Thursday, August 28, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
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.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
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.
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 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!
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!
5:08am
For those of you who might wonder (which I would guess to be Rodger and my parents), I still wake up at 5:08 even though my alarm is set for 6am. The funny thing is Cape Dorset is an hour behind Halifax, and I only woke up at 4:08 for three days at the beginning, and now I wake up at 5:08am Cape Dorset time. I also still wake up thinking I should get ready to go to Second Cup but then realize after a few seconds that, that's not the case. I must say I really do miss seeing all my customers and coworkers, but my students here are adorable, lovely and funny and my fellow teachers are very special and fun to work with!
This week has been an eventful week up here. We had the first day of school on Tuesday, the second day of school on Wednesday, school was closed Thursday because of an event that took place here and Friday was a half day because unfortunately a member of the community passed away. I have learned that I cry at EVERY funeral whether I understand what is being said or not (as to be expected the whole service was in Inuktitut). It's never nice to watch people say goodbye to someone they love, and this was no exception. Despite not knowing the person it was clear she was loved by many including students in my class, and it was so hard to see their sadness. As teachers we found some comfort in offering hugs to our students and holding them as they grieved.
On a lighter note, I'm getting to know my class and realizing I have a wonderful group of students! Literacy is a big focus this year at our school and to compliment that I started a read aloud chapter book called "Bad Dog" on day one (it's a funny story from a mischievous dog). My students LOVE being read too and really enjoy discussing new words we come across in this book. So far the main character in this book has found himself in the "slammer" again. Understandably this is a new word for my class, and now I hear them using it outside of class instead of "jail". They also now are referring to dogs as "pooches". I've also spent most of my time with my students doing lessons to assess where they are at after a long summer. It's clear my class loves learning!
I've also found great pleasure in telling my students about my love of cats, but it clearly isn't shared by them. Cats are definitely not common up here, and most of them are brought here by southerners (anybody not from here) and they are always "indoor" cats because outside the community of Cape Dorset is wide spread arctic land. When I expressed my love of cats and asked if they shared it, all the students scrunched up there noses as much as they could at me. If you ever come to Nunavut one of the best things to know is that raised eyebrows means yes; a quick scrunched nose means no and an extended scrunched nose and eyebrows means "definitely not". I'm planning on making cat lovers out of my students over the year!
The pictures I'm attaching to this post have nothing to do with the post. But I thought they might be of interest.
Terin and I live in the second house from the left. The houses are built high off the ground because of the snow and perma-frost from what I understand. When we were here in the winter I didn't realize how many stairs went up to the front door because about only half of them were above the snow. Our neighbours to the left of us are awesome! And they have the cutest dog named Haiku who greats us everyday.
This is a look at our block of houses if I turn around as I walk to school and look back. The community has different name for different parts of it. The view I often post from our back windows is called "the valley", we live in "the upper valley". There is also "Malusha" (which I don't know how to spell properly, "The RC" and "In Town".
I'm obsessed with Arctic Cotton. It is as soft as it looks and apparently it is used (or used to be used) to burn. I'm intending on finding out more information about it.
Fireworks are a new thing here in town. Every night people set up neat displays of them and we get treated to a show. I think it will look better when it actually gets fully dark here, but I enjoy seeing them regardless!
This week has been an eventful week up here. We had the first day of school on Tuesday, the second day of school on Wednesday, school was closed Thursday because of an event that took place here and Friday was a half day because unfortunately a member of the community passed away. I have learned that I cry at EVERY funeral whether I understand what is being said or not (as to be expected the whole service was in Inuktitut). It's never nice to watch people say goodbye to someone they love, and this was no exception. Despite not knowing the person it was clear she was loved by many including students in my class, and it was so hard to see their sadness. As teachers we found some comfort in offering hugs to our students and holding them as they grieved.
