where? How is the life in Alaska? How is the summer? I am appreciated for any info.
I am looking for some info from very kind person who can tell me about living conditions, jobs, renting home/apt, etc...Anything that is needed to know to start living in Alaska.
Whenever you need to know about cities /states in the US you can go to City-Data.com to get that kind of info. Like how to get a job or how much is electricity.. whatever you want.
Just type a question and somebody will answer usually with 24 - 48 hours.
Dorcia - I don't live in Alaska but I'm there about once a month, usually in Anchorage.
Not sure where you live right now; that way I could give you a good comparison to what you're used to. Remember - Alaska and Hawaii are the most expensive states in the US. From what I've seen, if you know the overall price levels in California and New York (pretty expensive) - add 20-35% and you'll come pretty close to Alaska rates.
Anchorage is a unique city because they actually do not have any sales tax in that city (the rest of the country is usually anywhere from 5-15%) however it's still pretty expensive there or more expensive than in other states. After being a resident for a year or so everyone is entitled to the Alaska oil revenue check which I believe was around $1300 last year. Nice to get paid to live there however, trust me the money will be gone fast enough...
Winters in Alaska - well depends on where - it's a huge state. Juneau is actually fairly mild similar to Stockholm if you're familiar with that part of the world. Anchorage a little colder but not too bad... Fairbanks - well, it's a city of extremes.
The highest recorded temperature in Fairbanks was 96 °F (36 °C), while the lowest was −62 °F (−52.2 °C).
h t t p:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks,_Alaska
Summers are incredible although it can rain quite often. 20 °C to 30 °C and extremely beautiful surroundings...
Do not know anything about the Polish community but I'm sure it exists. However, Alaska is a tough place to be at while looking for a job because you'll deplete your savings before you get the job so if you're serious about moving there I'd say start applying way before you go and ideally get to know some people there because it's such a small job market. I believe there are less than 700,000 people living in the entire state of Alaska (don't quote me on that lol).
I've seen, if you know the overall price levels in California and New York (pretty expensive) - add 20-35% and you'll come pretty close to Alaska rates.
That's possible, haven't looked into it... My reply was pertaining more to the living costs in a regular 3 bedroom house, with all utility costs, food, etc. included. Land might be cheaper there than let's say in California but again, I know very little about it...
Land might be cheaper there than let's say in California but again, I know very little about it...
Any land is cheaper than Californian. A lot of people in the lower 48 are talking about moving to Alaska to pan for gold just like in the old days.. what with prices for gold right now.
I speak Polish and english as well. I don't think that you will have a problem finding a job if you work in medical field and with having PhD you might even think about wotking at the University. Just an idea. Or at the hospital. The job for carpenters is usually more seasonal. Much more in the summer than winter. Unless he would be able to get a job with some bigger companies like Alaska Pipline (which oays good money). The Polish community isn't very strong, but there are few people. For renting comfortable apartment with running water (many people live without it) you will need about &1000 a month. You can pay less, even down to &600 but I wouldn't recommend. Those are one room apartments and kind of junky. You might look to buy something as well. Alaska is a nice place to advance in your career. Its a remote place so emplyers are willing to higher people who sometimes are not exactly qualified but train them on the job. There is no many good places to shop for clothes. There is one small Bantley Mall (I am talking about Fairbanks), Fred Meyers, Sams, Wall Mart. Its a small place but I love it. Is very relaxed. There are many trials to go country skiing, especially around the University.
Well, frankly, I'm scared too - that's why I'm going to visit in the summer :). That way I'll be able to go anywhere in Alaska because I won't depend on the weather...
Paweł - I am in Anchorage about twice a month and usually spend a few days there each time. As far as the winter - if you've ever been to Stockholm, Sweden (I'm raised in Sweden) then you know the winter climate in Anchorage. It's probably a few degrees colder in ANC then in ARN and more snow but overall it's very nice. Since it's on a coastline the climate is much milder in Anchorage than people think. Fairbanks is a very different story (they've had +99F and - 99F or +37'C and -73'C)
Overall it's a beatiful place. Don't know your budget but I'd recommend an Alaska cruise (on a ship - alaskacruises.com/alaskacruises.asp), sightseeing via train - wpyr.com, or to rent an airplane and see it from above. If 4-5 people share the cost it's managable - talonair.com.
