Friday, February 27, 2009

I AM STILL HERE!!!!!







I know I haven't written to my blog in a long time, but it has been a VERY hectic time. Since my last posting I have had 5!! floods in my apartment, caused by a faulty zone valve in the hot water heating system. This resulted in a loss of considerable personal property, that was not just destroyed by water but by grease and glycol which is all a part, as I understand, of keeping the water flowing through old pipes in such a cold climate. Things seem to be resolved in the far North in matters relating to living environments, VERY inefficiently, so even after 4 new zone valves, I still had flooding. I moved out of my apartment, while the place dried and a new floor had to be installed in my bedroom. While this was happening I was sick with a horrible virus, that left me dizzy and nauseous for 2 weeks. My doctor felt it necessary to run several tests-most of my results were "off", but after repeats things seem to have seetled down. I lost only 3 days of work, which is nothing considering I had difficulty walking straight. I felt like I was getting some dreaded disease. The virus has been rampant here, and doesn't abate quickly. Anyway I seem to be fine now.

I spent all of last week in Professional Developement activities. I attended a 4 day Fabulous conference with 860 educators from across the NWT held in Yellowknife. Then there were onsite meetings and workshops back here in Inuvik. I even got invited to "jiggs" dinner at one of our Inuvik teacher's brother's home while in Yellowknife, and 3 (including me) of the "die hard" Newfoundlanders cut a "very" funny CD-country and western style. You would all have to hear it and see it to believe it.I did back up vocals and played drums!!

We have an incredibly busy March- the most hectic month of our school schedule, with daily class field trips on the land, the start up of a swimming schedule, a science fair, historical fair, guest concerts, sports tournaments etc. We stop classes on April 8th for our Spring Break, which happens at Easter here. In spite of the horrific cost for 1 week, I am going back to Ontario. I just couldn't not see Paul for 6 months. This is not the kind of separation one gets used to with time.Life is just too short.Whatever the logistical outcome for next year, we certainly won't be apart. We both feel passionate about that.

I leave here a week early in June in order to examine for RCM- this year in Calgary.Following that it will be back to Ontario to faclitate our plans for next year.

My wonderful students continue to teach me SO MUCH. I have also had the priviledge this month of playing for an amazing funeral of a very celebrated and respected Elder, and for a moving wedding, followed by a feast, for a wonderful "daughter " of our parish here. The actual ceremony was held in the famed and historic 'Igloo" Church, due to numbers involved. The bride was from Inuvik- the groom from Pasadena, Newfoundland. It was SUCH a unique and wonderful celebration! I will elaborate more in my next post.

In the middle of all of this I also found refuge for a week catsitting for Moby and Missy, the beloved "kids" of an RCMP family who were in Ontario house hunting for a move there. I enjoyed the reprieve from my disaster apt., and really appreciated the saying of a "silver lining.....

It is now daylight with sun coming up when I head to work and still light at 7:30pm.With the cold and the snow though, I can't believe that my sweet "munchkins" are still sliding down the small hill behind our school DAILY, exactly 5 months to the day tomorrow, since our first snowfall!!!!!

Good Night as the darkness begins to fall in this place I have come to love.

Some Photos from a late January walk are attached.