I think to live in the north you need to have a certain amount of humor.
Oh look it's a leg of a rabbit laying in the road, how nice.
I like that headless seal you have on your porch.
It's rush hour, waiting to cross the road after four snowmobiles, three ATV's and a truck go by.
The kids next door, knocking on the kitchen window yelling 'hockey'? while you are eating dinner.
Random loose dogs following you home because whatever you have in your grocery bags smells like something they would like to eat for dinner.
The neighbors running their snowmobile into your house in the middle of the night because the throttle got stuck.
Sadly with the humor also comes the tragedies of the north, the things that people just don't talk about. Rape is a common occurrence here. And with such a small number of people in the community the raper and the rapist as bound to run into one another at some point after the assault. Unlike the south, the majority of the time nothing is ever said or done about it. It's accepted as something that just happens. It's a shocking reality of life in an isolated community.
I had heard about the drug and alcohol abuse and the suicides that plague life for the natives of northern Canada but not of the other equally disheartening issues that make up life here. Domestic violence is also a common occurrence here as well, more so of women beating up men instead of the other way around.
Life here is not for the faint of heart.
There are not many opportunities here for young people, as an outsider looking in I will admit that I have no clue what it must be like to grow up here. I see bright young people that don't finish high school because they need to work to help feed their brothers and sisters. Or young girls with two or three children in tow and no possibility of any future other than to have more children and remain on social assistance.
Getting pregnant and having children while still a teenager is also common place and again something that just happens. While I am in awe of how the community gathers these girls up and helps them make the best of the situation, I am bothered at how pointless it all is. I may be old fashioned in thinking that to have a child so young is destroying any future that you might have had, but here that really is what happens. I get a sense that with the amount of pregnancies here there is also high rates of adoption. It is normal to hear someone say, I have had five children but some were adopted out or my parents adopted them so they became my sibling instead of my child.
My hope, our hope while here is to influence a few young people to, as cheesy as it sounds, reach for the moon. Post secondary education is free for the native peoples here. I want to encourage someone(s) to take advantage of it.
Education opens up so many doors. Although I have a spotty post secondary record, I have been, I have expanded my brain. I wish I could go back and tell myself not to take the opportunity of school for granted. I like to learn, I should have applied myself more. But I can't live in the past, I must take what I have in this brain of mine and move forward.
Life is like a map, there will always be many roads to take to get to happiness.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Oh so quiet
Ick, working on Sunday is for the
birds. Although it would be awesome to only work 1-5:30 five days a
week.
I have a sick husband so we both had a veg out day yesterday and Drew spent many hours sleeping. He wasn't any better today but there was work to be done.
I have a sick husband so we both had a veg out day yesterday and Drew spent many hours sleeping. He wasn't any better today but there was work to be done.
Since it wasn't a normal 'office' day
for me I spent my time cleaning up the mess that happens with remodeling the store. Moving and stocking shelves, putting things
back on the right shelf. It went by really quickly but I have gotten
use to my two days off a week. The Sunday work day is because the
Friday coming up is a holiday and the store will be stored. The way
the company does the schedule is Sunday to Saturday. Because
management cannot have more than two days off in the same week it
meant that I work today so that I have Friday and Saturday off, and
Sunday, which would be my normal day off. It's seems very confusing
on paper.
 | |
| My 'view' at work |
It's a thing up here, the thing of nothing makes
sense but it does make sense at the same time. It's frustrating and
comical all at the same time.
After work we came home and relaxed for a bit as Drew had to go back for the plane at 6:30. I made a crock pot roast, which wasn't ready yet so it was actually a good thing that the plane was late. (it's normally in at 5:20).
After work we came home and relaxed for a bit as Drew had to go back for the plane at 6:30. I made a crock pot roast, which wasn't ready yet so it was actually a good thing that the plane was late. (it's normally in at 5:20).
Plane landing
Once
he left I took Tia for her run down the cemetery road. As that is
normally a morning activity for us I was amazed at how different the
light was and how much more I could see of the landscape.
I want to apologize for my rather fluffy post as of late. I really want to write about other things than just my day to day life and I intend to do just that. I may start writing not on scheduled as I find that some days I feel like writing and it's not Sunday. Stay tuned, as I'd really love to share things about living here that you just never hear about. And wouldn't know about until you were here. After all that was one of the main reasons I wanted to write this blog.
To end, two videos. One taken today and one a few weeks ago.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
There she blows
This one is going to be a short one. I
had a post written out last weekend ready to upload and the laptop
had a freak out and bye bye went my writing.
 |
| My bible, Drew bought it for me at the library. |
Let me tell you about the language of
Inututuk. Being that I am a person who has only ever tried to learn
French, the native language here is like nothing I have ever heard
before and to make it worse I am told that every community has
different dialects. Oh man. Here have a listen. Not sure is this
video is North or South Baffin Island dialect but you will get the
general idea of the mountain I have to climb to retrain my brain. I
now wish I had focused a little harder on learn French as I have also
been told that the French speakers pick it up much quicker.
The girls at work tell me I am doing
well with learning, but the Q's and R's are going to be the death of
me.
By the way, qanuippit (how are you).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPGAbctSHuY (Have a listen)
By the way, qanuippit (how are you).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPGAbctSHuY (Have a listen)
On Monday we experienced our first
blizzard. Drew walked backwards halfway to work, while I laughed
about how hard it was stand up and about the general all over
craziness of mother nature.
