Snow day in October.... that's right!

Though most teachers may secretly enjoy a snow day (or as it goes here in Cape Dorset a snow morning, to be followed by an update at lunch), I am not one of those teachers. I think perhaps my need for routine outweighs any joy I would find from sleeping in... plus I wake up at 5am no matter what.  So alas, I'm sitting here, twiddling my thumbs, wishing I had brought all the grading I have left to do home and contemplating trying to walk through the giant snow drifts to go feign some type of normality at the school... but first I will blog!

We had a concert at the high school here last Tuesday put on by a guy named Luke and his daughter Chloe.  He's a singer in a band called Whitehorse, which I never heard of until I was told they were coming to Cape Dorset. The music wasn't exactly my style. It reminded me of the song "Hotel California" by the eagles, which is a good song, but not over and over and over again. However there is no doubt that the two of them are extremely talented (his guitar playing was awesome, and she had a beautiful voice), and it seemed the community really enjoyed having them here and I must admit it was nice to have something fun to do on a Tuesday night. One of my favourite parts of the night was the very beginning when the audience was treated to throat singing! I had the good fortune of hearing them at my friend's house a few days prior, but to see them on stage and to hear it was really amazing! I'm currently trying to figure out a few throat singing techniques, and I hope to impress my friend the next time I see her.

Unfortunately I was extremely tired that night and around 8:30pm decided to walk home... unbeknownst to me there was going to be an Inuktitut dance at the end of the night! I definitely would have stayed if I knew that, as I absolutely love being a part of those!

This past week at school has also been really fun due to the lead up to Halloween.  We had a Halloween dance on Friday night which was put on by my friend Scott (he literally could set up an awesome dance in his sleep), and we all dressed up and had a great laugh. Though my jaw still hurts from laughing too much.


I have no doubt this week will be full of fun things too, as long as the snow stops!


Proof I wear the hat Darren bought me! Thank you again!

Fellow teacher showing the kids how it's done!  yay Heidi!

Heidi let one of her students bring a puppy to school... yes that's right... a puppy!  Best idea ever!

Halloween dance, and some of our costumes.

Throat singing.. this video DOES NOT do it justice!

Another two weeks summed up.

I keep seeing the Northern Lights... they are pretty and spectacular and it's kind of hard to believe that they are becoming a normal thing for me that I don't gawk at as much as I did the first time I saw them.  I have also learned from my students that you should never whistle at the Northern Lights, it's bad luck; I can't remember why it's bad luck, but it is, so I won't be doing that.  

I've also recently developed a GIANT, ENORMOUS phobia of polar bears due to something I read in a book about Inuit traditional beliefs... It said something like a person should never wish to see an animal because it will sneak up behind them when they least expect it... or something to that nature... It was written more eloquently than that, but it made my heart skip a beat because for the first month I was really hoping to see a polar bear... then I was told stories about what polar bears are capable of, and I was shown some pictures... and I quickly decided that seeing a polar bear is no longer on my list of things to do.. the problem is I really wished to see one, so now I'm concerned one might sneak up behind me.  Walking to school early in the morning has become somewhat of an olympic sport for me, and no matter who I ask I'm basically told "run to a house and bang on the door and they will let you in"... I've began to work on my cardio needless to say. 

My class is amazing.  I look forward to each day I get to go in a teach. I definitely have a great bunch of students who are eager, fun and like a good laugh. We are definitely a good fit together. 

Today Terin and I went for a walk around the community and we decided to walk along the shore line. The tide goes out really far here and I've never walked along there when it is like that.  Though it was cold, we had a great time as Terin spotted some huge bones sitting along the receded shore line. The bones were definitely the biggest bones I've ever seen, and I'm sure they are from a whale, but it was really interesting to think these giant relics of an enormous animal were sitting there all this time and we just never noticed them when the tide was out.  

Time flies...

I woke up this morning and though "hey I should write a blog this morning". It was with utter amazement that I realized it has been so long since I have done one!

September seems to have flown by and it's hard to remember everything that happened. Updates since the last post:

-My class earned their first party by earning 100 points. They do this by walking in the halls quietly, having other teachers comment to us about how kind they are, being good examples for the younger kids and by being respectful.  It was hard not to give them a party right away to be honest!  I had to limit the points because they are really such a kind class! They decided they wanted a movie/pizza party. They chose a Mr. Bean movie and they wanted me to make "homemade pizza".  I stared blankly at them and said that if my mom lived here I probably could, but would they accept frozen pizzas homemade in the ovens at school? Terin helped me thankfully, and they had a great time!

-Paul Quassa came to our school and I got to meet him along with a couple of my students!  It was pretty exciting as I had learned about him down south from my Nunavut teacher!  I turned into a bumbling fool and he gave me a signed copy of his new book!

-Snow happened.  Lots and lots of snow. It seems to disappear by being blown over the mountains.  It makes it a bit challenging to walk sometimes, but I haven't minded it yet.

-The students had their first dance and first movie night at the school, and they did an awesome job running the canteen and setting it up! (The grade sixes take charge of that)

-An animator who does stop photography (I think it is called), came to our school and did a presentation then came to each class and shot a quick and fun film. We had such a blast with him!

-We had our first full week of school this week!

-The geese have finally seemed to have flown south. Now the ravens are back to pestering me and hovering over my head.

-Jack the dog seems to have found a forever home.

-I regularly stop and pet my new dog friend (who has an owner) named Bella Girl.

-I received a package from home which was SO exciting!  Getting mail here is like Christmas as it arrives at the school and we all anxiously wait to see if we received anything!  I almost cried when opening it!

Graeme- the animator (I hope he comes back!)

Awesome Friday Land Trip!

