Inukshuk

On our third day in town, four of us went for a walk to the inukshuk.  This one is located out past the airport.  It is not the one that marks the geographical centre of Canada - but it is quite the local landmark.  Sadly, it is not far from here that the fisherman went missing.  The body has not yet been recovered.

On a lighter note (and almost anything could be), it was a beautiful day and finally warm after days of cold wind.  However, warmth and windless means BUGS.  Ken and Jonathan turned back, but Janine and I made it all the way.  As you will see in some photos, I had a bug net for my head.  Best Dollarama purchase ever.

Sorry - some pics are repeats from "Round the Bend".

 This is the view looking west - towards the airport.

 This is the view looking east.

The West End

                                                                      Janine
                                                                       

                                                                            Jonathan and Ken

Jonathan is a first year teacher from PEI - fresh out of university.  Ken came out of retirement to help them out in Baker Lake.  He had taught here last year and will leave at Christmas as he has a contract teaching at a university.  Both ends of the teaching spectrum!

                                                               Arctic Cotton

  
This is a campsite.  There are raised platforms for tents.

                Can you spot the helicopter?  It had a load hanging from it; very interesting to watch.

                                                    I call this "Drum Design".

                                            We think it is a family of ptarmigan.

                                           Our destination

                                      Baker Lake from a distance.    

                                 The long building near the middle is the high school.  My place is further  back and to the left.

very sad

Baker Lake has been a very sad place for the last three days.  A man went missing while fishing and Search and Rescue are still looking for the body.  They found his ATV and cell phone on the land and yesterday found hip waders and a fishing rod in the lake.  The grade 12 graduation ceremony went ahead.  There was talk of postponing the feast - instead, the feast went ahead but the games and square dance are being put off until next Friday.

Sorry to be a downer - but that along with the crash of the First Air flight to Resolute has had an effect up here.  We are never sure what news you get down South.  Though the reverse is also true -- as I had no idea Harper was in town.  Mind you, he was out at the mine; still, he must have landed somehere.  Oh well, no biggie.

Cindy

Pictures

If we are friends on Facebook then you have probably seen these photos.  If not - enjoy! 

 Jonathan in front of our building

                                   Deisel and Lucky - Lucky survived a wolf attack as a puppy (hence the name).

                               There is an airplane coming in for a landing in the middle of the photo.

Baker Lake Inn

Main Street (though no actual street names in BL)

Our school

Guess what the kids get for breakfast???

Mostly my food

Caribou hide in the freezer - next to the butterball.

Great art on the walls throughout the high school.

Catch you later!

Going 'Round the Bend

August 21, 2011

Today was gorgeous.  Warmer than Saturday - but that meant a few more bugs.  No matter:  Jonathan, Janine, Ken, and I went for a walk out to the inukshuk -- which is around the bend and out past the airport.  My camera died so I will have to wait to get pictures off of Janine's camera.  Here is what I did get.

Party On Garth

August 20, 2011

After a long day at the high school it was nice to get an invitation to a party.  I saw some familiar faces and met some new folks.  I cannot get over how super nice everyone is.  We had a BBQ on Friday and the VP was kind enough to drive the other vegetarian and I around town looking for options.  I ended up taking a package of frozen veggie dogs - but it was a nice attempt.

The food at the party was outrageous.  Homemade cookies, cream puffs, and guacamole.  Mmmmm!!

The diet starts tomorrow -- or whenever the last of the chips from the BBQ disappear from the staffroom.

Out the Window

It's 8:30 AM and the bed is lumpy.  Bit of a lie - they brought me a brand new bed but it is too soft.  Part of every night is spent on the floor.  I have put in a request for a firm mattress......

So, I'm up and fulfilling the promise of pictures.  Here is the view out of my bedroom room window. 



It is the same view out the living room window - just a bit more to the left.  So as not to sugarcoat the situation, here is the view out the living room window angled to the left.

Not that I will be looking out the bedroom window ever again.  Today I plan to put up the garbage bags.  It is still light late at night and makes it hard to sleep (never mind the mattress situation).  I'll get it over with now and be ready for the spring.  I am not as far north as in Inuvik where the sun was up for months, but far enough to disturb the sleep pattern.

It's Saturday morning - maybe time for a quick nap before heading to school.

.... and all that JASS

The first week of school is done - and I even got paid for it already.  Nice.

Folks have asked how to reach me so here is my new data:

General Delivery
Baker Lake, Nunavut (NU)
X0C 0A0

867 793-4323

Careful about calling as many long distance plans have exceptions for the Arctic.


I am thinking about changing the name of the blog to "All That JASS" - JASS being the initials of my school....Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School.  Makes a nice parallel to my Inuvik blog, "Dancing Under the Midnight Sun".

Here is a picture of my new classroom: