One year ago was Carrie and I's infamous Tremblant Laurentians random road trip.
It's amazing how much changes in a year, the places we find ourselves in, the people we meet, the people we lose.
I'm far overdue on a blog post of a substance, I know.
I was swamped juggling two jobs.
Now I'm swamped getting caught up in Job 1 and writing report cards for Job 2.
It's coming before (if) I leave for Thanxgiving, I swear!
I just ate fish eggs with blueberries mixed in. True story. and fish eggs mixed with fried fish guts. it turns out i like fish guts even more than fish. these dishes actually have a sort of couscous taste and feel to them.
and moose. omfg so good.
It's funny how quickly we abandon our habits and routines when we find ourselves far away from our normal "life". I wear jeans and sneakers everywhere and everyday for the first time since the 90s. I wear ponytails, and don't drink coffee (or red bull!) every day. (I am still somewhat addicted to farmville, though...)
In the space of a month it turns out, it is easy to get used to having to time what day of the week you buy certain grocery items, to get used to not understanding 99% of what is spoken around you, and to not having a car.
When a friend posted a status update on facebook about the price of gas, it struck me as to how foreign gas prices seemed. After 8 years of constantly being aware of such things... irrelevant. You get used to, it seems, very quickly, to the unavailability of things, and the foreign-ness of a culture.
We aren't just physically remote, we are also just.... removed from a lot of the western world, I guess. News is a bit of a foreign concept up here... To start with, due to the 2 times a week mail system, there are no newspapers brought in, and none are published here. No one seems very concerned about what is happening in the rest of the world. Terrorist threats, car crashes, and hurricanes all seem... not just far away, but like they belong to another world than this one.
News here takes the form of water shortages, class cancellations, bear and wolf shootings and sightings, and who is having a chinese food takeout at their home the next day. Hockey, however, remains part of the culture here.
The impossible has happened: I have gone over a week without drinking any coffee, except half a mug that someone passed me during last Saturday's excursion.
Caffeine-free Sam. I haven't had a Red Bull since... Nemaska, Labour Day weekend.
....
It's amazing how many things you realize are NOT necessities or things that you need when you are spending an extended period of time in a location where most things are simply not available, and those which are are triple their fair market price, at best.
I can live without a car, without fast food, without drive thrus and without Red Bull. As to whether this will stick when I get back down South, I have my doubts. Some changes that travel elicits are permanent, others are just a function of the environment.
When I say that a lot of "basics" are lacking in Waskaganish, I am not exaggerating. Actually, to-date, I think I've understated the remoteness and lack of .... stuff here. Fruit costs an astronomical amount, and very little is available, and is mostly already nearly rotten by the time it arrives. it takes 2+ weeks for mail to arrive and leave, as there are (count 'em!) 1 truck and 1 plane per week, that's it. Flintstone mail, to quote my dad. The main restaraunt tends to keep odd hours, and often is closed at 6. The dep has longer hours than the Northern, but they won't let you in, and the girls that work the window have a slim grasp of any items they need to go fetch for you that go beyond the realm of pop as its called here, gum, and chips. I could go on.
I have met a local who seems to enjoy offering me rides and then driving 3X the longer route home to show me random things, and places. Met some teachers, who seem game to get out of town on weekends, or to explore around. Saw a beluga today on the coast, am scheming to get out to Charlton Island in the Bay, which belongs to Nunavut. Am hoping some random weekend plans come up again, as I enjoyed my day out in the bush, in a teepee, and on a boat Saturday.
I am at the point where the new-ness and travel aspect have worn off, and this has become living. It's a frustrating, transition phase that I am hoping doesn't last too long. I'm forcing myself to be more sociable (shocker to anyone who knows me, but I've been maybe too solitary and introspective since the 65 hour work weeks began). There are so many things that I appreciate about the land and the culture, but some that are frustrating and maddening seem to take the forefront thanks to elevated stress levels.
