[Eska]

Several locals in our community leave every November, come back February. I really like the Winter as much as Summers. Wife and I have our teaching degrees, so have taught in a few villages over the years. Our daughter went off to school in Texas last fall, called today and said it was 80 degrees; just too dang hot I'd say; and I couldn't chase wolves & caribou on the snowmachine either.

Ya know, we do have a bunch of Russkies in Ak, many came for economic reasons and they are now citizens chasing the American dream just like everybody else. They go back to visit relatives in Siberia, but are never moving back to Russia; they say everything, everything is better here. These are educated Russians of German heritage, their German ancestors have been second class citizens for 300 years and they find America so much more to their liking. Have a few for friends and they are conservatives, believe it or not. Their kids all speak perfect English, play sports, enrich Alaska too; but all the Russkies still believe in Russian Hockey, ha ha. I even know one who was in Afghanistan as a Russian. I can't wait to get him up with my Nephew who has been there himself several times. Most of the Russkies I have met are ok, quite appreciative of the USA.

[montanajoe]

When I was younger I thought Texas was hot but since I have been spending alot of time in Southeast Asia it doesn't bother me but I still like the cold best. I think the Ruskies that got out are different by nature than the folks still there....

[mosesdapoet]

Those German Russians you referenced are known as Volga Deutch. They were encouraged to move there by Catherine the Great most are either Lutheran or Roman Catholic. At the onset of WWII Stalin had moved many of them (There are a number still living along the Volga in Russia.) to Siberia.