The School Year Begins... and I can't sleep!

School has been in for almost two weeks now, and the only way I can begin to describe these two weeks is "other worldly." I am not naive enough to think that this would be sunshine and roses every day, but I am not sure I was ready for a roller coaster ride such as this.

Firstly, I love being in the classroom again. Aside from my slight addiction to power and control I really do enjoy sharing what I can and helping my students find their way. After a year away from it, and the year previous to that being more of a zoo keeping job I was worried I would be rubbish at it. I don't claim to be perfect but the first day was not as terrifying as I thought it would be.

The first week was all about routines and getting to know each other. I am already of the opinion that my students are amazing little people despite their occasional resistance to rules and journal writing. Our first day we also had a school picnic and on a "hot" day we took the kids swimming. Taking students swimming on a whim would never fly back home, imagine the legal issues with that one!

My students, while amazing are a challenge every day! I have found myself in a room with four different grade levels and 7 different need levels and an obligation to fulfill both. They need more encouragement to try new things, to look at the world outside their village, and to take a risk every once in a while. I have handed out toothbrushes, changed my lessons based on their moods, and been given the responsibility of giving medication which was given to me my first day. I have been privy to information about my students that I would never have known anywhere else, but it's vital to teaching here. The North really is another world like no other. The past two weeks have been late night lesson plans, re planned lesson plans, and a few sleepless nights (such as tonight). Their needs are so different from other Canadian students, I just hope I can adapt enough to be able to give them what they need.

I think the most shocking to me has been the dramatic change on a daily basis. Monday was a good day, everyone tried their best in class and worked hard. Tuesday was a terrible day, the kind that makes you consider running for the airport and getting on the next thing flying out of here. I am just stubborn enough to stick it out though.

Outside of work things are also a bit strange. I finally got a phone hooked up though it does not always work properly. Often there is an echo, and occasionally people cannot hear me at all. The Internet is unreliable to say the least and sometimes painfully slow. I don't think I ever realised what a luxury grocery stores are until now. Currently the Co-op (our only store) has no store manager so what they carry is generally out of date. We get our groceries by ordering online which is not as simple as it seems. So those of you who complain about having to go to the store, please think of me first!

I was not expecting to actually enjoy living in a village with two streets. Maybe things will change when we are surrounded by snow, but for the most part it is nice to be able to walk up a hill to work. Evenings are mostly quiet, sometimes interrupted by the sound of 4-wheelers or by students knocking on the door. As teachers we are forming a close group already which is a comfort on the not so great days.


And on that note I'm going back to bed!

Welcome to Nunavik.......

Ok so I am fully prepared to admit that while I was completely unavailable for a while I should have been able to update all my dedicated followers much earlier than today! Sorry Mom!

The past week and a half has been nothing but a learning experience and lucky for you I will fastforward through the boring things so that I don't spread the suffering... for those of you who love me so much that you want even the boring details (MOM) please send a formal request for footnotes.

Step one of this adventure was getting on the plane, and therefore getting up and leaving the house by 3am! I don't recommend this to anyone who is going to be going somewhere they have decided they don't want to anymore. That's basically how I felt that morning up until about...

To make things really interesting that morning my flight from Ottawa to Montreal boarded about ten minutes after we were suppose to be leaving because Air Canada didn't send anyone to check boarding passes. Our pilot was particularly expressive and decided to yell at someone on the phone, barge through the exit door (setting of the alarm in the process) and tell us on board that they "have absolutely no good reason for running late." On the other end I waited half an hour to collect my bag and go to a small building to catch a charter flight to Kuujjuaq with all the other poor souls going to "orientation" for a week.

I'll save you details of the plane to Kuujjuaq because well it was fairly unexciting. There was a bright point to the trip which was stopping in Schefferville because I had a special greeting party who I have definitly missed! Thanks Mel for braving the black flies to come see a girl for twenty minutes, you really made my day!

Upon landing in Kuujjuaq we were greated by the lovely people who we would be staying with and who were leading the orientation. I spent most of the week hearing most of what I was told in teacher's college (which I did pass and was granted a degree for so please don't make me do it again) so the best part of the week was a picnic on friday at the end of the road that leads to nowhere.

I have been in Aupaluk for a week now. It literally has two streets and is in the absolute middle of nowhere. It is the smallest village in Nunavik and the only one to be created by the Inuit, not the government. We are on the Ungava Bay and migration path of the cariboo. My house is right on the bay and since here I have been witness to some beautiful sunsets and a beautiful show of the Northern Lights! We have to order our groceries from "The South" because we only have a small Co-Op but the people here are friendly and I think though it is small Aupaluk may be the type of place that gets into your heart. Right now it is cool but not cold, and the sun shines most days so it is difficult to stay indoors when it is like this! Today a group of us went out onto the land for a picnic. We spent the afternoon taking photos of cariboo and the tundra, eating and lounging around the fire. After all the fresh air I'm certain I will sleep well tonight!

Tomorrow is our first day of school! I am really excited to be in a classroom again, though I am still a little aprehensive about being a primary teacher. I will have 2 grade 3 students, 1 grade 4, 1 grade 5, and 3 grade 6 students all at the same time every day! It will be a whole different challenge from my last teaching assignment but if I can survive Oasis I can do just about anything... right Kim?!!!

Now that things are settled I promise to write more often and give a better discription of what life is like here. Already I think it is an experience that everyone should have! Miss you all very much though!

Shoe Separation Anxiety...

Only four more days and I will be on my way! The bag is packed for the most part, when you can only bring one 20kg bag it fills up fairly quickly! The boxes were picked up almost two weeks ago so I have no choice but to go now.

Today I am suffering from the early signs of Shoe Separation Anxiety! You know you have SSA because you keep taking shoes out of the closet and trying to find ways they may fit in your suitcase or reason with yourself (or others if present) how they would be sensible even if your reasoning is a complete lie. For example I tried to pack my purple suede boots with the flower because I swear they are warm and sensible fall footwear! Well they are comfortable... as long as you are inside and don't have to stand for too long....

Yesterday after I went through my closet and packed only my running shoes, black flats, and purple slippers I realised the full impact of this move. I know realistically that red wedge heels have no place where I am going but that doesn't mean I feel less regret for leaving them behind.

My only comfort is knowing that in a few months I could buy a few more pairs to keep them company!