It FINALLY stopped raining yesterday morning. Roy, who I work with at the elementary school, came and knocked on my door and invited me to Smokey Hill, where my roommate and a bunch of teachers were going. So, I rolled out of bed, into a truck, 22 kms out of town into the bush, and onto a boat on the Rupert. We went to Smokey Hill... so named because prior to the diversion of the Rupert last winter, the rapids caused so much mist that it looked like smoke. Smokey Hill is one of the main fish scooping places along the river, as well as part of the portage trail around the rapids that the Crees have been using since the fur trade. We hung out there for a while, picnicking and eating food. When our driver came back with the boat to collect us, we got dropped off at a camp where there was a feast going on. Somehow ended up in a teepee sitting around the fire, being offered bannock and freshly caught and smoked fish. Quite surreal. Caught the last "taxi" (boat) across the river to the cars and the roads. It's a bit of a weird feeling being so far in the middle of nowhere, in places that aren't accessible unless you boat and then hike a bit. Got to get to know some of the other teachers. This whole experience should start getting easier now that the solitary lonely part is easing.
It's Sunday, and all I can do is dread tomorrow, though. Dread dread dread, in a paralyzing way. Not for my actual job, for for the 17 periods of "subbing" this week. I am putting my foot down Friday that this is my last week doing these crazy 65 hour weeks, because it will kill me. I don't understand my masochistic desire to be super-Sam. It is partially a question of money, but in order to clear what I want to clear ASAP, I need to sub 27 days total while up here... at the end of the week I will be at 9 done, with 12 weeks remaining....
Ever since I found out (late July) I would be leaving for 16 weeks, my mantra was "4 months". That became what I frequently repeated to myself and others; it also became my form of reference for time ("4 months ago was.... on a constant basis to reassure myself that 4 months does, indeed, pass quickly"). Today, being the 18th, I realized it's time to change that mantra to "3 months". In 3 months I will be getting home and getting my skis out.
Today was a bit of a surreal day... and much needed after yesterday's mini-breakdown (working 2 full time jobs, jumping into a teaching position mid-week with zero prep or warning, the kids behaviour, and the fact that I am completely mis-matched as an ELEMENTARY teacher). I came to the conclusion (which I started developping during a few weeks of camp this summer) that I am a high school teacher. Grade 2 kids, not so much. I'm not into arts and crafts, glitter glue, stickers, singing and dancing... I feel that I'm faking it, and I really don't enjoy it. Teenagers and high schools are more my place. I agreed to replace the grade 2 teacher until someone is found, but juggling both jobs, at least this first week out, is pretty near impossible. Which results in not being able to do either of them effectively. Spoke with admin. This week is a 3.5 day week due to an event and a ped day, (and possibly a day off Monday if water to the school is cut...)...I will tough this one out for the pay, but much longer than that and I will go beserk. Add in the need to see a dentist and the severe laryngitis I have.... week from hell, work-wise (subbing, not my actual job that I came up here to do). Was ready to pack bags and head home, 24 hours ago, and had a good, long, several hours long cry. I realized that I need to just concentrate on my main job, and only sub days, not take on a full teaching position.
So far no advances in getting a ride home for the long weekend.....Hopefully will get a lift to Matagami to catch the bus, or to Val d'Or to rent a car..... Someone I know is driving to the Townships next weekend and I'm very tempted to take a long weekend....
One of the other houses similar (identical) to this one had a basement flood, so they decided to go to all of them and check/fix the pumps.... only the maintenance guy got into a fight with something water related while doing so, and flooded our basement... during a flood prevention maintenance...
Today's adventures will follow in a separate post. Hopefully the mail my dad sent 2 weeks ago, including my microSD adapter, arrive wednesday, so I can post the corresponding pics I took on my cell....
Laryngitis when you are a teacher: horrendous.
Teaching grade 2: horrendous.
Teaching grade 2 with a huge cultural gap: horrendous.
I am having an FML day and cannot wait to pass the grade 2 teacher torch to a new hire. Which might take a while. I content myself with the ability to pay off debts with the double Northern paychecks coming in.
I'm thinking of going to U of Calgary or Simon Fraser this winter for my Master's. A suivre.... school, and BC/Alberta skiing and boarding.... oh so tempting
This has to be a new record: I started wearing my winter jacket today, September 15th.
