Last Days

Hello from the North for the last time. During the last week of classes we just continued on what we have been doing... writing exercises in language arts and probability in math, different forms of energy in science. In language arts I had them pick two items that I should bring with me if I went out on the land and tell me why in a letter. They had tons of good ideas (everything from a gun, snowmobile, harpoons, to girls) and hopefully we can finish up tomorrow.

Just one last week of university and then I'm done!

Hiking, Climbing, Arctic Circle

Hello again. Sorry I have been slack on the updates. I'm trying to busy myself and trying to keep sitting in front of the computer to a minimum.

This week saw us do several cross country ski trips. First we went across the fiord (about 2.5 hrs there and back), and another time to the North end of the fiord. On Wednesday we went for another ski across the fiord, but this time we climbed/hiked the mountain on the other side. It was hard work, probably 60 degree incline at points, but amazing scenery once we got up.

Yesterday 4 of us went to Auyuittuk National Park. We had a guide take us on snowmobile just past the park entrance, but extreme winds and lack of snow forced us to continue on foot on our way to the Arctic Circle marker! (the guide just stayed at the snowmobile and waited, crazy guy). There was amazing scenery on the 3 hour hike through unbelievable winds, steep inclines, and at times if we were lucky hard packed snow to walk on. Besides countless mountains we saw as we walked through the valley, we saw a glacier which we hiked up to. It was a dazzling bright blue colour, a cool contrast to the white snow. The glacier formed a cave-like shelter which we sat in and got a break from the wind and had a snack. We also chipped off some ice from the glacier and melted it to make soup and hot chocolate.

After the glacier we continued to the Arctic Circle Marker. It was tough going, at times we would be walking across a frozen lake and the wind would blow us more than 30 feet back... no traction on the slick ice. Eventually, after 3 hours of this we made it and it was well worth the journey. The marker is just an inukshuk in the middle of a wide open area (maybe a lake, hard to tell because everything is wind-swept and frozen). We got a few pictures and then headed back.

The komatik ride back was rough. The high wind and icy conditions caused the komatik I was in (with John's dog) to flip... twice. I don't really want to talk about that part of the trip anymore, it was not enjoyable haha.

All in all it was a 9 hour adventure that left us tired and sore, but well worth it. That night we relaxed and played some poker with a fellow teacher and some other people who work in Pang.

Just a week left here, can't wait to get some of that nice weather Halifax has been getting.

Beginning of Easter Break

Easter break began with a major wind storm that kept us inside Friday and Saturday. We just cooked, played games, watched movies. But today, Sunday, it is beautiful outside so we went cross country skiing across the fiord. It took about 2hrs there and back. Not a lot of new news to report, just some pictures.

We are working on going to the flow edge (where the ice meets the ocean) so hopefully that works out. Bye for now.

Amuusi!!!!

This post is mostly to talk about one of my best students, Amuusi who works so hard in class all the time (Haha Amuusi I told you I'd put you on the internet).

Anyway.... there is a major storm outside right now. There was supposed to be outdoor activities today but I think they will be cancelled because of high winds and snow. Even more of a bummer for everyone who was trying to fly out for Easter Break.

Not much new news to report. Yesterday at lunch one of the teacher's sons saw some rabbits on the mountain, so he drove his skidoo back to get his gun... then we had some rabbit to eat after school.

Easter break is next week. Hopefully we will get to do some more fishing, camping, skiing or anything else there is to do up here.

Early Week

Hello again. After a nice weekend it is back to the grind. This week my school is holding what they call "Embrace Life Week"... a week to help students realize the beauty of life and to appreciate what they have. Last year there was a problem of a high number of suicides so hopefully this will help. The week mainly consists of community events and games. Today there was a lot of outdoor activities, sledding, skating, 3 legged race, hot-chocolate to stay warm. I tried using a whip that would have been used to dog sleds (made of seal skin). It was about 20 feet long and near impossible to use. There was an older genetleman who could pick off pop cans from 20 feet away, and some of the students who tried ended up whipping themselves, haha it was funny... but I'm sure it hurt.
Right now I'm on my way to the store to pick up some better fishing gear... a bigger hook to snag fish on, the bigger the better. Bye for now.......

Weekend!

Hello again. The end of the week was great. Friday there was a demonstration of some traditional Inuit games, some of which I tried. Most are feats of strength and very hard.

Saturday morning we got up early and headed out on the skidoos to go ice fishing. After a long two hours on the komatik (wooden box on skis pulled by a skidoo) we arrived. A very, very bumpy ride but the scenery was unreal. We drilled holes through the ice which was about 2.5 feet thick with a hand auger and then the fishing began.

