11 Awkward Moments Every Alaskan Has Endured At Least Once
×
Carey Seward
Author
It can be embarrassing to be an Alaskan sometimes. Living in woods and the mountains can make us forget how the rest of the world behaves. From midnight sun confusion to berry patch guarding, there’s a lot to deal with and things can get weird. These awkward moments are real issues that Alaskans have to deal with.
When the sun is up all the time, sometimes you might get up for work 12 hours before or after you are supposed to, just because it isn't clear if it is day or night. #alaskaproblems
You may be stuck sitting in an airport in Anchorage or Seattle all day sometimes because the planes can't land or take off due to a winter storm. Of course this happens to travelers everywhere, but the infrequency of flights to remote places makes this problem especially bad in Alaska. It's awkward to inconvenience everyone when you are days late to family gatherings or holidays when plane wings can't be de-iced!
Advertisement
When ordering items by phone or internet an Alaskan will frequently have to argue with the salesperson about shipping. Often, "Free shipping in the U.S." doesn't seem to apply to Alaska and they will want to use international shipping rates or tell you the U.S. Postal Service doesn't serve your area, which is usually not true.
Advertisement
The names of Alaskan places are not easy to figure out. Ranging from pioneers names to Aleut to Inupiaq words, there's a lot of confusing pronunciations. Shown here is the Tanana river and no, it doesn't rhyme with banana.
Some Texans just won't believe you, but Alaska is over twice as big. In fact, Alaska is bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. That's just the facts, ma'am.
Related Stories
You'll Never Look At Donuts The Same Way After Trying Jason’s Donuts In Alaska
A Thrilling Culinary Adventure Awaits At Wild Scoops, An Alaska-Proud Ice Cream Shop In Anchorage
Best Waterfalls in Alaska: 12 Local Favorites & Hidden Gems
Not only do you feel like a fool, you feel like a bad Alaskan. You can just hear your parents yelling at you for being unprepared on the long stretches of highway in Alaska.
Small animals are subject to a lot of dangerous situations in Alaska. The law of the wild doesn't recognise microchips and collars. Losing a pet is always tragic, and to an eagle is just awful because you feel like you failed to protect them. Sometimes it's just how it goes.
Jim O'Neil | Flickr
No matter how stylish you want to be, your outer winter wear usually ruins the effect. If it's cold enough, you still have to wear winter boots and layers with your cocktail dress, at least until you get to the door of the party.
Advertisement
It can snow anytime if a weird cold front comes in. It can be totally awkward to wake up in your tent and see inches of snow on the ground. Beware in the mountains where you can drive into a snow drift blown in the middle of the road any time.
This is one weird Alaskan activity that only those from other Gold Rush areas will understand, but it's a real thing. We actually squat by rivers and swish around dirt in a pan for fun. It seems ridiculous until you find your first bit of gold, then the Gold Fever sets in and there's no stopping you.
Um... that's just not something we share. We could tell you, but then we'd have to kill you.
Learn more about Alaskan summers here: There’s Nothing in the World Quite Like Alaska’s Midnight Sun!
Have you had an awkward Alaskan moment? Tell us about it in the comments below.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.