Tales From the Tipi (and the Tundra)

Time flies here in Kuujjuaraapik. I have managed to avoid the "winter blahs" by getting involved in a variety of activities both in and out of school.

Amanda and I finally decided to take advantage of the community swimming pool and began taking swimming lessons with Arianne. She must think I am nuts but I am more excited about the "report cards" than the actual lessons. The only drawback was the water in my ear that had to be taken care of by the doctor at the Health Centre. After days not being able to hear, I finally can be sane again...

I have gone out icefishing with Mary, Leonard, and his sister. I posted some pics on Facebook. It was SO much fun. I miss going out every weekend.

Paul (the Culture teacher from Cape Breton) and I took my class out to his tipi for the day. We got money from the school and we bought food and gas. We prepared the food the day before and got Richard to drive us all out to Second Point where the Ski-doos go out onto the Bay. Paul then started doing trips out to his camp and back. One of my students, Nuna, and I were the last to get picked up...probably about 5 kms out. We spent the day eating Arctic Char and caribou and all of the food we had brought. It was nice to see some of the kids who are not academically inclined shine. We all have our strengths: making high grades or starting fires...what really matters? Anyway, the kids are different now (working more) and are looking forwward to our next trip out in March. I love my job...

Amanda and I borrowed snowshoes from here at school and we went across to the other side of the Great Whale River with Serge and Carole. It was a nice day but the snowshoes were cheap and kept coming off. We had a nice picnic on the other side which was nice as well, although the wood was wet and kept going out.

I finally opened the community library for the first time in 2009 a few weeks ago. It took a long time for the community and the Social Club to recover after Andre's death. It has been slow but it will pick up.

Chantal is coming from Toronto to visit me from March 13-20. Can't wait to have a visitor.

I am heading to the Cree community of Waskaganish in March with a few students for the 2009 Aboriginal Science Fair. It should be nice. It will be great to get out.

I can't wait for my trip to Los Angeles to hang out with Janet. April 11-18. A few days in Montreal beforehand will be great.

I guess the biggest news for me is the big trip I am planning this summer. I am finally going to go visit Sarah and her family in England. I will be leaving from Halifax on June 25th and then will return on July 23. We are doing a trip to see her sister in Majorca. A weekend trip to Paris. I will also do a 24 hour trip to Dublin and another to Amsterdam. Those are by plane. I am aso doing a train trip to Edinburgh and Dumfries (to do family research). I can't wait.

On a sad note, a number of relatives back home in Nova Scotia are sick. My thoughts and good wishes are with them.