When in Wemindji...

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

COLD.

This is going to be a short one because I need to conserve the body heat used in typing.

RIGHT NOW IT IS -50 (with windchill). Never did I think I would be used to being outside in -30 temperatures but the body becomes acclimatized pretty fast I find, so unless its really windy or snowy, I can deal with it. I have good outerwear and try and stay bundled up. HOWEVER. With tonight and tomorrow's expected temperatures of -50 degrees with wind (which is severe might I add), it is hard not to complain!


No words.

For those of you wondering, NO school is not cancelled tomorrow, just recess. So, you know, deal with it. Can blood freeze in your veins while you are still alive? Just wondering. Bush Camp on the other hand was cancelled briefly but LUCKILY administration and I came up with an alternative for the kids so they can do some fun things with the Cree teacher and supply while I get to keep my precious, precious planning day. Yay!

Also, since it is so cold, shovelling has become near impossible. The snow has frozen solid in some places and there is a permafrost layer underneath any new fluffy stuff which arrives hourly. SOOO yesterday I came home to find that the sidewalk plow had come down in front of my house and snowed me in on not one, but two sections of my driveway on either side of the sidewalk! GREAT! So I spent about half an hour lifting heavy snow boulders and depositing them on either side of my car. Also, it is so cold right now that my block heater plug has frozen into my extension cord attached to my house. I can unplug directly from the house but not directly from my car. This I discovered on Monday night as I tried to leave. So, I rolled down my window, gathered all 20 feet of extension cord, threw it through my window on the the passenger side and hoped for the best! I had to do the same again this afternoon. Twice. So I am going to try the "unplug from all sources of electricity and pour hot water on the plug to get it loose" idea tomorrow. If I don't blog again it is because I failed and electrocuted myself.

Carmen decided that she was no fool and would not shovel like a dumb dumb that I am and called our friendly neighborhood plow guy (think: Homer Simpson, Mr. Plow) to rescue us! He arrived and again, saved us from having to dig out again and we now have a nice base of permafrost to manage with. Soooo grateful!! This time I offered him freshly baked chocolate chip cookies as a thank you, I think he was pleased!

Rescued!

I also did a little research and it turns out we are colder than the North Pole right now (wiki answers, so not a credible source but it just made me feel justified in my complaining). Imagine the look on my face. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_cold_can_the_North_Pole_get

Wish me luck as I brave the cold tomorrow - AHH!

Sunday, 13 January 2013

Bush Camp

Holla!

This week is an awesome week. Not only does the 6-day Cycle work completely in my favor (optimal spread of prep periods), but my class is also scheduled for Bush Camp! This means that my kids will head out into the bush with the Cree Culture teachers and hopefully learn some traditional skills and history. Now, most of you might say, "Why, Aidan, don't you go with your class to bush camp and participate in the wonderful winter activities?" I'll tell you why. Because I ain't sitting outside in -20 temperatures (without the windchill factor) while my students kill squirrels and birds (these are the tales they come back to regale me with!!). I'd rather sip hot chocolate in the comfort of my classroom, student-less while I plan and prepare for the weeks to come. Can I get an amen??

Anyways, this weekend Carmen and I showed Monika around the little town of Radisson as we made the trek out on a positively balmy day in Northern Quebec! (0 degrees!) The drive was beautiful as all the fir trees were covered in a fresh layer of snow and the access road was really nice to drive as there was no gravel, only densely packed snow.

The drive did take a little longer to ensure a safe journey, you never know when you might hit ice and spin out so Carmen was extra careful. However, Carmen did *ahem* hit a snow bank earlier this week and crack a protective barrier on the undercarriage of her car which started to drag on the James Bay Highway which was cause for some concern but also inspired a roadside photo op!! We pulled over to investigate and decided to keep going to Radisson where hopefully someone could fix it!

Werk it!

Guess what! A nice gentleman at what we had to assume was the mechanic in town (it said Rona on the sign but also had a gas station...) lifted Carmen's mini tank with a FORKLIFT and zip-tied the barrier back to her car! Zip ties are Northern Quebec's answer to duct tape I truly believe.

Monika kindly clearing the snow from the forklift.

Those are some expensive Baby Bells...

Anyways, after the mandatory brunch of eggs benedict, we all went to visit the - you guessed it - Native craft store and grocery store!! I actually realized there are more stores there so next time I drive out I will definitely check them out.

