I typed “what does it mean to be nurtured?” into Google’s search bar and hit “enter.” I eagerly awaited some sort of prophetic response, but instead I got results on what it means to be neutered.
Turns out I forgot a letter. But soon enough, I’m pouring through results examining the long-standing debate of nature versus nurture.
“North Carolina State University geneticists have shown that environmental factors such as lifestyle and geography play a large role in whether certain genes are turned on or off.”
Author Mick Kulikowski continues on in this 2008 NC State News article about a research project that studied gene expression of white blood cells in 46 Moroccan Amazighs, a group of Indigenous peoples across North Africa.
“They set out to study the impact of the transition from traditional to urbanized lifestyles on the human immune system,” Kulikowski wrote. “NC State researchers and collaborators in Morocco and the United States showed that up to one-third of genes are differentially expressed due to where and how the Moroccan Amazighs live.”
I started to seriously examine the ways in which Anchorage nurtures me: How has my environment impacted my life, my way of living and my health?
As my time in this city grew, so did my disillusionment that Anchorage had the capability, and want, to nurture me back. But, taking photos this month made me realize that maybe I’m placing a bit too much pressure on the city alone to nurture me.
When I unexpectedly lost my job last year, Tess knocked on my door with a bag of self care items, fresh fruit and two giant containers of varying homemade soups.
Nicole and Chris check in on me frequently — they’ve got velcro pups and are often the only people that get our themed dinner nights out of the group chat.
And most weeks, I think longingly of Aftershock Espresso — my small talk with some of the best baristas in town and their double-punch Wednesdays.
Alaskans are natural nurturers — we take pride in what it means to exist in the harshness of northerness. I think our ability to care for ourselves and others is strengthened by this and I don’t think I would want it any other way.
Thanks to Stewart’s Photo Shop for local film supplies and Young Kim with The Stoop PRC for film developing and scanning.