So yesterday was "Orientation Day" at our school, which meant our students got a day off and we as a staff did some things together. This year one of our staff, Elisapee, suggested going on a land trip and clam digging. We all jumped at that idea and it turned into one of the coolest day trips I have ever done!

In the morning we did a Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (better known as IQ) exercise where we were put into groups and discussed the 8 IQ principles of Nunavut. For those who do not know what they are guiding principles that the Inuit have laid out to be incorporated into everything including schooling. These principles are ones that I honestly thing everyone on earth should follow and they really encourage a sense of community, a sense of caring for one and other and the environment.

Here is a copy of them, but I think the spelling of the Inuktitut words might be in a different dialect than used here in Cape Dorset.

After that, we all worked together to prepare lunch for our trip.  My job was boiling 3 dozen eggs, peeling them, mashing them, opening a lot of cans of tuna, and dishes. Though one of our staff seemed to find pity on me, and ended up peeling most the eggs for me.  She also made and baked about 80 baniks in about 15 minutes flat and she reminds me of my mom; loving, funny, efficient in the kitchen, and she probably would have preferred me not in her kitchen, but tolerated me because she likes me... just like my mom!

After that us new Qallunaat (not Inuit) staff were asked what we were wearing on the trip. I showed my layers and my snowboarding jacket and was asked where my parka was and my snow pants. Terin and I quickly went home and swapped our gear... one thing Nick (our professor from down south) always taught us was that you listen to the Inuit; they know better than us... and he's right, they do.

Once we all were ready, those of us who don't have vehicles headed down to the shore line on the bug, where we waited a while. My chaperone to school everyday, Jack (the dog that follows me) was there and I was happy to see him as I hadn't seen him in a couple days.  I played with him while we waited then the boats showed up. There were three boats that were like GIANT canoes with motors, and one boat that reminded me of the boat my uncle Gordon use to have. 

Getting ready to leave the school.

The bus literally dropped us off at the shoreline.

My students named my walking buddy "Jack".  I'm pretty sure Jack the cat would not be impressed. Apparently Jack is a mix of a lot of dogs. 

 I know I felt like the Michelin Man in my layers, lol

We climbed in and set off...(For anyone wondering, I took non drowsy Gravol from about 9am on, and I actually did not get the least bit sea sick, which surprised me).  As we boated along we noticed some HUGE icebergs that made every other iceberg I've seen up here look like an ice cube. Terin asked if we could go see them, and to our surprise the captain took us!  It was unreal!  I still feel like it was fake!

On the boat. I was praying I wasn't going to get sea sick, and I didn't! Though the fear was with me the whole time. 

One of the icebergs. 

This isn't the boat I was in, but it was the same as this. This is one of the other boats.

Iceberg!

Etukaluk and me enjoying the ride... Cape Dorset in the background.

The backside of one of the icebergs. 

 I'm not sure how long the boat ride actually took because I was laughing with glee so much. The whole thing really felt like a dream. Once we arrived at the island we began learning how to help set up the tent, and setting everything else up. We ate, then spent time exploring the island and talking with one another. It was such a wonderful experience and I'm so thankful I got to be part of it.

Learning how to set up the tent. 

Lining up the ropes. 

Success!

Our campsite for the day.

Hotdogs!

Traditional fox trap.

Elisapee set these up a little ways from our campsite, and for a split second I panicked thinking a caribou was coming over the hill.  

An ugly fish! One of the drivers granddaughters who joined on the trip found it. I think Terin ate it later, but I'm not sure. 

Nanuk claw... Polar bear claw I found

My finds from the day. I was unsure if I could take it home, but the Inuit staff said I could. 

Our amazing captains! Got us safely there and home! Thank you!

Snow Fall

So earlier this week people started saying it was probably going to snow this week.  I thought "okay maybe, but they are probably just trying to freak us new teachers out".  I woke up yesterday quite early because it was "Meet the Creature (teacher)" night, and naturally I was freaking out... I looked out the window and it was SNOWING! We went from wearing sweatshirts and jeans outside, to slush pants (again thank you dad, they are PERFECT), jackets, hats and mittens!

Here are a couple photos. Also for those of you wondering; parents teacher went wonderfully for me!

the iceberg pictures that I deleted by mistake. Plus some others...

There are lots of icebergs floating around lately. This was one Terin and I saw as we walked to the Park.

A loader for Rodger and Elnora that we found on the way to the park. 

Myself, Katie, Jess and Heidi enjoying time on the swings at the park, just before we were told a "bear" was spotted here earlier. We left shortly after. 

ICEBERG pizza pie!

Seal skin being rinsed in the drain. 

Our beautiful view. 

Cape Dorset "RC" area

More pizza pie!

Find of the week.

Terin found this at the local grocery store.  I'm not sure what I think of this.

oops on the three duplicates

Sorry for the three duplicate photos of me with an "iceberg pizza"... I've yet to figure out how to delete duplicates.

Terin- the photographer

As many of you might know, I am AWFUL at taking pictures. Terin however is like my mom when it comes to taking pictures... she just know's how to capture a moment.  Kindly she doesn't mind if I post her pictures. Here are a few.

We think this is arctic cotton before it turns white and fluffy.

If you look closely you can see that Terin is wearing flip-flops. It's not that warm! She is just tough! The rest of us were wearing lined rubber boots that day! Even the locals look at her feet when she walks around in flip-flops!

Her feet in the ocean. 

Dead Dog Lake. Believe it or not this is only about a ten minute walk outside of the community.

PPS, the high school.

Mushrooms we found on a walk.

The waterfall

The community

Terin went down to the park and saw the whale bone from a catch a few seasons ago.  I hope to go soon. Apparently it still smells.

The plane we arrived on. A large one for Dorset!