The drive back was just a little bit scary as major snow started to fall and to be honest, I don't think the drivers of big trucks and SUVs can tell the difference between Carmen's VW Bug and the Bug-sized snowflakes that were falling so there were some tight squeezes!

Anyways, along with a small birthday celebration for Marsha's 29th, it a great weekend! Tata for now :)

Terrifying.

Monday, 7 January 2013

Post-Christmas Rundown

AH. Never have I been so busy at work or home as I was during the last week of school and during my Christmas vacation. After promising to write about my first Christmas concert as a teacher, I obviously failed and probably slept a million needed hours instead of blogging. So here is the gist!

The Christmas concert went GREAT! My and Stacy's students were absolute stars (if I do say so myself) and really brought their A-games. They sang beautifully and behaved wonderfully and did even better than I anticipated. I was so proud and I think they had a great time too. Tons of family showed up and it was standing room only!

The next evening was the staff Christmas dinner held in the gym. It was packed with staff friends and family and there was a real feast! As typical with me, I stayed away from new and unconquered food (this time was rabbit stew, complete with hearts and brains!). I think I made the right choice... We played some hilarious games and really had a great time. Then it was back home to pack as much as I could fit into my huge suitcase and get to bed!

The next day, Thursday, was the last day of school and also a half day! Yay! I had both Stacy's and my class that day since Stacy left a day early for holidays. I combined both classes in my large classroom and we watched Arthur Christmas before having a great spread of holiday treats. Both classes were very well behaved and I had lots of help from Monika who graciously helped me supervise and dish out the goodies!

Thursday afternoon I flew back home to Toronto!! This trip was not without event however. Marsha got yelled at on the plane by a hardcore, kill-joy legit Grinch who "DOES NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS SO SHUT UP" Our flight from Montreal to Toronto was delayed about 3 hours and when we finally boarded the plane just to wait in the sickening heat for 45 minutes, we were offered free drinks which were then CANCELLED due to turbulence so that put me in a fairly sour mood (however, water was served on the plane, you tell me the difference between serving liquid water and serving liquid alcohol!?!?). However, I was very happy to land and had the cliche airport reunion moment with my mom and sister. Tears and all!

On my way home from the airport I had the mandatory civilization-affirming McDonald's and then hit the sack!

The next couple of weeks were jam-packed with family and friend reunions. I was really grateful that everyone fit me into their busy schedules and I was able to see soo many people! Of course I am ever popular (;P) so it was hard to see everyone and to those I missed I am so sorry! We will reunite in April!

Christmas itself was a blast. Wrapping presents late at night on Christmas Eve with my family was an unexpected and hilarious treat and the next day was even better. My mom cooked a delicious meal and seeing my family all together was a real treat. I was spoiled by my family and GOT A KITCHENAID MIXER. People of Wemindji, if you think I baked a lot before, watch out.

Now that I am back I, along with everyone else who was busy this break, feel like I need a vacation from my vacation. Catching up on work and sleep is top priority, but I can't wait to catch up with my Wemindji friends and hear all about their holidays as well. We are getting right into the swing of things at school and starting a really fun unit on measurement, I think my kids will enjoy it. Story-writing is on the list for January too and I am excited to read what the kids can create.

Overall, it is good to be back. I miss everyone back home very much and can't wait to see you all again in April for my Goose Break holiday!

PS. Today it was -18, feeling like -36. I made the mistake of taking my kids out to recess this morning (honestly it was to feed my selfish need for some real vitamin d) and they all ran to me screaming and begging to go into as their eyelashes froze together. ENOUGH SAID.

Turkey dinner at the Staff Christmas Feast!

Watching Arthur Christmas at the Christmas party

Expressing my true joy at seeing the plane arrive to take me home in Wemindji! (Yes, I can get that close to the aircraft, a little unsettling...)

Home!

Delicious Air Creebec pulled pork. On a side note, no bun-thingy was served. After interrogating the stewardess about it, she confided she had no idea what it was either but knew what Carmen and I were talking about. ARG!

My Christmas present to Bobo! He hated it so much :(

Christmas tree!

I may look like I am seducing the camera and Carmen may look unreasonably happy given the situation, but this was after midnight while stuck on a plane in the heat with no free alcohol.