Så alike and yet so different

We have now walked and bicycled around Fairbanks for some days, and are struck by how alike and yet so different our new and old hometowns are. During our walks in the woods we almost feel as "back home in Sweden": the vegetation is quite similar, although the diversity is larger, and the spruce trees much thinner here. We also recognize many of the bird species here, as "cousins" to our our friends, although they sing with a little bit different language. Even the climate appears to be quite similar (from what we've heard so far), even though a cold spell here can mean -40 instead of -30C. When we look around from the campus area we can see roaming hills in the distance, just as the "blue mountains of Dalarna". At the same time there are so many things that are different: how the houses are constructed, how the town is built, what we can - and cannot find at the stores. The cars also differ quite a bit - they ARE larger over here, as are the size of ice cream scoops and hamburgers. Another new experience for us are all the warning signs for this and that, and the smell of forest fires from a number of fires just south of town - that are allowed to burn as long as they are of no threat.
We have also experienced real family-picknics in Pioneer Park, with free food and live music for everyone, and an enormous friendliness and helpfulness, that we have not met to the same extent back home. And - who would have thought that we would experience some of the warmest days here in Alaska?  27-29 C during a whole week, and almost tropical nights! All we can do is enjoy and save it up for the long winter nights.