Winter is near, and I'm already getting psyched for skiing and boarding. Perhaps a little prematurely, what with the nearest ski hill being a .. 6? hour drive south, somewhere near Val d'Or.
Survived day 1 of teaching Grade 2 until a replacement is found. I have been begged to quit my other job, but met with the principal (who arrived Monday) and he agrees that would be unprofessional. He also assured me there will be January contracts. I might go home for winter semester, to take a night class, and come back in May-June-July if there are any openings then.
Starting to get to know some teachers (the elementary staff are very friendly), and some locals my own age, which makes things easier. Seems weird to think that in only 3 weeks, I will be packing up for a super-long weekend down south if I find a ride, which I've got all my digits crossed on.
So, the good news: I can teach math. at least, grade 2 math. Funny, as that is the grade that I skipped math in.
I'm off to bake a cake and make some icing. And lesson plan like crazy. the goal is to lesson plan Friday night, and then completely veg out allll weekend. (ya, right).
I am completely and entirely out of my teaching comfort zone. I think that while there are elements of life up here that frustrate me (the lack of organization, the fact that life is largely devoid of convenience), and some elements which I love (the politeness and friendliness), and some that I am uncomfortable with (being one of the wealthier members of society and living on the white side of town with all of its advantages)... I have not really suffered any culture shock yet. Except for in the classroom.
Sure, I may have had to run home from the Healing Centre (Clinic) to get slippers as you have to take your shoes off, as with most places here, to enter. And adjusting to the lack of opening hours at stores (the store, I should say), and the fact that some things are readily available for purchase one day... and then disappear for a week.
In the classroom, however... wow. To start with, there is the positive point: none of this Ms and Mr business. My elementary kiddies call me Sammie, the high schoolers call me Sam.
Cree children are raised differently, and have a different history from the white children of the South. I've never taught elementary school before, however there was the day camp this summer in which I worked with the same age group as I deal with at Annie Whiskeychan School. At first glance (and after being chased by a 4th grader wielding a bat)... I was shocked by the lack of discipline. I remembered day camp, taking the kids downtown, on busses, to the nature centre... none of this rock throwing, rolling down hills, catching animals, or climbing over any and everything, construction zone supplies included.
Frustrated and shocked? Yes. Dismayed with, despite 2.5 years of teaching experience, and a teaching degree that I couldn't control them? Yes.
Upon reflection: discipline is not the same idea here. Different culture, different history, rammed into a euro-centric schooling model that, in all honesty, I think still has a long way to go. After taking the weekend to reflect, I realized that I need to learn somehow to work with the way they are, and not expect and discipline as I would in the South.
Teenagers, however, are teenagers regardless of culture, language, etc. I think it might be the most cross cultural element on Earth: the teen years. Going back to the school issue... the North has schools set up on the same course selection, scheduling models, building style as down South....and yet devoid of any sense of "fun". There is nowhere for kids to sit in the halls (no benches, no areas to hang out)... I understand the lack of necessity for a cafeteria, and the cultural uselessness of lunch time activities... but I feel that we expect them to conform to the strictest, more boring parts of our system without providing the parts that teenagers might actually enjoy and appreciate. I guess, as the staff member responsible for the high school's student council I might be able to do some eeny weeny little work on that this semester...
And now, back to blowing my nose and despairing over the germs I caught from my roommate.
Oh, hey, I've been in Waskaganish for exactly 2 weeks to the hour ... NOW.
Milk that does not require refrigeration is gross.
As in, horrendous.
In the future I will remember to get milk at the Northern on Friday so as to not have this weekly tradition of needing milk Sunday evening/Monday AM and not being able to procure any, as the Northern is closed and the dep is milk-dry.
Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Fuck I love the smell of the air out here.
It's like Maine, or the White Mountains, with less human and more tamarack.
