Being a tourist is all well and good. I've been the tourist many times. My fiancee and I can't tell whether we are permanent tourists or temporary locals. Personally, I like to go with temporary locals. Part of that reason is because I dislike being lumped into the "tourist" group. The typical tourist. Many seasonal workers have many nick-names for them. Terrorist-tourists, tourons(morons), BOB's (bitches on busses). The list goes on.
It's unfair. Many people are quite GOOD tourists, there are just so many who ruin the title. So here I decided to give a few pointers on how to be a tourist.
Tip 1 - get away from the car. One of Chris' favorite statistics is how most tourists don't get more than 100 yards from the car. Silver Falls in Oregon - all the best falls are farther out. Yellowstone 2.2 million acres - come on people! Chicken, Alaska - seems small but all the amazing overlooks and hunting is a hike or a cars-won't-get-here-take-a-4 wheeler-ride road away. Cars are comfortable and remind us all of home, but you're not home anymore people! Get out there and EXPLORE! That's why you went out in the first place!
Tip 2 - Ask where the locals go. West Yellowstone has a DQ and a few pizza joints and a chinese place. Sure. Where do you find the locals? The Wild West Pizza joint has some of the best pizza EVER, the Chinese place is good. TACO BUS!! Everywhere else is almost pure tourists. There's a reason locals go where the go. They KNOW.
Locals would also rather watch Castle or Lonestar go off than Old Faithful. For the record.
Tip 3 - Read the menu. Then follow it. I understand some people have legit special needs and a small substitution now and then is no big deal. However, those that either don't look at the menu or look and then STILL order somethign COMPLETELY different need to be lobotomized. You're on vacation. What's so terrible about ordering something ON menu - even if it's new for you? You're not at IHOP or Burgerking. You can't count on getting it "your way". Beside - cooks generally know whats good. Pay attention, there's probably something AMAZING on that menu you won't look at.
Tip 4 - Talk to strangers. This is a hard one. I know - Momma always said not to talk to strangers. It was hard for me personally to break out of my shell - and I'm still working on it. It's worth it. There ARE idiots out there that you find yourself wishing you'd never smiled at (but there are back home too), however a lot of people will share awesome - or at least mildly interesting - stories abotu where they're from or their travels or what they saw while they were in that same space you're in too. Typically, I'll take my meal out to the dining area (which is out-doors here), cock my chair away from the table and listen until I find a friendly group who wants to talk. Knowing the area is my leg in. Where is this? How is that? When did that get there? Oh, I know! Pardon me, but here's your answer. I've met so many cool people. I don't know names, won't remember faces, but have stories and a general good feeling about the day. I get home and go "hey honey, you'll never guess where this couple was from today!" Things like that.
Tip 5 - Go to the bar. I didn't say drink. I didn't say get drunk. As long as you're not an AA member who can't stand the smell of alcohol, go to the bar. Order a soda, I don't care. This is another "talk to people" things. There's always locals there - usually they're the rowdy ones. The easiest way to get to a locals heart? Buy them a drink. Most of us will buy you the next. Suddenly we're lifelong pals and yeah lets go shooting, I know a great place up on the ridge, you game? (here in Chicken at least) In yellowstone it'd be "This bars to spendy, I got some vodka in the room, just don't tell people you're a tourist and come along! There's a dorm party tonight!" But you see what I mean? The tour directors won't know where the very best hunting spots, the perfect-temp hot springs, the coolest watering holes are. But a drunk local? Holy hell, people.
Tip 6 - Prepare for it all. The easiest way to blow money is to pack for sunshine and summertime only to encounter a typical Chicken thunder storm and suddenly need rain gear. Oh they'll sell it to you, but there goes the money you wanted to use to buy that kitchy thing you found in the gift-shop. I'm Oregonian - I rock it layer style. It helps me to not have to pack super amounts and still be prepared. A cute shirt or two and a tanktop, jeans and shorts (and swimwear - ALWAYS swimwear), 2 pairs of socks and underwear MORE than I need, shoes and sandals, and a lightweight jacket that's mostly rainproof will last me a 3 or 4 days and weather. Keep in mind also when you pack to save room for the stuff you know you'll buy to bring home. AND that some of what you buy will be clothes. You don't need five shirts for a three shirt vaca if you're going to be buying at least one "Been Here" shirt.
Tip 7 - Leave wiggle room. Some can afford only a few hours of wiggle room, some up to a day. I try to always leave a day. You never know. Traffic jam, animals on the road, airport delay, hey look at that cool trail/overlook, that wasn't on the brochure but I want to see it, hungover and overslept (damn local drank me under the table last night! But it was fun), Any number of things, good and bad will delay you. Practically Murphey's Law, isn't it?