We had winds up to 70km/hr and 2 feet of
snow in about 5 hours. Locals tell me that the wind brings the warmth
and it seems to be true as we have now been sitting in the -20's
instead of the -30's for the week. We don't get much snow here due
to the lack of moisture, the snow just stays because of the cold. I
am happy to say that the snow is starting to melt with the amount of
sunlight that we have during the day. The sun starts to rise around
5am and doesn't set until after 9:30pm. It's funny how quickly the
light has changed from when we arrived a month ago.
The first week
I remember the sun coming up 11am and setting at 4pm, ick. I am still
not sure how we will cope with the 2 months of dark next winter.
 |
| Almost 9am here, you can barely see 30 feet down the road. |
 |
| There was only a few inches of snow this morning. |
 |
| I left my water bottle outside for four hours. I love the pattern that the ice made. |
 |
| Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, I had to use a delay on the camera to get the shot. This is our view of the Northern Lights. We are too far north to get the light show, instead we get the northern 'Glow'. Picture was taken at 10:30pm. |
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Bring on the sun.
March 15th
Tia and I made it to the end of cemetery road today. The first weekend we were here I made it halfway. No easy feat wearing many layers and heavy snow boots. I assume this accomplishment also means that my fitness level is increasing. One of the perks of living here is that food is included and the budget goes much further if you stick to the good stuff. Old habit die hard though and we still grad a few bad things here and there. I am glad that there is no fast food here, it was the killer of us while in the city. I'm sure it gave us both a 10 pound gain in the last year.
I'm sure that Drew has lost 10 pounds already because his job is so physical. I am slower at the weight loss but feel like I'm also losing. We have been walking to the library together on Saturdays to use the internet and I have been going for long walks on Sundays when Drew's at work and doing my Just dance game once a week. Now that I seem to have adjusted to the long hours at work I am going to try to do dance a few times a week.
It's still dark when we finish work so Tia has limited walking at the moment as it is just too cold once the sun goes down. The 24 hours of daylight starts around the end of April so I would think that in a few more weeks we will be able to get a quick walk in after work.
Yesterday I took cupcakes to the flea market, not much of a south style flea market. More like many many baked good, half the town and jello. The people up here have some sort of obsession with jello and whipped cream.
One of the girls at work is trying to raise money to start a food bank here so I said I would help her out. Within 10 minutes of me getting there half of them were gone. They sure do love their sweets here. (Update, they raised $500 for the food bank, yaa!)
It was great yesterday that we actually had people to say hi to us while we were at the arena. We went the second weekend that we were here and it was a little overwhelming with all of the unfamiliar faces.
Have I told you how much I love it here, we really should have done this crazy thing sooner.
Now that I have caught up to the current date I'm planning to post every Sunday. On my next post I will fill you in on becoming bilingual, haha, yah right. And how the walk to work on Monday was something out of comedy. :)
Tia and I made it to the end of cemetery road today. The first weekend we were here I made it halfway. No easy feat wearing many layers and heavy snow boots. I assume this accomplishment also means that my fitness level is increasing. One of the perks of living here is that food is included and the budget goes much further if you stick to the good stuff. Old habit die hard though and we still grad a few bad things here and there. I am glad that there is no fast food here, it was the killer of us while in the city. I'm sure it gave us both a 10 pound gain in the last year.
I'm sure that Drew has lost 10 pounds already because his job is so physical. I am slower at the weight loss but feel like I'm also losing. We have been walking to the library together on Saturdays to use the internet and I have been going for long walks on Sundays when Drew's at work and doing my Just dance game once a week. Now that I seem to have adjusted to the long hours at work I am going to try to do dance a few times a week.
It's still dark when we finish work so Tia has limited walking at the moment as it is just too cold once the sun goes down. The 24 hours of daylight starts around the end of April so I would think that in a few more weeks we will be able to get a quick walk in after work.
 |
| Cemetery road going out of town. Stating the obvious here, the cemetery is at the end of this road. Not sure if this road has a name, only a few roads in town actually have names. |
 |
| 'Hurry up mom' |
 |
| Tundra boulders |
 |
| Frosty face |
 |
| Pretty snow |
 | |
| Airport fence |
 |
| Looking back towards the town. |
 |
| Seems like a good thing to do with a quilt? |
Yesterday I took cupcakes to the flea market, not much of a south style flea market. More like many many baked good, half the town and jello. The people up here have some sort of obsession with jello and whipped cream.
One of the girls at work is trying to raise money to start a food bank here so I said I would help her out. Within 10 minutes of me getting there half of them were gone. They sure do love their sweets here. (Update, they raised $500 for the food bank, yaa!)
It was great yesterday that we actually had people to say hi to us while we were at the arena. We went the second weekend that we were here and it was a little overwhelming with all of the unfamiliar faces.
Have I told you how much I love it here, we really should have done this crazy thing sooner.
Now that I have caught up to the current date I'm planning to post every Sunday. On my next post I will fill you in on becoming bilingual, haha, yah right. And how the walk to work on Monday was something out of comedy. :)
Monday, March 16, 2015
One week
One week down (Originally written, March 5th)
Today is our one week anniversary of living in Nunavut. every day I notice something more beautiful. And some days i really do feel like I'm living on the moon.