Flickr account with most pictures from so far in waskaganish, and a day in Nemaska....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52977094@N07/4975894834/
Teaching day from Hell Friday afternoon. Followed by the acting Principal coming to see me, asking me to quit my current job to take a 100%, permanent teaching position, complete with plane tickets and my own mansion-like house included in the deal. To teach Grade 2. Anyone that knows me knows that: I am a high school teacher. Grade 6 I can tolerate, but I am a high school teacher, not elementary. Having subbed at Knowlton a bit, I realized this. Working at the day camp this summer when I had the 12+ groups was awesome and a dream job. When I had 6-10 year olds.... well, everyday I was glad I had gone into secondary teaching not elementary. Also: it's a full year position until the last day of June. While this means not having to sub once my contract here is over in December (there are a lot of bumped high school teachers back home waiting for jobs). Mind you, Laval and the Laurentians are having trouble staffing their high schools and junior highs.... and there WAS that call from Sacre-Coeur in Granby...
It might sound stupid, but I came here with 4 months in mind, with the idea of coming back maybe next September for a full year. I had Becket (ok, ok, since Carrie friend-dumped me, that probably will not be happening for me this year), and THE SKI SEASON pretty much scheduled in already for when my job up here is done. I wanted to come for 4 months, also, to ... try it out. 2 weeks in I don't feel that I am ready to commit to the rest of the school year. Nor do I feel good about the idea of quitting a job 2 weeks in that paid my airfare and housing and food. Unprofessional, un peu.
I still have that... Southern mentality that turning down a great teaching offer means years until there is another one. I know that in the North, if turned down diplomatically for good reasons such as my main job... there will be more offers. Maybe, eventually, at the high school level.... This is the North. Teachers tend to have more burn outs, disappearances, and resignations than down South and they are always short and scrambling for someone.
Also, at 180 a day, and being able to get in my hours for my other job...it's more advantageous to me, financially, to sub a few times a week (or for a few weeks solid) than to switch right away.
In essence, I am not debating taking the job and quitting my current one. I am wondering how to communicate my reasons in a way that doesn't shut any doors. Because they seemed surprised that I needed a weekend to think about it. It is flattering to know that they want me to stay here for a long time. I just had viewed this as... travel, not a relocation. I viewed this as a last... contract before teaching. I can handle a winter of working at a ski hill and subbing. Also, this would totally kill Italy plans for June-July-August.
I wasn't expecting this 2 weeks in.
On another note, our "permanent" home was "ready" so Josh and I did some sort of weird nomadic move last night in the dark, trucking everything 4 houses down the street to the new one. Which is a bit smaller.... and a bit more ghetto. I mean, it still beats hands down pretty much any apartment I've rented in the past, but the house... well, I don't think we have housekeeping here nor do I think the last people were too concerned about cleaning before leaving. We also don't have TV anymore (meh, I've never had it at any apartment I've had, either). nor do we have home phone or internet til around the 18th. Which, if I have lesson planning to do, might be a pain and a godsend at the same time (I did agree to take the Grade 2s this week regardless of my decision, provided I could have a half day off to go get my abscess/cavity/jaw infection dealt with). I might be able to get the daycare signal, for wifi, what with being right across the street from it.
The house needs some cleaning. And a garbage cans, lightbulbs, blinds, and feng shui. Actually, the house is not entirely "finished", there are random "things" (dead bugs, table saw pieces, nails, etc) lying around everywhere. the shower doesn't work. the front window is broken. Clean, clean, cleaning day!
Decisions, decisions, decisions. At least Sunday is brunch at the Lodge, and soccer.
Im brain dead. I shelled out 5.15$ for cookie dough as comfort food. OMFG culture shock on so many levels: teaching grade 4 I am so completely out of my element. Same applies to teaching Math and the French language. As does teaching Cree children. I feel that the school system is just so foreign to their culture... not to mention the teacher I am replacing went MIA 2 weeks into the school year and they have had a plethora of subs entretemps. I had almost zero work to teach them for 4 periods today. Tomorrow is teach Sam Cree and a field trip to the river.
I bought my triple overpriced milk at the Northern. Drank chunky milk. Josh double checked, it was indeed chunky. Returned it.
