arctic charms

It has been a rather dreary week with rain at some point every day, and not much sun. Today was more of the same. I did get out for a run this morning, but it hasn't been a wonderful day. My friend Margaret, who taught a Kimmirut when I was there, arrived today to take up a position with Arctic College in their local teacher trainee program. The co-op manager was busy with a Hercules cargo plane so I volunteered to meet her at the airport and take her to her assigned house. Later this evening I am going to a pot-luck supper for all the school staff. It's nice to have these occasions since there are so many new members on staff. I've included another picture from last week since the weather hasn't cooperated for doing much photography this week.

arctic summer

Summer is finally in full swing up here. It takes this long for the land and water to warm up. Today's temperature was a balmy 12C. Last Thursday it was up to about 17C, and it was sunny and calm. Some staff members have been taking advantage of the warm weather to do some kayaking. I was out last Thursday, and again today, although today was a little windy. Still it was great to get out. People spend large sums of money to come here to do just what we were doing. I hope the pic I am including shows a little of the charms of the arctic.

DEW line

Last Saturday most of the teachers at the school were treated to a bumpy 25km ride in a little school bus to visit the DEW line station. It is all automated now, and no one is there, but it is still pretty impressive. I took a number of pics, but can only send one.

char fishing

Char are now running in the river and I was lucky enough to get one about 200m from my front door on Friday evening. They will only be in the mouth of the river for about a week before they move upstream. There were quite a few people from the hamlet out tonight and I saw a number of char being caught. On Saturday a most of the teachers from the school were taken on a bumpy 25km bus ride to the DEW line station. Quite a set up. Of course they are unmanned now, but are still operated remotely. We stopped at a lake which is part of the river system that flows into the hamlet. I was able to catch another char there. I'll be trying to get out most evenings while they are in the vicinity of the hamlet.

pics

Having trouble sending more than one pic at a time. Here's one of the front foyer of the school

school

Today was the first day having kids in the school. Things are still a little up in the air with respect to my teaching assignment, but that's par for the North. I bought a fishing license today, and hope to be able to show you a picture of a nice arctic char before too long. There is supposed to be good fishing in the mouth of the river, just a stone's throw from my door, for about the next two weeks. Then the char move upriver. I got my own internet connection today too, so I'll see how it works in sending some pictures of the school.

pics

Still trying to send some pics. This is one of the school taken from my front door.

pics

Having trouble sending pics as the wireless connection here is a bit spotty.

kugaaruk pics

I'll try the pics again.

back in Nunavut

Arrived in Kugaaruk yesterday after a 2-day trip from Toronto, by way of Edmonton, Yellowknife, Cambridge Bay, Goa Haven. This community is a little bigger than Kimmirut where I was before, on Bafffin Island, but essentially it is the same. This place has lots of hills around it as Kimmirut does, and I look forward to going on some hikes in the near future. I'm glad I didn't take a job in Goa Haven however as it appeared to be almost flat for kilometers around. My roomate is to arrive either today or tomorrow, and I won't really settle in until we get together to decide who goes where, etc. I've been able to connect by way of a wireless set up in the school, although it seems a little slow, so I may not be able to send too many pictures. I've included two, this posting: one on the tarmac at Yellowknife airport, and one showing my new home (not the best shot perhaps).