We had very little luck all day. Two people we were with caught several, then finally I got one! An arctic char about 2 feet long I think (there is a picture somewhere but seems to be lost at the moment, haha probably so I can exaggerate how big it was).

We returned and then headed to a potluck with a bunch of the teachers where we all ate way too much but the food was great. Sunday I slept in and headed for a walk to the edge of town. There is a road that leads far from where people live, it was unbelievable weather, perfectly clear sky and only about -25.

Anyway, that's all for now... I'll keep the updates updates.

End of Week

Hello again, the last couple of days have been busy again. After the final staff meeting there was a caribou feast where I got to try some raw caribou, a very different, but good taste (I'll have some pictures later).
Two Czech explores came into town yesterday after spending 12 days skiing across Baffin Island. The man we are staying with, Jerry, who is Polish was able to speak to them as their languages are not so different. The two explorers had their tents all set up to live for the next few days but Jerry invited them in and we had a feast of Turbot (fish), caribou and vegetables. After a long conversation between the explores and Jerry (which we understood very little, minus hand gestures and some translation from Jerry) we learned one of the men is a very experienced traveller. He has been to the North Pole 8 times, 3000 miles across Greenland alone, and to the Antarctic among others.
Anyway, that is all for now, hopefully today after school there is a demonstration of traditional Inuit games, but no one seems to know if it's going to happen.
Peace out for now

Wednesday X-Country skiing

Hello again. Not much new to report. After the staff meeting where we worked on ways to improve the school climate Trevor, David, and I went for a ski through the hills (or mountains) behind the community.

Once you got a ways away from the town and you couldn't see any buildings or hear the roar of snowmobiles a certain feeling comes over you being in the wide expanse of hills and snow.

As we trekked on we eventually crossed paths with John and his dog, another teacher from the school who was out on his skidoo. We chatted for a minute and as he pulled away we joked if he got stuck in the ice we will catch up and pull him out. Then David told us about the only time he fell through the ice which was just up ahead. So not 5 minutes later we see John running for town to get help, he had got his sled stuck in the river slush (see pictures). So obviously we decided on another route a little higher up the mountain. John was wet from the waist down but he made it home safely before he froze. It was so cold that we stopped resting to take pictures for fear of freezing as we were sweating from the skiing.

It's lunch time now and John's sled is still stuck, he's going up after school to try and chip away the ice and tow it out with another skidoo.

Tuesdays Hiking

Hello again. After school today we had a meeting amongst the teachers, education dept., community, students etc to discuss ways to better improve the school climate. It was interesting to see many different views on what is valued in the school / community. There was definitely some contrast between the local elders, the long time teachers, and young teachers.

Once we finished there Trevor, Clarissa, and I headed out for up a hike on the mountain behind where we are staying. It took about an hour to get as high as we went (the picture with Trevor and I), and it would have been about another 30 minutes to the peak but light was falling and we didn't want to be caught in the dark. The view as we rose kept getting better, but going down involved a lot of sliding so that was very fun. Now I'm just here at the school planning for tomorrow. We are learning about different types of energy in science, and in Language Arts we are practicing writing, spelling, and expressing ideas (I have no idea how to teach Language Arts haha).

Once again, more pictures on the Facebook,

Day Two of Teaching

Hey everyone, just finished lunch here during my second day at school. I taught the science class, we began learning about different types of energy... but it was just a quick intro discussion to see what they know.

The weather here is a little overcast right now, but last night / this morning it was blistering wind and freezing cold... but dress warm and no problem.

I've got a few pictures from the first few days of the trip... and I'll have many more on the Facebook. Enjoy.

Arrival!

Hey everyone, we arrived in Iqaluit on Saturday and spent the day exploring the town. There was a lot going on, more traffic than we expected, lots of stores, and great food.

We stayed at a small inn, basically just a big house that rents rooms.

Sunday afternoon we arrived in beautiful Pangnirtung where I will be spending the next month. Beautiful weather for our arrival but right now it's snowy and little visibility. First morining in class went well. I'm working with grade 7 and they are very energetic.

I've taken lots of pictures so far, hopefully tonight I'll be able to post some here... stay tuned.

Post One

Hey everyone, I've set this blog up to keep people updated as I finish my B.Ed. in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. I'll try not to bore you too much...you will likely find mainly pictures and quick updates about my teaching. I hope you enjoy!