The geese have started flying South. The goose is... very very very very important in this culture and this community. Geese logos are everywhere, tamarack geese decorations and paintings, stationary, shirts... many geese. So I witnessed what happens when a flock flies overhead: everyone stops, looks up, points, watches, runs outside, and people (I don't just mean kids) begin making very accurate goose calls.
I felt a little awkward so I stopped and stared as well.
In the true way of the North, I ended up inadvertently as the grade 4 teacher. One day sub turned into the week, turned into a "week by week" basis. Not sure where the teacher I am replacing went, if/and/or when she is returning.
The gym has been broken since July. The water comes on hours later after construction workers go door to door trying to see who has it, who doesnt, and what went wrong.
Classes randomly and frequently are cancelled. this is the 3rd day of school in nearly 2 weeks i have been here.
I needed schedules.... the person in charge was MIA for a while... and then a printer broke. Still waiting.
The principal has yet to arrive. No date is now scheduled.
I love the laid back, don't worry about the future way things work here, but getting accustomed to it is frustrating. I do love that I can get the principal to sign a field trip sheet a period before, and take the kids to the river.
6 hours later, the water is back on. School was cancelled (3rd time in a week) today, this time because the water in this part of town was turned off for construction (yes, even like down South, the orange signs, and construction are inevitable).
We have a new roommate arriving Saturday. That is all that is known. A suivre....
The good part about the water off-age is that I discovered where to get takeout coffee just down the street at Diamond's. Huzzah. They will get to know me, fast.
So, my last post was emotional. I could continue in self-defense, anger, hurt.. but I intend to just completely move past that issue and those people. Or at least the 2nd one. All I can say is, in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Point final.
I really don't know where to start this one. It's not about travel, or life here, so much as about realizing that I don't really have much to go home to, friend wise. I'm starting to think that, whether I love it or hate it here, I won't be going home in 4 months. It turns out my 2 closest friends were just... biding their time until I left to dump me. Both with a rather hurtful disappearing act, one which was followed by ending a friendship... via facebook. I have always abided by the: if you have something to say, say it . I don't just disappear off the face of the planet, or send accusatory emails of years worth of pent-up inferiority complexes and accusations.
I feel... like a horrible, hideous, evil person. I also cannot stop crying. I thought you were supposed to cry about missing home, not about realizing... that many people back home are glad you left.
I don't feel great about this.. and yet I do see some irony in someone who dumps a so-called best friend... via facebook message insinuating that someone is immature. One thing I've learned in the past year with so many friendships ending definitively (Laura, Brenda, Kevin)... is to just walk away. When people, for many reasons, have a perception of you so ingrained as to see everything through that lense... fighting, self defence, revenge, whatever, is useless. I say stuff as it comes up.... but I'm not into fighting back. I'm at a point where I'm old enough to realize that people who constantly feel the need to change their personality the minute they are near their significant other aren't really what I want to surround myself with. I am fortunate to have real friends who are strong enough to say their piece, we work things out, and then move on. People who are strong enough to be themselves, peu importe the context, boyfriend, etc. And for them, I am grateful. If, at 26 years old, you aren't able to say your piece, as things come along, to someone's face...time to do some growing up. If you're hypocritical enough to let someone think you are still friends and just ignore them... same. if you are enough of a hypocrite to pretend to be someone's best friend one day at their going away party... and then do a complete 360 degrees 24 hours later because you put the person in an awkward situation which they stated... then, hey, you're a hypocrite.
I'm venting on here, because hey, it's my journal. If you don't like it, don't read it. I'm ridiculously hurt, my friends and family are all a 19 hour drive away, as are all of my comfort rituals. I'm allowed to blog all I want.
There's a lot I could have said in self-defence i. Like.... you and your boyfriend were actually mean to me because I was awkward. Thanx to Mary who read the email in question, and only knowing me and nothing of the context said: "sounds like she has found a new guy and doesn't need her friends anymore". Which is, traditionally, how it goes if experience serves as a proper reference. I could point out that while a certain boyfriend wished me a good trip... he was not polite, he was mocking me 5 seconds prior. Because, apparently, him and his girlfriend hallucinated me saying comments which I did not say, and some which I said and which I stand by. I felt ridiculously awkward, yes. I also stand by that had the roles been reversed... the people in question would have felt similarly.