Tip 8 - Allergies. Be aware. If you have allergies, realisitcally, you can't count on eating out. Not everywhere can accomodate every allergy. Especially the deadlier they are. A little backed up with a milk so "no cheese on my sandwhich" - no big deal. Going to die if I eat peanuts - so please no nuts. Seriously? Then bring your own food. First off, most places have that sign up, that allergen warning. That clears their ass in case you DO die. Second, a lot of places just won't go out of their way. LARGE volume joints don't have the time or space typically. People that will go out of their way for you - be nice to. It takes time. Sanitize the entire area especially for you, make sure nothing touches anything else, basically baby your dish specifically through production - taking extra time AND taking their time and energy away from everyone else's food. Think about it. Be courteous if you DO bring allergies to a food joint. If you have BAD allergies, just bring your own food. Sure, look at menus, talk to the people, maybe you can get something - but dear lord don't count on it. Also keep in mind the farther into Middle of Nowhere territory you go, the less they are able to accomodate your allergies.
Tip 9 - Tag shock. We all get it - 'A shirt is HOW much?' Again - remember where you are and why you're there. Vacation to some kind of middle-of-nowhere. Think about how far you drove to get there and how far they have to ship ANYTHING from clothes to wine to food. Yes, your soda is 75 cents back home, they don't have to pay for shipment off the normal route. Even ski resorts - just because they're not OUT there doesn't mean they're not OUT there. Up this mountain off that side road is NOT on ANYONE's normal route, I can assure you. Again - the farther out into Nowhere territory you go, prices go up. Realize, then get over. Our most spendy item is halibut - because it costs more to get it here. Our burgers are more spendy than anywhere else, because the price of BEEF in ALASKA is high - it makes sense.
Tip 10 - Vacation or trip are not code words for brainless. I know people are smarter than they let on, but they think that it's Disneyland and everything is supposed to cater to them so they leave their valubles and their brain at home. Unacceptable people. Almost all of the above qualifies as "just think about it" if only you would kindly take your brains with you next time you leave the house.
Ten tips. A good start. Keep in mind tips is all this is. Just things to think about. If you opt to not follow my advice a little or at all that's perfectly fine too. There's more to be said on the subject I'm sure, and maybe I'll add to the list at a later date.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Over a Month!
I hadn't even realized it's been that long, folks! Boy howdy, over a month. Things settle so fast into the day-to-day scene. There isn't much that happened all through June. Not in Chicken. The entire cast and crew have been here all month and truly, I've never dealt with so few people! I have one co-worker, technically. Chris. In the giftshop there are five, one lady who owns her own space upstairs, the twin 4 year olds, the boss man, the big boss owner, the five at the mine. I think that's it. Almost all the personalities have been figured out. And basically everywhere you go you meet the same personalities, so noting real new to report there, other than the girl who avoids me. I don't know why but I also find I don't really care. She's nice enough - just doesn't seem to enjoy my company. Eh.
The tourists have been slow this year. Today is the last big rush and it's even dead-er than usual. It was supposed to be big because it's the fourth, and all the miners from miles around come in for the big picnic and miner-meeting. Well, picnic means no one needs little ol' me in the food trailer. There is only one toursist truck in the parking lot right now.
Puppies were born. Alaskan huskies. One is theoretically going to be mini. Quite unintentional. They're born to dog sledders, so of course they didn't do it on purpose if they could. Just the runt... I want her. She's scrappy and adorable - goign to be a tan colour with a white streak on her forehead. She's called Thimble right now. But, alas, I know better. I don't need kids at this point in my life. I've been having puppy fever bad lately and with this one, Chris was even going to let me have her! Sadly, reality crashed in on me anyways. Having our van in the lower 48 is going to hinder us as much as it frees us. A dog would be so good for Chris and I, but at the same time would hinder us greatly. Maybe in a year or two. Hopefully. It's too bad though. They were going to give her to us free.
The cart is running at a loss. Most days I don't even make my own salary - I can tell when I close out my till. The funny part to me is that they would loose LESS money by shutting us down two or three days in the middle of the week, but they wont. Shutting us down on our two or three slowest days (Tues/Wed, Wed/Thurs or Tues/Wed/Thurs) would mean not using electric or propane OR having to pay our manhours for two to three days. In man-hours alone, that'd save 450 for two days - and when those days we're LUCKY to reach 200 in sales it seems obvious to me. But they wont. They keep us open when we tell them it's pointless. Granted, we don't fight to hard - we're hourly, not commision. I'll dink around all day waiting for that one last guest at 12 an hour. Sure.