The landscape here is like nothing I have ever seen and is most likely only ever seen in the north. It is breath taking. One of my fears about moving here was not being accepted by the community. saying that we are anything but would be an understatement. Never in my life have I ever met so many friendly people in one place. And always so happy. So happy all the time. I will leave my thought on the reasons for constant happiness unsaid for now. But having the munchies seems to be an issue for many.
Little Tia took a few days to settle but in but she seems to be back to normal now. Since she isn't built for the weather we do have to put boots and a coat on her if we want her to poop or to take her for a walk. It is starting to warm up now so hopefully we won't have to do the dressing her thing much longer.
Speaking of the weather, it really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It can be ikki (cold) but because it is so dry it just doesn't feel the same. Yes sometimes it takes your breath away and makes icicles on your eye lashes, but it truly is amazing.
One thing I never read about before moving here was really just how dry it is inside. Every time you move you are getting electrocuted. The poor dog, who has now weaseled her way into sleeping in the bed, gets zapped constantly. Take off your coat, zap. Touch the fridge, zap. Touch lips, zap. I have added a humidifier to the growing list of 'things to buy from Amazon.ca'.
Drew is taking to work like a fish to water. He even came into work on his day. My job is not like any 'office' job I've ever had. It's fairly slow right now. But tax season is coming and the store is being renovated so it will become increasingly busier. For right now I'm just learning the ropes but eventually I will actually be the admin supervisor, floating around the store and helping where I am needed.
I will leave you with some more pictures.
Another view of the house
Our neighbors
The view from the deck
Another deck view
Sun dog
The red and green building is the Ministry of Natural Resources
Today is our one week anniversary of living in Nunavut. every day I notice something more beautiful. And some days i really do feel like I'm living on the moon.
The landscape here is like nothing I have ever seen and is most likely only ever seen in the north. It is breath taking. One of my fears about moving here was not being accepted by the community. saying that we are anything but would be an understatement. Never in my life have I ever met so many friendly people in one place. And always so happy. So happy all the time. I will leave my thought on the reasons for constant happiness unsaid for now. But having the munchies seems to be an issue for many.
Little Tia took a few days to settle but in but she seems to be back to normal now. Since she isn't built for the weather we do have to put boots and a coat on her if we want her to poop or to take her for a walk. It is starting to warm up now so hopefully we won't have to do the dressing her thing much longer.
Speaking of the weather, it really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It can be ikki (cold) but because it is so dry it just doesn't feel the same. Yes sometimes it takes your breath away and makes icicles on your eye lashes, but it truly is amazing.
One thing I never read about before moving here was really just how dry it is inside. Every time you move you are getting electrocuted. The poor dog, who has now weaseled her way into sleeping in the bed, gets zapped constantly. Take off your coat, zap. Touch the fridge, zap. Touch lips, zap. I have added a humidifier to the growing list of 'things to buy from Amazon.ca'.
Drew is taking to work like a fish to water. He even came into work on his day. My job is not like any 'office' job I've ever had. It's fairly slow right now. But tax season is coming and the store is being renovated so it will become increasingly busier. For right now I'm just learning the ropes but eventually I will actually be the admin supervisor, floating around the store and helping where I am needed.
I will leave you with some more pictures.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Houston we have a problem.
February 18
Hello McFly?
Did I really think that this journey would go off without some sort of drama?
So poor little Tia was MIA for about 45 minutes.
We dropped her off at cargo like we were told to do by the travel agent, she was even there ahead of time. Because we thought better to be early than late. So we leave her there and go off to check in for our flight with Westjet from Toronto to Ottawa.
I haven't been on a plane in more than 10 years so that alone was causing stress. We wait as you do in the airport since you have to be there 2 hours before you board. Keep in mind the flight to Ottawa is less than an hour.
At 1:30 they call us to board, we get on and wait, and wait and wait some more. Around 2:15 (we were suppose to take off at 2) a Westjet employ come to us and asks do you have a white fluffy dog. My heart stopped. No. We are then told, we are having an issue locating your dog. EXCUSE ME?
5 minutes later she comes back and shows us a cell phone picture of a fluffy white dog. Are you sure this isn't your dog. Seriously, I know what my dog looks like.
Another 10 minutes goes by and she comes back again. We are still looking for her, did you want to go on to Ottawa or get off the plane. As if that is even a question.
So off the plane we get.
In the waiting area an employee keeps asking me stupid questions like where did you drop off your dog. I keep telling her at cargo and she looked at me like I had 6 heads. I don't understand she says why would you drop her off there. Because that was what the travel agent told me to do. After all what would I know about flying a dog? I had to rely on the information provided to me by someone who I assume is knowledgeable. Nope. Tia should have been checked in along with our baggage. Flying with a dog is considered excess/over sized baggage not cargo.
So two hours later, a food voucher for both Drew and I and a bump up to the plush seats, and ALL of us are on the plane and off to Ottawa.
Tia after she was found
The very helpful West Jet guy,
taking Tia back into the right part of the airport.
But if I thought that the stress was over I was very wrong. I'm not sure if the pilot screwed up the take off but I felt like I was in a rocket, straight up and a crazy amount of thrust. Drew threw up. Even I who hasn't flown much but have never had an issue with it felt sick. And just when we were getting settled we were landing again.
