My boyfriend is thinking of going to Alaska to do hard labor 15-18 hours a day, 7 days a week for a year. He is 21 so the money would be amazing since all costs (food, shelter, etc) are taken care of. However, it's a very risky and dangerous job. Would you do this? How would you feel if you were his girlfriend? A year is a long time, and people may change...
2006-07-25 15:54:27 · 6 answers · asked by Nicki 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Singles & Dating
Some of the smaller outfits run schedules like that. Bigger ones, like Alyeska Pipeline itself or Veco or Haliburton usually do "two-on, two-off" which is fourteen 12-hour days, followed by 2 weeks off. So you work hard when you're there b get 13 two-week vacations each year. The companies pay your tansport each month to and from Anchorage. People commute up from our town (a lot), but also from WA, TX, anywhere, really. But that's maybe 70-80k/year for general maintenance workers. So the money is better for that continuous work (maybe a more remote site?)
A year apart at 21 is tough. Not that there is anyone to cheat on (a few women work there, but they're getting hit on all the time, and he probably doesn't stand a chance). But that at 21, you are still changing and growing yourself and a lot happens in a year. I'd be surprised if he HAD to do 365 days continuously, so maybe you could fly up and do Alaskan vacations for a week or at least a long weekend a few times that year. Or there are direct flights from Anchorage to Hawaii - you could meet there. Don't hestitate to spend 10K that year on airfare and phone calls and flowers to nurture your relationship.
Most of those jobs aren't especially dangerous - tough, cold, squitters, yes. But their safety programs are much better than 30 years ago. (unless you're crab fishing in the Bering Sea).
If you can both see it as an adventure, a time to work together to get through and a way to build a nest egg (for an agreed-upon purpose), then it sounds good. If you can't be on the same page on those points, it will probably be a friction point between, now and in the future.
2006-08-02 03:34:39 · answer #1 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know a couple of guys that went up there a few years back. They did it to pay for school. Every week-end they called home and talked for hours, then slept most of the time. It is hard and I mean hard work, and the weather and bugs can drive you nuts. Everybody pretty much looks out for the other guy.
It's an experience he'll never forget. In the end it is up to him and you.
Oh, by the way, they each married their "back home" girlfriends. The girls sent them letters and pics and home packages ALL the time to keep the fires burning so to speak.
2006-08-02 05:20:22 · answer #2 · answered by Ding-Ding 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would check the statistics and see what are the real odds that he could be injured or killed. You are just as likely to die at home from accidents or fires or get run over by a bus...and you would'nt have $150K to leave your loved ones. I think he should go ...
2006-07-25 22:58:05 · answer #3 · answered by toe poe gee gee oh 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would do it. and i would let my man do it too. working that hard for that many hours won't leave any energy or time to cheat. and if he stays here, either one of you could change in a years time while you are still together. i guess it comes down to how committed you both are.
2006-07-25 23:00:11 · answer #4 · answered by luvbuggies 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont worry. There are about 5 guys to every chick up there so you dont have to worry about him screwing around. think about all the bank he is going to make! By the time he gets back he will be so stoked to see you that he will be putty in your hands.
2006-07-25 23:00:22 · answer #5 · answered by Shazzam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell your boyfriend to write me, i'm on the next plane to ak
2006-07-25 22:57:47 · answer #6 · answered by stargazer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