I'm not missing people, family, places,etc yet.
I am, however, undergoing a desperate thai express, among other things, craving. Why on Earth is the only thing I'm homesick for food (and maybe convinience a little?)
Very little logic to this.
It was finally sunny again today, but the clouds have rolled in off the bay, and the crazy winds are back.
I found out that Charlton Island, just off the coast from Waskaganish.... is part of Nunavut. So I totally have a mission to go to Nunavut before Christmas.
Am teaching the French grade 4's tomorrow, in addition to my normal job. In a life where I spend nothing except my food allowance (on food, evidently) I might actually be able to make some payments on the many outstanding student-incurred loans.
Boring post, I know. I'm in a rather boring mood.
So, turns out the dep was open. turns out they were also out of milk until tomorrow. The Northern is closed. Apparently, yesterday, they were nearly out of milk.
I am still milkless. Thinking of importing a cow from the South to avoid repetitions of such situations.
I want milk. But nothing is open, what with it being a holiday. The Northern and the dep are both closed.
I have trouble wrapping my head around the opening hours up here... everything (and I mean everything) closes weekdays from 12-1. The schools don't even have cafeterias, as everyone goes home at lunch. Canada Post, the bank, the stores... everyhing except restos shuts down.
Saturdays stuff opens at noon and closes around 4-5. Holidays= complete paralysis.
And yet construction work goes on on Saturdays all day long, and in some cases Sunday.
Confusing. I'm just grumpy as there was an alarm going off across the street at either the school, daycare, or Healing Centre last night, and it took the police about an hour to get it to stop wailing. Time for black coffee!!
(The irony being I could probably, if it wasn't hailing outside, just knock on any door in town and any stranger would gladly give me 2 tablespoons of milk for my coffee... I've seen people get to the cash to pay at Diamond's and the Northern, missing 5, 10$ and some random person will reach over and pay for them).
I left home last Sunday, Aug 29th, at 3:30. I have, therefore, survived my first week away. It feels a little surreal thinking Carrie and I were switching from metro to bus in Montreal a week ago now, that it was hot and sunny. The weather up here in James Bay has turned from 40 degrees C and sunny to November. Grey, rainy, cold, bleak, foggy.
I'm getting used to not understanding a word spoken around me 3/4 of the time. I can say "hello" in Cree. No idea how to spell it, syllabics or Cringlish. Was in grocery store on another reserve, Nemaska, where the friendly smiling Cree women all were looking at me, talking in rapid-fire Cree. All I understood was "curly hair". I forgot how not only does my white skin make me conspicuous, but so does my curly hair!
I saw the Rupert River falls off the James Bay Road.... or what remains of them, post Hydro diversion. The Rupert was the last of the "great" rivers of Quebec's North... it's headwaters were diverted into the La Grande complex in December 2009. It is still amazing and powerful... but as a geographer I can see where the river bed was before, and the whole thing makes me sad. I've had several local Natives tell me about the huge changes seen already in a short time: the water intake for Waskaganish had to be moved as the newer one recently built no longer worked post-diversion as the water is now too muddy. The fish aren't there. The natural power and beauty is diminised. There is graffiti on bridges crossing the Rupert, from pre-diversion days, pleading to "save me". Traditionally the Rupert was not just a source of food and a highway for transport for the Cree, but is believed to have special healing powers, to give life to the land and the people.
And, as per the James Bay agreement signed so long ago, now injured. This stuff bothers me. They couldn't just let ONE RIVER go? Did they really need that little bit of extra electricity for export? It seems that because it was included in the original plans and agreement, they felt a need to utilize it.
On another note, it seems weird to realize a week has already flown by. Time to really get down to work with student council this week, and getting the paperwork and legwork for sports council and intramurals and to start some subbing during free periods this week. My mantra/motto for so long was "4 months" (approx). it seems weird, being down to 15 weeks. It's looking like there's a 30% chance I'll head home for T-Giving Break, as well (helloooo Owl's Head hiking and Knowlton pumpkin fudge, and Lake Memphremagog).
I get odd cravings for things unavailable here, like Thai Express. Which is funny, because i went about 3 months this summer without eating Thai.... so why the sudden craving? Adjusting to Northern life in a way, I guess.
On a final note, this weekend back home in the South is Brome Fair. i'm 26 and missed it for the first time ever this weekend. It seems weird knowing it is going on, and seeing everyone's pics and status updates on fb and not being there... and yet, being so far away here in Waskaganish, I have a hard time believing and picturing that it is really taking place. Huh.
Sam, off to eat spaghetti.
So far I'm loving my job.
The school beats Centennial hands down.
They caught our bear last night... there was gunfire then a large cage thing rattled down the street. And then we all got a memo from the police that there were 3 more bears. One of which, it appears, doesn't follow that "bears only come out at night" rule and was chilling at the Northern (grocery store) at 9 AM.
The one pooping on our lawn (the one that is bullet resistant) got caught, however.
Wow I've been delinquent on posting!
So, Day 1 Arrival has been covered.
Day 2, aka tuesday:
Went into work for a bit. School got cancelled due to the 40 degree C weather. Went to the beach (um, ya) and swam. So, yes, I've swam in the waters of the Artic Ocean. Was cute there were tonnes of kids there, and a lot of them were following Ashleigh (temporary roommate who left Wednesday night) and I around, curious about the white girls at the beach, no doubt.
This was followed by a non-successful blueberry picking run near the gravel pit 30 km out of town. The berries and plants were all dried up, due to the heatwave.
After that we went to the rapids nearby on the Rupert. Some fish scooping was going on, and a really nice Cree family showed me how it worked. They were also making medicine for Bell's Palsy out of tamarack needles. The Rupert was the last of the huge Quebec rivers to be dammed and diverted by Hydro Quebec (December 2009). They told me about how the river was a year ago.
Also learned a lot about climate change from some locals. After that, dinner at Norman our neighbour's place. Ashleigh and Michel (grad students that were rooming with us) have now left, and I'm carless.
Day 3: wednesday
Our boss and driver headed home. Spent some time at the school... until classes got heatwave cancelled...again. Went for a long walk around town, down by the Rupert and the docks, and to buy milk (5.19 for 2L) at the Northern. Some prices are ridiculous (5.79 for 2 L of coka. 11$ for vanilla ice cream. 14$ for a Delission pizza), while others are ridiculously normal. They also have stuff available that we don't have back in the South that I used to get in Vermont... go figure.
Thursday: work! Classes actually didn't get cancelled today. Got to meet some of the kids. Tomorrow is a ped day (they have 1 every 2 weeks up here), Josh and I have to give a meeting so I should probably stop blogging and facebooking and get on that. Incidentally I have the best cell service ever up here... the tower is quite literally in my backyard. My mission for the 3 day weekend is to locate the black fox people have been feeding and meet him. Apparently he likes donuts. Um....
I love how random people just come up and talk to me. Some find it funny to say "are you from here?" and laugh. Others already know who I am (word gets around fast in Waskaganish concerning us foreigners). Some people have told me interesting facts, others have told me completely random stories about taking karate classes in 1968.
I have been taking pics on my cell phone as my camera died... but there is no way to get them off as picture messaging doesnt work on the old towers up here, and i left my microSD card adapters at home. Will ask Dad to post me one when he gets back from South Carolina. Will borrow work camera and finally get some shots tonight. It's supposed to rain for the next week so I'll try and take advantage of the warm sunny weather. I think I'll spend the weekend caffeinating at the Lodge if it rains. Most people seem to be vacating the town for the long weekend. Since I just arrived I'm not too keen on an 18 hour car ride for 3 days. Will probably be home at Thanxgiving for the break or a long weekend at the end of September. Purely to get pumpkin fudge, jeans, and to hike Owl's Head. Don't plan to go home again until Xmas as my goal is to get to as many other reserves as possible by chaperoning and coaching :P