Into the airport we go. I checked my facebook for a message from my old co-worker and friend Andrea and see that she has decided to drive out and pick us up. We had planned to have dinner with her but with the delay the plan kinda got derailed. Down to baggage we go and at the bottom of the escalator is a beautiful smiling face, oh Andrea you made the day so much better.
We then discover that they have misplaced one of my suitcases. UUUUgh. I leave our contact info and head off to the hotel. Be the time we get in a settled Drew and I are both exhausted. I felt bad for Andrea but she was completely understanding. After the stress of the day we both had the best sleep ever.
Feb 19
We aren't in Kansas anymore.
As I am actually writing this three weeks after it happened due to lack of internet access I might have skipped over a few details. But I do remember that the second part of the journey was much smoother.
In Ottawa or first plan to the north was boarded by a staircase on the tarmac.
First Air flights were much less dramatic. I made triple sure that Tia was on the plane and settled in.
About 30 minutes in they came around with breakfast, and for airplane food it was damn tasty. A breakfast burrito, muffin, fruit cup, apple juice and tea. Drew was still a little queasy so he just had his muffin and a juice.
The flight was smooth and peacefully and just when I was ready for a nap they brought us a huge warm oatmeal raisin cookie. On one of the blogs I follow I had read that it was important to always take all of the food they give you on northern flight because you never know when something unexpected might happen that may leave you stranded at an airport in the middle of nothing.
Landing in Iqaluit was a little bit surreal. This whole experience has been nothing but. The terminal here is bright yellow and you get out of the plane via stairs and back into the terminal the same way. With an hour long layover we had plenty of time to relax and people watch. One thing that was very apparent is the fact that I have now become a minority in regards to being a white person. I love how different people look here and I feel like a child with the wonder of it. Drew and I both took Tia out for a quick walk.
The plane from Ottawa to Iqaluit
Drew on the airport bus
The tiny plane to Pond
The airport here like most airports in the north is right in town, but far enough away that we didn't want to venture in alone.
Boarding time again, I wheel Tia to the cargo/over sized area and cross my fingers. Unlike the big airports there is no security here, at least not for flights going further north. We show our tickets and go back down the stairs to the tarmac and get onto a bus with about 6 other people on it. Yes a bus. I look at Drew, 'what's happening'? As the bus wheels away we head toward a very small plane. Maybe 20 seats. Off the bus and onto the tiny plan with four narrow steps. Drew and I sit across the aisle from each other and I sit beside a tiny women (an elder) with beautiful seal skin mittens. The plane is freezing because the doors have been opened to load passengers and cargo in the front section and tail of the plane. So I take my coat off but leave on my hat and mittens. Within minutes we are closed up and taxing off the the runway. About 15 minutes into the air, more food. This time a chicken breast wrap, macaroni salad, carrot sticks, a piece of cake and a drink. Not much to see on this flight, we aren't all that high in the air but it's just white. And the windows are small. It seems that the smaller the plane the better the experience. You could barely feel us taking off and no ear popping.
Display in the airport building at Clyde River
One more stop before we are in our new home, Clyde River. I later learned that Clyde has horrible blizzards and it's not such a fun place when that happens, since it means no planes can land. Back in the day Clyde was the best place for Arctic Fox and was really not meant to be a settlement. Landing here was like being on the moon. Very open with NOTHING around. It was clear and crisp and the sun was starting to come down (about 3pm). We were here from about 30 minutes while they unloaded the cargo and then back on with only 3 people. Drew, me and a nurse named Teresa who was also going to Pond. We chatted with her on the ride up and before we knew it we were here, but not before we were offered another snack.I have to say you certainly aren't going to starve flying First Air.
Our store manager Dave met us in the airport and then when off to load the truck with cargo for the store. It was dark by the time we got into the truck to drive to the house, so Dave said that he would take us around the next day to show us where everything was. At the house the guys from the store brought all of our bags in and then Dave told us that once we were settled to come over to the store to get some food. Bedtime came early and on waking up the next day we were greeted with an amazing view of the mountains.
Flying into Pond it about 5:10pm
Hello McFly?
Did I really think that this journey would go off without some sort of drama?
So poor little Tia was MIA for about 45 minutes.
We dropped her off at cargo like we were told to do by the travel agent, she was even there ahead of time. Because we thought better to be early than late. So we leave her there and go off to check in for our flight with Westjet from Toronto to Ottawa.
I haven't been on a plane in more than 10 years so that alone was causing stress. We wait as you do in the airport since you have to be there 2 hours before you board. Keep in mind the flight to Ottawa is less than an hour.
At 1:30 they call us to board, we get on and wait, and wait and wait some more. Around 2:15 (we were suppose to take off at 2) a Westjet employ come to us and asks do you have a white fluffy dog. My heart stopped. No. We are then told, we are having an issue locating your dog. EXCUSE ME?
5 minutes later she comes back and shows us a cell phone picture of a fluffy white dog. Are you sure this isn't your dog. Seriously, I know what my dog looks like.
Another 10 minutes goes by and she comes back again. We are still looking for her, did you want to go on to Ottawa or get off the plane. As if that is even a question.
So off the plane we get.
