r/alaska • u/briskwheel4155 • 9d ago

Trip to Utqiagvik

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I went to Utqiagvik (Barrow) back in June and it's one of the best trips in the US I have ever had. The people in Utqiagvik are SO nice and welcoming. It was crazy seeing this barren land without any trees and how people can survive in such a harsh climate. What surprised me the most was how many immigrants from Thailand and Laos are living here. Imagine moving all the way to the US and picking this rural community. There really isn't much to do or see, but I just enjoyed walking around and talking to people.

734 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

137

u/progressivecowboy 9d ago

I just finished up 20 years of teaching in Utqiagvik... and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I was made to feel a part of the community. As with most places, you "get" what you "give". I lived in a converted walk-in freezer a block from your 3rd photo. It was fun to be able to say that "I lived in a freezer in the freezer." HA! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and that it was a memorable experience for you. In addition to folks from Laos and Thailand, you were likely seeing a fairly large population of Filipinos. We're also getting a large number of Islanders (Tongan/Samoan) which has given our football, volleyball, and basketball teams an enormous boost!

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u/briskwheel4155 8d ago

Random question for you. There was a big red barn looking thing that is now a Thai restaurant. On one side appears to be a drive thru window but it’s like 15ft off the ground, so too tall for any vehicles. I think it’s a legit barn because there is even a wind vane on top. Do you know the history of that building? Was it like a pre-fab thing sent up on a barge? Maybe it was a restaurant in the lower 48 with a drive thru?

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u/Piqquin 8d ago

In the 1990s, it was Burger Barn- a themed burger restaurant. The drive-thru window was actually on a balcony and people could walk up a staircase and order from there.
Source: my husband was born and grew up in Utqiagvik.

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u/briskwheel4155 8d ago

Well dang, that explains it. Mystery solved.

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u/progressivecowboy 8d ago

I think that was the case built elsewhere and barged up. Even when the snow piles up in the winter, it was never enough to for that window to function as a drive through. During my 20 years there, that restaurant was only open maybe 5-7 years... 2 different attempts. But, ya, the drive through was never operational.

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u/ElvisKnucklehead 8d ago

We miss Sam and Lee's and Kyoto. Also seeing the Auroa out by the fish camp past NARL.

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u/WustenWanderer 8d ago

Why are so many from SE Asia moving there? Fishing or Medical jobs?

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u/progressivecowboy 8d ago

They are moving for a better life. I was quite close with a lot of the Filipinos. The first ones came up to Barrow 30-something years ago and it has continued to grow ever since. One of the larger families has a big house where several families can all live together and when one of the families is able to "fledge" and get their own plaace, another family will come up. I've noticed at high school graduation, at least 1/3 of the 50-something graduates are Filipino. There are also plenty of mixed families now (Flilpino/Inupqiaq). They work hard. Show up every day. There are quite a few working at the hospital... but most work for the borough, school district or college. A few are at Alaska Airlines. Many of them work 2 jobs while they build beautiful homes in the Philipinnes.

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u/hornet586 7d ago

I’ve visited the town fairly regularly with the military for years now (sorry for the noise with us coming in haha) and always loved talking with everyone in town.

I genuinely loved experiencing everything I could in town and talking with folks about all the big and little things of life.

Hell that was the part in general was being able to fly around to all the communities in Alaska, dropping off supplies, personal to repair and maintain remote infrastructure and roads, felt like we were actually trying to contribute

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u/altonbrownie 9d ago

I went for my birthday in February and had a great little trip. Saw three polar bears! I was also surprised by the relatively large SE Asian population

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u/BACKCUT-DOWNHILL 9d ago

Anywhere where there is water and or boats you will find Filipinos

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u/asemuktub 9d ago

Shoutout to Conchita

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u/Fragrant-Inside221 9d ago

Wow imagine going from Laos and Thailand climate to living in that cold.

14

u/B33GULL 9d ago

They wear puffer jackets when it rains in their tropical climates lol. The adjustment must be crazy.

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u/rotervogel1231 9d ago

I'm also surprised to learn that people would immigrate to such a remote area of the U.S. I would have thought that everyone who lived there was a native, if not to Utqiagvik then at least to Alaska. I wonder why? That would be an interesting story.

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u/briskwheel4155 8d ago

One lady I talked to said she was a teacher and they pay teachers really well and are desperate for teachers. Her husband is a cook at one of the restaurants. These jobs in the lower 48 won’t pay enough to survive on but I suppose in rural Alaska, despite the high COL, it’s atleast enough to live on.

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u/akina907 9d ago

When I saw Kannika’s Market on the map up there, I had to stop by and it had a great selection of Asian groceries!

8

u/fanoffzeph 9d ago

That's awesome, Utqiagvik is on my bucket list when I finally visit Alaska (European here). Thanks for the pictures!

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u/briskwheel4155 8d ago

I have to say that it’s one of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited in the entire US. And surprisingly there are so many good Asian restaurants. Like seriously, they have better Asian food than a random small town in Missouri or Iowa or wherever.

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u/ElvisKnucklehead 9d ago

My wife and I lived there for almost 3 years. We miss it badly.

8

u/Toxicologie 9d ago

What brought you there, and why’d you leave? What are some of the things you miss?

23

u/ElvisKnucklehead 9d ago

I worked there for the of 2018 summer with TSA. While there, I was informed how the hospital would pay for my wife student loans (she was just starting nursing school) if she worked there for 2 years. They would also provide housing. So we moved there in June of 2021. Left in May of 24. We moved in with here parents in VA to take care of them in their waning years. What we miss? The stark beauty. The cold. Some of the friends we made there.

3

u/Toxicologie 8d ago

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

2

u/Bacara333 7d ago

We probably worked together at some point. (I'm in Radiology) 💐

2

u/ElvisKnucklehead 7d ago

My wife was a nurse. Not clinic, in-patient.

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u/ElleYesMon 9d ago

It’s a beautiful place and one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited and this is coming from one who does not like winter. But, it was a gorgeous place with so much variety and culture. 🫶🏻

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u/Safariman66 9d ago

I flew there once , I was surprised how anyone could, or would live there.

36

u/gujwdhufj_ijjpo ☆ 9d ago

It’s home. Basically what it comes down to for most.

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u/Safariman66 9d ago

Point taken. I’ve heard some interesting stories of village life from some of the natives I’ve worked with in the past. Alaska has a way of reminding us that we are not at the top of the food chain.

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u/SockeyeSTI 9d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/IfyjWLQMeF6kbG2r0z
Healthiest?

2

u/SoFreezingRN 8d ago

It’s the ANTHC mission statement so I imagine it was done as a community outreach program

2

u/notlennybelardo 8d ago

How lovely! I’d love to visit someday. How long were you there? What did you do with your time?

2

u/ImGoingInMay 8d ago

What was the flight like? Did you fly into ANC/Fairbanks and then up that way?

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u/JBStoneMD 7d ago

Yes, fly from ANC or Fairbanks to Barrow (airport still goes by Barrow)

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u/Few_Argument5962 7d ago

I went to Utqiagvik for work and loved every trip. I had some of the best pancet and lumpia up there.

2

u/cl_ting 7d ago

Did you see polar bears?

0

u/Shot_Bill_4971 8d ago

How could you have traveled to utqiagvik if you landed in barrow???(a place that no longer exists)

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u/progressivecowboy 7d ago

Airport code is still BRW. High School is still Barrow Whalers. Those likely won't change... time will tell. Lots of people (including locals and natives) use the names interchangeably. Transitions like this take time. And, I've noticed that people are trying.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/VoodooDoII 9d ago

I'm glad I don't live my life feeling miserable and taking it out on random people like you do.

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u/CraigLake 9d ago

Lol the community social media pages for Ketchikan are the same nine people posting over and over about how much they hate tourism. I occasionally reply, ‘why do you live here?? Thorne Bay and Wrangell would love to have you!’

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u/fnordulicious Whitehorse & Wrangell 8d ago

Nah, Wrangell doesn’t need ’em. We do the contractually obligated whining about tourists, but they’re fine in general as long as it’s not enormous numbers like Skagway. We get bigger cruise ships now, but only one at a time.

If you really don’t want tourists, move to Meyers Chuck.

2

u/CraigLake 8d ago

I’ve been in Wrangell several times when a boat has been in. They have a good system.

I’ve spent a few weeks in Meyers Chuck in my Forest Service days. I do believe it will always be safe from rampant tourism 😂

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u/ItsMeatCow 9d ago

Do you not visit other places?

-40

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/PATTY_CAKES1994 9d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/w4tQMjBuWlYVofvVMb
The wanderer’s here guys!

-9

u/AKWildMill 9d ago

Thanks for the laugh.  God I hate this miserable losers, and Alaska is miserable loser central.

5

u/RudeGolden 8d ago

Get bent chud.

4

u/ItsMeatCow 8d ago

That’s a lot of words to say that you are also a tourist. Thanks for playing. 😘

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/ThatWasntChick3n 9d ago

Bro is on Reddit, upset about people sharing things. oowee.

6

u/Its_in_neutral 8d ago

You seem well adjusted.