In the middle of nowhere, in the 198 km stretch on Route 109 between Amos and Matagami, there is an abandoned hotel, Hotel Paradis, which is kinda iconic if you're one of the James Bay Road travellers used to passing on this particular stretch of road. It was also rather creepy. And built next to Lac Paradis, an emerald colored lake....Last night as we were heading North, we stopped there for half an hour to witness .... this:
(and no, there are no firefighters. The police showed up an hour after the call... no firefighters were sent).
Haunted Hallway, survived. 1.5 hours of scrubbing fake blood off the walls and doors of one part of the school, survived. To be survived: 3-5 hours of sweeping, mopping, and re-organizing in the halls, auditorium, and a classroom tomorrow AM....
Add on that I have a midterm report due tomorrow night.... busy weekend!
Pics of tonight's amazing haunted schoolway on facebook.
Hello from Amos, somewhere in the Northern reaches of Abitibi. At a hotel cleverly named the Amosphere (yes, we've already referred to it as the Anus-sphere, don't worry dear friends). However, after residing in Waskaganish for exactly 2 months (left home the 29th of Aug!), this place is, as my roommate and I discussed, the happiest place on Earth.
Allow me to make it simple: beer (legal!), sitting in a hot tub, snowflakes falling. 'Nuff said.
It's nice, after.... 9 years of student life (aka overwhelming financial problems and stress), to be able, for the first time ever, to decide to leave on a Thursday night, and drive 600ish kms and drop some cash on a nice hotel.
+1 for working in the North. Granted, today was a hellish day at school for reasons I won't get into in such a happy place.
Off to the hotel bar. Or bed, to watch TV. TV, I say!
Another weekend draws to a close! I would love to delight and entertain you all with thrilling stories of adventures, cultural encounters and the like.... but alas, I have none. Blogger, it seems, temporarily ate my password, but it spit it up this afternoon, allowing me to post again. No questions asked, cybergods.
I realized that 4 months has turned into 1 Month and X days at this point, until I'm home (for xmas. for good. Before heading off somewhere fantastical, returning here, staying there, who knows at this point?)
I have a cold, again. After not getting sick of well over a year, since June I've been lucky enough to enjoy a monthly battle with the common cold. I know, I know, they're called fruits and vegetables. Mind you, the price, smushy brown condition, and lack of availability of them up here somewhat justifies my potatoe/bagel diet. It's not scurvy, don't worry.....
I finally saw the Northern Lights in a somewhat substantial-to-dazzle-me form last night. Green, blue... and pink. I didn't realize they did pink and was rather delighted.Went hunting for them the night before.... while the rapids are gorgeous at night, that seems to be where the latest cold was caught.
Spent the PM playing Skipbo and caffeinating at the Lodge. Gorgeous day....it appears it will be a snow-less week this week.
Short week this week, with school Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday only. Getting used to a normal teaching schedule back home is going to be a challenge after this fall....
I think that is the end of the random thoughts. Off for a nap before... attending the Cree Fellowship. Sam at a Gospel Church... believe it! (Don't worry, I'm not converting to the whole religious beliefs phenomenon. I like my individualistic stance and strong belief in Ullr the snow god). Think of it as.... cultural anthropology and photog experience.
Snow. That's right. I woke up, disappointed to see the green/brown yard (I can't call it a lawn nor can I call it grass... its something like brush, I guess). And then, during the mad dash to get to school to teach first period... there they were. Snowflakes. Since all of the kids were 10-15 minutes late, I obviously felt the need to spend the beginning of the work day facebooking everyone that I had snow.
Snow feels like it belongs to me. Possibly because most people loathe it.
Now, if it would just stick. I'd had 3 nice, snow covered days back home by this time last year....