In the waiting area an employee keeps asking me stupid questions like where did you drop off your dog. I keep telling her at cargo and she looked at me like I had 6 heads. I don't understand she says why would you drop her off there. Because that was what the travel agent told me to do. After all what would I know about flying a dog? I had to rely on the information provided to me by someone who I assume is knowledgeable. Nope. Tia should have been checked in along with our baggage. Flying with a dog is considered excess/over sized baggage not cargo.
So two hours later, a food voucher for both Drew and I and a bump up to the plush seats, and ALL of us are on the plane and off to Ottawa.
taking Tia back into the right part of the airport.
But if I thought that the stress was over I was very wrong. I'm not sure if the pilot screwed up the take off but I felt like I was in a rocket, straight up and a crazy amount of thrust. Drew threw up. Even I who hasn't flown much but have never had an issue with it felt sick. And just when we were getting settled we were landing again.
Into the airport we go. I checked my facebook for a message from my old co-worker and friend Andrea and see that she has decided to drive out and pick us up. We had planned to have dinner with her but with the delay the plan kinda got derailed. Down to baggage we go and at the bottom of the escalator is a beautiful smiling face, oh Andrea you made the day so much better.
We then discover that they have misplaced one of my suitcases. UUUUgh. I leave our contact info and head off to the hotel. Be the time we get in a settled Drew and I are both exhausted. I felt bad for Andrea but she was completely understanding. After the stress of the day we both had the best sleep ever.
Feb 19
We aren't in Kansas anymore.
As I am actually writing this three weeks after it happened due to lack of internet access I might have skipped over a few details. But I do remember that the second part of the journey was much smoother.
In Ottawa or first plan to the north was boarded by a staircase on the tarmac.
First Air flights were much less dramatic. I made triple sure that Tia was on the plane and settled in.
About 30 minutes in they came around with breakfast, and for airplane food it was damn tasty. A breakfast burrito, muffin, fruit cup, apple juice and tea. Drew was still a little queasy so he just had his muffin and a juice.
The flight was smooth and peacefully and just when I was ready for a nap they brought us a huge warm oatmeal raisin cookie. On one of the blogs I follow I had read that it was important to always take all of the food they give you on northern flight because you never know when something unexpected might happen that may leave you stranded at an airport in the middle of nothing.
Landing in Iqaluit was a little bit surreal. This whole experience has been nothing but. The terminal here is bright yellow and you get out of the plane via stairs and back into the terminal the same way. With an hour long layover we had plenty of time to relax and people watch. One thing that was very apparent is the fact that I have now become a minority in regards to being a white person. I love how different people look here and I feel like a child with the wonder of it. Drew and I both took Tia out for a quick walk.
The airport here like most airports in the north is right in town, but far enough away that we didn't want to venture in alone.
Boarding time again, I wheel Tia to the cargo/over sized area and cross my fingers. Unlike the big airports there is no security here, at least not for flights going further north. We show our tickets and go back down the stairs to the tarmac and get onto a bus with about 6 other people on it. Yes a bus. I look at Drew, 'what's happening'? As the bus wheels away we head toward a very small plane. Maybe 20 seats. Off the bus and onto the tiny plan with four narrow steps. Drew and I sit across the aisle from each other and I sit beside a tiny women (an elder) with beautiful seal skin mittens. The plane is freezing because the doors have been opened to load passengers and cargo in the front section and tail of the plane. So I take my coat off but leave on my hat and mittens. Within minutes we are closed up and taxing off the the runway. About 15 minutes into the air, more food. This time a chicken breast wrap, macaroni salad, carrot sticks, a piece of cake and a drink. Not much to see on this flight, we aren't all that high in the air but it's just white. And the windows are small. It seems that the smaller the plane the better the experience. You could barely feel us taking off and no ear popping.
One more stop before we are in our new home, Clyde River. I later learned that Clyde has horrible blizzards and it's not such a fun place when that happens, since it means no planes can land. Back in the day Clyde was the best place for Arctic Fox and was really not meant to be a settlement. Landing here was like being on the moon. Very open with NOTHING around. It was clear and crisp and the sun was starting to come down (about 3pm). We were here from about 30 minutes while they unloaded the cargo and then back on with only 3 people. Drew, me and a nurse named Teresa who was also going to Pond. We chatted with her on the ride up and before we knew it we were here, but not before we were offered another snack.I have to say you certainly aren't going to starve flying First Air.
Our store manager Dave met us in the airport and then when off to load the truck with cargo for the store. It was dark by the time we got into the truck to drive to the house, so Dave said that he would take us around the next day to show us where everything was. At the house the guys from the store brought all of our bags in and then Dave told us that once we were settled to come over to the store to get some food. Bedtime came early and on waking up the next day we were greeted with an amazing view of the mountains.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Ha, ha, and HA!
WARNING *bad words in this post* :)
Did I really think that we would be able to move to the next stage of our lives without a little bit of drama?
Oh before I get into the drama, a little update.
We got confirmation on Thursday that our fly out date will be February 18th (next Wednesday). Toronto to Ottawa. Spend the night and then Ottawa to Pond Inlet on Thursday. So we will officially be Pond Inlet residences on February 19th.
Now back to the rant (this is gonna be a little long, sorry).