On a lighter note, I'm getting to know my class and realizing I have a wonderful group of students! Literacy is a big focus this year at our school and to compliment that I started a read aloud chapter book called "Bad Dog" on day one (it's a funny story from a mischievous dog). My students LOVE being read too and really enjoy discussing new words we come across in this book. So far the main character in this book has found himself in the "slammer" again. Understandably this is a new word for my class, and now I hear them using it outside of class instead of "jail". They also now are referring to dogs as "pooches". I've also spent most of my time with my students doing lessons to assess where they are at after a long summer. It's clear my class loves learning!
I've also found great pleasure in telling my students about my love of cats, but it clearly isn't shared by them. Cats are definitely not common up here, and most of them are brought here by southerners (anybody not from here) and they are always "indoor" cats because outside the community of Cape Dorset is wide spread arctic land. When I expressed my love of cats and asked if they shared it, all the students scrunched up there noses as much as they could at me. If you ever come to Nunavut one of the best things to know is that raised eyebrows means yes; a quick scrunched nose means no and an extended scrunched nose and eyebrows means "definitely not". I'm planning on making cat lovers out of my students over the year!
The pictures I'm attaching to this post have nothing to do with the post. But I thought they might be of interest.
Terin and I live in the second house from the left. The houses are built high off the ground because of the snow and perma-frost from what I understand. When we were here in the winter I didn't realize how many stairs went up to the front door because about only half of them were above the snow. Our neighbours to the left of us are awesome! And they have the cutest dog named Haiku who greats us everyday.
This was last night's view. The pictures really don't do it justice.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Notable things to share.
1. Our smoke detector speaks in a female British accent and also knows french. I'm not kidding. One of them started beeping on Sunday and after about half an hour it said "Your battery is low" then repeated the same thing in French. Terin and I laughed hysterically! Then Monday and Tuesday it didn't beep at all or inform us any new information, but this morning she (the smoke detector I've now christened Sally) seems to have gotten another gust of wind and decided to beep and talk when I got home (I'm assuming she didn't tire out during the day and simply wait for me to come home to start telling me things). You might be asking why Terin or I did not simply change the battery...we couldn't reach her. See this particular smoke detector is about 13 feet in the air and to get her we would need a ladder, which apparently we should have packed one, and our other option would involve us having to walk down a rocky embankment from the school with a giant ladder and to be honest I think we both thought it would just stop. So after arriving home today after being at school for thirteen hours, when I heard our high tech british roommate tell me that MY battery was low, I tried everything I could to make her stop. First I yelled at Sally and tried to reason with her (I must say she's kind of a witch) Then I tried to knock her off the wall by violently throwing the only thing I could find which was a pairs of rolled up socks. I suffice to say it didn't work. What did work, was bringing a kitchen chair up, sliding my large dresser drawers out in the hall way and climbing on top of the drawers and yanking that sucker off the wall. I'm sitting here in peace now.
2. One of my favourite thing to do right now is ask tiny little kids what their name is in Inuktitut (sounds like "Kee-now-vee?"). Little kids always smile at Terin and I... I haven't figured out if it's just because kids are cute, or if it's their way of greeting us, or they just find us funny to look at because we're new...so when they smile I always bend down and say "Kee-now-vee?" (I apologize for not remember actually how to spell it) and their little smiles go from smiles to confusion in a split second...at which point I repeat myself, they giggle, say their name and then I reply "Kris oovunga" (again the spelling is wrong)...which results in them either starring at me and giggling, or them saying something in Inuktitut which is completely over my head; then my gig is up! But it sure is cute, and I'm hoping they might teach me a few words.
3. Photocopiers in Nunavut are as irritating and frustrating as they are down south.
4. Vegetables and fruit ARE available in our two grocery stores and the prices are fair. Vegetables and fruit we've bought or seen in the two stores include, Corn on the cob, asparagus, brussels sprouts, parsnips, sweet potatoes, potatoes, beans, lettuce (both iceberg and romain), cucumber, carrots, lemons, limes, apples, oranges, pears, grapes, mango, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions of different varieties and I'm sure I'm missing a lot.