We get a vacation week after next. Last month I had three days off - total. We take one day off each every 7 to 10 days. It's working, and we're not burning out in a hardcore way... But burnout can be subtle too. Dead days day after day, not exploring where you're at... It can get depressing. I don't see the point in coming to work. There are too few customers to really CARE. It's not good. The three-day vacation will be good. We're going down to Valdeze together and I'm very excited. Chris is planning it out and a few of the things he's told me I already feel like I'm going to get spoiled.
The little valley of Chicken is currently surrounded by forest fires. Seven in a 50 mile radius, generally AROUND us. sometimes you can see the smoke rise up and haze out. Last week when it was REAL hot up here Chris and I sat on a picnic table and saw all seven plumes. It was kind of freaky. Today it looks hazy and smells like a campfire outside. Just to generally walk around you feel like your in a campsite. But you can't see any fire. They're still somehow too far away for that, beyond a ridge or something. It sure smells tho.
I've started reading Dean Koontz. I always thought they were scary because they were lumped in with Stephen King. Not so, I've realized. I'm on my second book and I quite like it. Chris convinced me to try them. Both books he's reccomended have been good. :)
So you're caught up. That's my June. Happy July. The fourth is here. No fireworks in the Land of the Midnight Sun of course. I will try to update more frequently. Since we almost got fired I think things could get more itneresting soon.
The tourists have been slow this year. Today is the last big rush and it's even dead-er than usual. It was supposed to be big because it's the fourth, and all the miners from miles around come in for the big picnic and miner-meeting. Well, picnic means no one needs little ol' me in the food trailer. There is only one toursist truck in the parking lot right now.
Puppies were born. Alaskan huskies. One is theoretically going to be mini. Quite unintentional. They're born to dog sledders, so of course they didn't do it on purpose if they could. Just the runt... I want her. She's scrappy and adorable - goign to be a tan colour with a white streak on her forehead. She's called Thimble right now. But, alas, I know better. I don't need kids at this point in my life. I've been having puppy fever bad lately and with this one, Chris was even going to let me have her! Sadly, reality crashed in on me anyways. Having our van in the lower 48 is going to hinder us as much as it frees us. A dog would be so good for Chris and I, but at the same time would hinder us greatly. Maybe in a year or two. Hopefully. It's too bad though. They were going to give her to us free.
The cart is running at a loss. Most days I don't even make my own salary - I can tell when I close out my till. The funny part to me is that they would loose LESS money by shutting us down two or three days in the middle of the week, but they wont. Shutting us down on our two or three slowest days (Tues/Wed, Wed/Thurs or Tues/Wed/Thurs) would mean not using electric or propane OR having to pay our manhours for two to three days. In man-hours alone, that'd save 450 for two days - and when those days we're LUCKY to reach 200 in sales it seems obvious to me. But they wont. They keep us open when we tell them it's pointless. Granted, we don't fight to hard - we're hourly, not commision. I'll dink around all day waiting for that one last guest at 12 an hour. Sure.
We get a vacation week after next. Last month I had three days off - total. We take one day off each every 7 to 10 days. It's working, and we're not burning out in a hardcore way... But burnout can be subtle too. Dead days day after day, not exploring where you're at... It can get depressing. I don't see the point in coming to work. There are too few customers to really CARE. It's not good. The three-day vacation will be good. We're going down to Valdeze together and I'm very excited. Chris is planning it out and a few of the things he's told me I already feel like I'm going to get spoiled.
The little valley of Chicken is currently surrounded by forest fires. Seven in a 50 mile radius, generally AROUND us. sometimes you can see the smoke rise up and haze out. Last week when it was REAL hot up here Chris and I sat on a picnic table and saw all seven plumes. It was kind of freaky. Today it looks hazy and smells like a campfire outside. Just to generally walk around you feel like your in a campsite. But you can't see any fire. They're still somehow too far away for that, beyond a ridge or something. It sure smells tho.
I've started reading Dean Koontz. I always thought they were scary because they were lumped in with Stephen King. Not so, I've realized. I'm on my second book and I quite like it. Chris convinced me to try them. Both books he's reccomended have been good. :)
So you're caught up. That's my June. Happy July. The fourth is here. No fireworks in the Land of the Midnight Sun of course. I will try to update more frequently. Since we almost got fired I think things could get more itneresting soon.
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