As some of you know I have a horse. I love my old horse dearly and promised him that he would be with me for life and that one day will be laid to rest on my own farm (fingers crossed). Having a horse does pose a bit of a dilemma when you decide to take a job in the arctic. Clearly moving him there is not an option. Neither is giving him away at his age. So I thought, ok I will see if I can find someone to come out once or twice a week, give him a brush and feed him a few treats. No big deal really, or so I thought.
Two months ago I posted and ad on Kijiji, giving myself loads of time to meet with people. Now clearly at that stage in the game the possibility of a job up north was still a bit of a grey area. But I thought better to be prepared.
The ad had a few nibbles and then I found her. An older lady, had a horse for years, just wanted to be around horses again. Wasn't looking to ride. Perfect. So I have coffee with her, and it goes wonderfully.
I then bring her out to meet the boys. Topper has another friend that he shares the barn with, another thoroughbred. They are both seniors but can still raise a little hell of the wind hits them from the right angle.
I bring them both into the barn, have her bring him out onto the cross ties and I start to brush him, all the while her and I are chatting. Things seem to be going fine. When we are finish we go to take them back out. They both had to come in in the first place because as there is only two of them they are rather attached to on another. Normally I'm not so fond of horses that are so bonded but at this late stage in their lives who am I to question there bond. They aren't show horses so we (the barn owner and I) just deal with it.
Being Thoroughbreds they are and will always be a little hot. Keep in mind I had stressed this point to her, numerous times and she was claimed to be ok with the fact. I take out Topper and she follows behind me with Greg. I mention to her that Greg might get pully so to give him a firm tug if so. Well I'm sure you can all already see where I am going with this. She comes out of the barn and into the paddock and Greg takes off lead shank and all. I look at her and she has gone slightly off color. Oh no I think. I asked her if she was ok and she says yes, that it just caught her off guard.
Last night I sent her a lease agreement, basically stating that she won't suit the barn owner or I if something were to happen to her. It's standard when you lease a horse. Cover your ass because horses are fucken retards sometimes and anything can happen.
This morning I get an email saying that she is no longer interested because it's not safe, and the horses are too wild. SIGH.
Topper is going to be 28 in May and Greg is around 23. VERY WILD!
So the ad went back on Kijiji this morning. It's not the end of the world if I can't find someone, he is well looked after where he is. In fact, the people that keep him for me are god sent. I just wanted to get him some extra love so I don't feel like a bad mommy.
What can I say? It just wouldn't be my life if things went quietly.
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The boys enjoying their retirement, last summer.
FACT:
Today is international Break up Day, apparently more people break up today more than any other day as it is 4 days before Valentines Day.
So happy Break up Day to you. Drew and I managed to stay together, no worries.
Did I really think that we would be able to move to the next stage of our lives without a little bit of drama?
Oh before I get into the drama, a little update.
We got confirmation on Thursday that our fly out date will be February 18th (next Wednesday). Toronto to Ottawa. Spend the night and then Ottawa to Pond Inlet on Thursday. So we will officially be Pond Inlet residences on February 19th.
Now back to the rant (this is gonna be a little long, sorry).
As some of you know I have a horse. I love my old horse dearly and promised him that he would be with me for life and that one day will be laid to rest on my own farm (fingers crossed). Having a horse does pose a bit of a dilemma when you decide to take a job in the arctic. Clearly moving him there is not an option. Neither is giving him away at his age. So I thought, ok I will see if I can find someone to come out once or twice a week, give him a brush and feed him a few treats. No big deal really, or so I thought.
Two months ago I posted and ad on Kijiji, giving myself loads of time to meet with people. Now clearly at that stage in the game the possibility of a job up north was still a bit of a grey area. But I thought better to be prepared.
The ad had a few nibbles and then I found her. An older lady, had a horse for years, just wanted to be around horses again. Wasn't looking to ride. Perfect. So I have coffee with her, and it goes wonderfully.
I then bring her out to meet the boys. Topper has another friend that he shares the barn with, another thoroughbred. They are both seniors but can still raise a little hell of the wind hits them from the right angle.
I bring them both into the barn, have her bring him out onto the cross ties and I start to brush him, all the while her and I are chatting. Things seem to be going fine. When we are finish we go to take them back out. They both had to come in in the first place because as there is only two of them they are rather attached to on another. Normally I'm not so fond of horses that are so bonded but at this late stage in their lives who am I to question there bond. They aren't show horses so we (the barn owner and I) just deal with it.
Being Thoroughbreds they are and will always be a little hot. Keep in mind I had stressed this point to her, numerous times and she was claimed to be ok with the fact. I take out Topper and she follows behind me with Greg. I mention to her that Greg might get pully so to give him a firm tug if so. Well I'm sure you can all already see where I am going with this. She comes out of the barn and into the paddock and Greg takes off lead shank and all. I look at her and she has gone slightly off color. Oh no I think. I asked her if she was ok and she says yes, that it just caught her off guard.
Last night I sent her a lease agreement, basically stating that she won't suit the barn owner or I if something were to happen to her. It's standard when you lease a horse. Cover your ass because horses are fucken retards sometimes and anything can happen.
This morning I get an email saying that she is no longer interested because it's not safe, and the horses are too wild. SIGH.
Topper is going to be 28 in May and Greg is around 23. VERY WILD!