5. Pop is the drink of choice.
2. One of my favourite thing to do right now is ask tiny little kids what their name is in Inuktitut (sounds like "Kee-now-vee?"). Little kids always smile at Terin and I... I haven't figured out if it's just because kids are cute, or if it's their way of greeting us, or they just find us funny to look at because we're new...so when they smile I always bend down and say "Kee-now-vee?" (I apologize for not remember actually how to spell it) and their little smiles go from smiles to confusion in a split second...at which point I repeat myself, they giggle, say their name and then I reply "Kris oovunga" (again the spelling is wrong)...which results in them either starring at me and giggling, or them saying something in Inuktitut which is completely over my head; then my gig is up! But it sure is cute, and I'm hoping they might teach me a few words.
3. Photocopiers in Nunavut are as irritating and frustrating as they are down south.
4. Vegetables and fruit ARE available in our two grocery stores and the prices are fair. Vegetables and fruit we've bought or seen in the two stores include, Corn on the cob, asparagus, brussels sprouts, parsnips, sweet potatoes, potatoes, beans, lettuce (both iceberg and romain), cucumber, carrots, lemons, limes, apples, oranges, pears, grapes, mango, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions of different varieties and I'm sure I'm missing a lot.
5. Pop is the drink of choice.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
The first day!
Yesterday teachers were required to go into the school to get their classes ready. I'd already spent from morning until night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday preparing my class and still didn't feel ready on Monday. I arrived at the school at 6am and didn't leave until around 10pm, and it wasn't until my logical roommate and a few senior staff came by and told me that "You can't make it perfect on the first day", so I relaxed a bit and left; besides I was quite satisfied with the classroom and was just hoping my students would love it.
So today I arrived super early again to do some finishing touches on the classroom and rehearse what I was going to first say to my class. I was SO scared of their first impression of me that I thought of about 10 different things I could say. I had written a morning message with the syllabics for "good morning" and I had made sure the alphabet in Inuktitut was ON top of English alphabet, and a few other things I could think of to try to physically show them how interested I am their language and culture, but what the heck were my first words to them going to be?!
Eight forty rolled around, the bell rang, and all the kids, all their families and then many people who just wanted to see the first day piled into the gym and sat down. Our Principal welcomed everyone back and then one of my fellow teachers proceeded to say a teachers name at which point the teacher would walk to the front of the gym, then announce each child in the class...at which point each child was to walk to the front of the gym and join their teacher. After each class was finished, something was said in Inuktitut and everyone applauded and cheered. It was actually really cool to see a community come together and get so excited about school!
The assembly went as follows:
-The first kindergarten teacher was called to the front.
-Then each child was announced at which point some of the little kids jumped to their feet and ran as fast as they could to stand next to their teacher, some walked up looking completely confused and continued to look a their parents who were eagerly gesturing to their babies that this was something GOOD, not bad! And then there were the criers...both parents and children.
-This continued on all the way up through the grades, but as you can imagine the tears became fewer and the older the students got the more nonchalant they were about going to the front.
-I began to sweat profusely at the thought of having to walk up in front of all the parents and have each child walk towards me with no enthusiasm, but I was pleasantly surprised! I had a few even run and jump which thrilled me!
-once my kids were lined up we walked to the class and started the day.
To be honest it's all kind of a blur. I'm not use to having a class to myself, nor am I use to being responsible for all the space in my quite large classroom. Not that it's any different from any other time I teach, but I often found myself trying to remember where I put something down. Thankfully my students thought this was great because they could remind me.
As the day progressed I do remember thinking "are these kids actually this great?" or am I dreaming! I think I've lucked myself into what will hopefully be a productive and fun year with my new class! I can't wait for tomorrow.
However, as excited as I am preparing a classroom for your future young learners has exhausted me! Plus both Terin and I contracted a cold from our new neighbours adorable baby, so I must hit the sack. I hope everyone is well!
Kris
PS- these pictures aren't the final product, but I forgot to take pictures today of the class. This is from Sunday I think.
So today I arrived super early again to do some finishing touches on the classroom and rehearse what I was going to first say to my class. I was SO scared of their first impression of me that I thought of about 10 different things I could say. I had written a morning message with the syllabics for "good morning" and I had made sure the alphabet in Inuktitut was ON top of English alphabet, and a few other things I could think of to try to physically show them how interested I am their language and culture, but what the heck were my first words to them going to be?!
