Anyone here from (or have lived) in Alaska?

[AliciaD496]

My law school has a program called 'study in Alaska' where students (usually between 1st and 2nd year) can spend 7 weeks studying and working in Alaska, more specifically at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. It's a pretty unique course that's offered about native law and the relationship between the Alaska government and the native population in Alaska. Part of the class is also an internship opportunity to work with attorneys in Alaska (there are different opportunities like judicial clerkships and other government offices, and non government positions as well).

While not ALL the students in the class will be from my school, most are. I think the school mostly sets up this program because Alaska has no law school of its own, so its an opportunity for students not originally from Alaska to make connections and see what the legal environment is like there.

OK...so my question is: I'm not particularly outdoorsy, I appreciate natural beauty but I'm not particularly able to spend a TON of time on my feet. I could probably a half-day hike at times, but probably not much more than that. I don't particularly like fishing or hunting (although I grew up in area where people did that regularly). Is it worth it for me to go to the expense of paying for housing and travel to get up there when I might not get everything out of it that some others would? I do know after law school I want to leave Washington state but I also don't think that Alaska is particularly on my list of places to move. Is it silly of me to want to do this?

The other thing about this is: it's an opportunity to gain credit AND get experience for the resume. If stay in Seattle and try to compete for one of the local unpaid internships with different organizations or even a firm I'd get the work experience but might not have time to get school credit, or I could take a class and not get the practical experience.

Sorry if this is a bit rambling, and maybe I should just be talking to the program director.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

 

[Niorah]

You can ask PKTrekGirl. I seem to remember that she lived in Alaska for a while.

Since I personally haven't, though, I'll just wish you good luck, whichever your decision will be.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I used to live there, and I can tell you, if you're not really the outdoorsy type, you probably won't get much out of it.

However, being in Anchorage you will be near a harbor, so if you like going out to sea, you could do that. There's nothing quite like going out into the ocean.

If you are into hiking at all, Alaska is an awesome place to do it, though.

What time of year would you be going? Summers are absolutely gorgeous there--gets into the 80's, no humidity, and it never gets darker than twilight. It's lovely.

 

[Finn]

I spent about two months one summer in Alaska. I agree that if you aren't outdoorsy (or even just not into hiking) you won't get much out of Alaska outside of Anchorage or Juneau (smaller but still the Capital city).

 

[Tulin]

I used to watch "Northern Exposure".

Does that count?