So the ad went back on Kijiji this morning. It's not the end of the world if I can't find someone, he is well looked after where he is. In fact, the people that keep him for me are god sent. I just wanted to get him some extra love so I don't feel like a bad mommy.
What can I say? It just wouldn't be my life if things went quietly.
FACT:
Today is international Break up Day, apparently more people break up today more than any other day as it is 4 days before Valentines Day.
So happy Break up Day to you. Drew and I managed to stay together, no worries.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Give me all your money
So we had our medicals done on Friday.
Not much of a medical, really. More like can you sit, stand, walk, lift and drive.
So can I function as a person? Why yes I can, thanks for asking.
Getting it was a bit of a shit show. Drew and I haven't had a doctor since we left Ottawa, oh how I miss Doctor Jody, boo hoo. :)
Without a doctor you must rely on a walk in clinic. Finding a clinic isn't an issue as there seems to one on ever corner in this city.
The first clinic said, because we have never seen you we would need all of your records transferred here from your last doctor. Which wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that it had to be a minimum of 5 pages at $35 a page. Plus the $80 fee for the actually signing of the paper. No, we don't have time for that and you are a thief (don't worry the thief part was only said in my head).
Since we had to go to Sears to look for boots for Drew I figured we'd try another one over at that end of town.
Clinic number two, sure we can do it right now, please hand over $180 each. I nearly fell over, WHAT? No thank you. The company does pay back the cost of the medical, but I couldn't justify paying someone a crazy amount of money.
Clinic number three, at this point it felt like I had spent 6 years at university and could have signed the paper myself.
Sure we can do that for you, it will be $60 each. I almost kissed the receptionist. Ironically it was the clinic 50 feet from where we live and where we had intended to go in the first place. Moral of the story, just go with your gut. If you didn't already know this, anything that you pay cash for at the doctors office appears to go directly into the doctors pocket. Kinda shady really for the one that was going to charge $180 to answer two questions.
Still looking for a kennel to fly Tia in and still waiting for an actual solid date of fly out, hopefully we will have both by end of day tomorrow.
Tia has a vet appointment on Wednesday, she's informed me that they have cookies there so it's a great place. I didn't have the heart to tell her that there will be needles.
Drew's fancy new rated to -60 steel toed boots, they were $50 off. A great deal.
They don't have pink on them the camera did something weird to the picture.
This was my sewing/craft area, haha.
Somehow I am under the delusion that I will be able to fit most of this in two large rubbermaid bins,
more hahaha's
Monday, January 26, 2015
Feeling rather zen today.
As I'm sitting on the bus on my way home from my job workshop I had a thought.
How incredibly different my life will be i less than 30 days.
First off, the bus. For the first while I don't see any other mode of transportation on my horizon other that my two feet. There are defiantly no buses there being that it is a community of less than 2000 people. From what I gather there aren't any cars. Only trucks, snowmobiles and four wheelers. Dog sleds are of course a reliable form of transportation but I don't think Tia is up to that type of task.
Most of my life has been lived in small towns, I grew up in a town of 700 before my parents moved to London in the late 80's. When I lived near Ottawa is was always on the outskirts, one place that Drew and I lived I think had a population of 300. I am a small town girl and I like it that way. London this time was really a last resort and a long shot of sorts. It's too big (over 300,000 people). There are too many streets and too many stores, just too much of too much.
I guess the point of this post is that I wanted to say as much as I don't like living in a city I know that there will be things that I miss. I feel though that they will far outweigh the things that I gain as their replacement.
Things are slowly but surely been sold off from the apartment. Reality is sinking in. Do I sell it, do I store it, do I take it?
Change happens, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. But change is good, being stagnate in life makes you complacent. You only have one go at the life you have why feel like you are stuck?
Do things in life that scare you. Don't listen when people tell you, you are crazy. Just go and do something different.
One day you will wake up and see that everything that you do in life should be for you.
They say that you can't make everyone happy all the time or something along that line. It really is the truth and the fact of the matter is that you control the choices that you make in life. You pick the road that you will take. It may end up at a dead end, it may end up having a turn off. But the bottom line is that it was your choice and good or bad there are always lessons to be learned in the choices that we make.
Namaste my friends.
How incredibly different my life will be i less than 30 days.
First off, the bus. For the first while I don't see any other mode of transportation on my horizon other that my two feet. There are defiantly no buses there being that it is a community of less than 2000 people. From what I gather there aren't any cars. Only trucks, snowmobiles and four wheelers. Dog sleds are of course a reliable form of transportation but I don't think Tia is up to that type of task.
Most of my life has been lived in small towns, I grew up in a town of 700 before my parents moved to London in the late 80's. When I lived near Ottawa is was always on the outskirts, one place that Drew and I lived I think had a population of 300. I am a small town girl and I like it that way. London this time was really a last resort and a long shot of sorts. It's too big (over 300,000 people). There are too many streets and too many stores, just too much of too much.
I guess the point of this post is that I wanted to say as much as I don't like living in a city I know that there will be things that I miss. I feel though that they will far outweigh the things that I gain as their replacement.
Things are slowly but surely been sold off from the apartment. Reality is sinking in. Do I sell it, do I store it, do I take it?
Change happens, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. But change is good, being stagnate in life makes you complacent. You only have one go at the life you have why feel like you are stuck?