Eight forty rolled around, the bell rang, and all the kids, all their families and then many people who just wanted to see the first day piled into the gym and sat down. Our Principal welcomed everyone back and then one of my fellow teachers proceeded to say a teachers name at which point the teacher would walk to the front of the gym, then announce each child in the class...at which point each child was to walk to the front of the gym and join their teacher. After each class was finished, something was said in Inuktitut and everyone applauded and cheered. It was actually really cool to see a community come together and get so excited about school!
The assembly went as follows:
-The first kindergarten teacher was called to the front.
-Then each child was announced at which point some of the little kids jumped to their feet and ran as fast as they could to stand next to their teacher, some walked up looking completely confused and continued to look a their parents who were eagerly gesturing to their babies that this was something GOOD, not bad! And then there were the criers...both parents and children.
-This continued on all the way up through the grades, but as you can imagine the tears became fewer and the older the students got the more nonchalant they were about going to the front.
-I began to sweat profusely at the thought of having to walk up in front of all the parents and have each child walk towards me with no enthusiasm, but I was pleasantly surprised! I had a few even run and jump which thrilled me!
-once my kids were lined up we walked to the class and started the day.
To be honest it's all kind of a blur. I'm not use to having a class to myself, nor am I use to being responsible for all the space in my quite large classroom. Not that it's any different from any other time I teach, but I often found myself trying to remember where I put something down. Thankfully my students thought this was great because they could remind me.
As the day progressed I do remember thinking "are these kids actually this great?" or am I dreaming! I think I've lucked myself into what will hopefully be a productive and fun year with my new class! I can't wait for tomorrow.
However, as excited as I am preparing a classroom for your future young learners has exhausted me! Plus both Terin and I contracted a cold from our new neighbours adorable baby, so I must hit the sack. I hope everyone is well!
Kris
PS- these pictures aren't the final product, but I forgot to take pictures today of the class. This is from Sunday I think.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
More Pictures
Jess, me and Katie (they looked after me when I was here for my practicum and they continue to look after me! They really are AWESOME!
Dead Dog Lake
A quarry for Rodger and Elnora. The equipment is a little old, but they get sand for the roads
Dead Dog Lake again
The walk (Jess and Terrin)
Really cool little red plants, they are kind of spongee
Awesome purple flowers.
A walk to Dead Dog Lake...also known as Ice Lake
Today I continued working on preparing my classroom. It's been a lot of work but I am completely enjoying it. Tomorrow is the official first day of school for teachers and the students will be in on Tuesday. I am super anxious and nervous about the first day with the students, but the staff here has been so supportive (as usual), plus I'm not the only new teacher which makes it easier.
At noon today some of us went for a walk to a place we walked in March called "Dead Dog Lake", which turns out to actually be called Ice Lake...but no one calls it that. When we walked there in the winter is seems like a barren flat valley between two very large white hills. Today it was a beautiful array of plants growing over the landscape which surprised me because I envisioned either no plants, or just lichen and maybe arctic cotton. But I was thrilled to see all the vegetation.
I'm going to "hit the hay" because I'm quite tired after a lovely dinner at the Principals house but I will upload some of the pictures for those who want to, to enjoy! It really is pretty here!
Arctic Cotton
At noon today some of us went for a walk to a place we walked in March called "Dead Dog Lake", which turns out to actually be called Ice Lake...but no one calls it that. When we walked there in the winter is seems like a barren flat valley between two very large white hills. Today it was a beautiful array of plants growing over the landscape which surprised me because I envisioned either no plants, or just lichen and maybe arctic cotton. But I was thrilled to see all the vegetation.
I'm going to "hit the hay" because I'm quite tired after a lovely dinner at the Principals house but I will upload some of the pictures for those who want to, to enjoy! It really is pretty here!
Arctic Cotton
Part "Dead Dog Lake" aka Ice Lake
Arctic Cotton that hasn't bloomed
More Arctic Cotton
Lichen (it's really pretty and many different colours)
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