Do things in life that scare you. Don't listen when people tell you, you are crazy. Just go and do something different.
One day you will wake up and see that everything that you do in life should be for you.
They say that you can't make everyone happy all the time or something along that line. It really is the truth and the fact of the matter is that you control the choices that you make in life. You pick the road that you will take. It may end up at a dead end, it may end up having a turn off. But the bottom line is that it was your choice and good or bad there are always lessons to be learned in the choices that we make.
Namaste my friends.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Pond Inlet here we come!
We got the call!
On Wednesday while I was off at my job search workshop (yah I know I kinda technically already had a job, but I like to stay busy) the hiring manager called and talked to Drew to tell him that WE WERE IN. Woo hoo.
In all honesty I had some mixed emotions at first. Not that I don't want to go. But this whole thing has been a little bit surreal right from the beginning. But it's real, and it's happening, NOW. Admittedly I was a little bit nauseous on Wednesday. I tried to sit down three times to read the emails and finally gave up and instead started running through all of the stuff that has to be shuffled around in order for us to leave Ontario.
So the timeline is about 30 days. Once we get our physicals done, they will book the flight for us and Tia (the dog).
Ironically my coat also showed up on Wednesday. From a earlier post you'll know that we went out hunting for coats last Friday. The driving around London turned out to a bit of a bust. The only good point about it was that I got to try on the coat I had been eying up on the Sears website. If I had bought the coat that I thought would have worked from Sears online it would have been humungous. Drew ended up with a Kamik coat bought at Canadian Tire. Nothing more awesome then dropping $500 on two winter coats, not.
As you know Friday was also the day of our phone chat with the store manager. Because the call was based in Winnipeg we totally got the timing wrong and were actually out at Costco when they called. So we booted it back to my dad's van and hit speaker phone. Clearly it went really well. The store manager seems like an easy going guy so that's a good sign. I also liked the fact that he has been with the company for 25 years. I think it says a lot of a company if your staff have been around for a long time.
I won't have much to say for the next few weeks as it's going to be filled with a lot of packing
Oh and in case you are wondering Tia also has a winter coat and I made her some warm booties out of an old scarf that I bought years ago but never used. She looks so sad in this picture, but she really does love them. Aww poor Tia.
And speaking of Tia, yes this is a shameless pug. If you happen to have a spare $5 laying around why not give it to this sad little girl? :)
Our new employer is paying for Drew and I to fly out but not Tia. And of course we couldn't go anywhere without out little Tia.
I started a go fund me account to help with the cost. It's a long shot but I figured it can't hurt to put it out there. Anything left over with be donated to the Nunavut humane society.
http://www.gofundme.com/gettiatonunavut
I doodled a cute little picture of me and Tia up in the north today but I forgot it in class so I will post it next week. Along with the pictures of the bomb that is now our apartment.
Hmmm now to say something witty....nope, I got nothing. I'll try to be smarter next time.
Oh and I learned from someone in one of the facebook groups that Im in that the correct word for the boots I want is not mukluks because that is the term used from peoples in the Alaska area. What I want are caribou and seal skin kamiks. These are beautiful don't you think?
Thanks for reading.
On Wednesday while I was off at my job search workshop (yah I know I kinda technically already had a job, but I like to stay busy) the hiring manager called and talked to Drew to tell him that WE WERE IN. Woo hoo.
In all honesty I had some mixed emotions at first. Not that I don't want to go. But this whole thing has been a little bit surreal right from the beginning. But it's real, and it's happening, NOW. Admittedly I was a little bit nauseous on Wednesday. I tried to sit down three times to read the emails and finally gave up and instead started running through all of the stuff that has to be shuffled around in order for us to leave Ontario.
So the timeline is about 30 days. Once we get our physicals done, they will book the flight for us and Tia (the dog).
Ironically my coat also showed up on Wednesday. From a earlier post you'll know that we went out hunting for coats last Friday. The driving around London turned out to a bit of a bust. The only good point about it was that I got to try on the coat I had been eying up on the Sears website. If I had bought the coat that I thought would have worked from Sears online it would have been humungous. Drew ended up with a Kamik coat bought at Canadian Tire. Nothing more awesome then dropping $500 on two winter coats, not.
I won't have much to say for the next few weeks as it's going to be filled with a lot of packing
Oh and in case you are wondering Tia also has a winter coat and I made her some warm booties out of an old scarf that I bought years ago but never used. She looks so sad in this picture, but she really does love them. Aww poor Tia.
Our new employer is paying for Drew and I to fly out but not Tia. And of course we couldn't go anywhere without out little Tia.
I started a go fund me account to help with the cost. It's a long shot but I figured it can't hurt to put it out there. Anything left over with be donated to the Nunavut humane society.
http://www.gofundme.com/gettiatonunavut
I doodled a cute little picture of me and Tia up in the north today but I forgot it in class so I will post it next week. Along with the pictures of the bomb that is now our apartment.
Hmmm now to say something witty....nope, I got nothing. I'll try to be smarter next time.
Oh and I learned from someone in one of the facebook groups that Im in that the correct word for the boots I want is not mukluks because that is the term used from peoples in the Alaska area. What I want are caribou and seal skin kamiks. These are beautiful don't you think?
Thanks for reading.
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