I love getting the last word

A few months ago I got an email from Aaron Spitzer who writes for Up Here Magazine. The message asked if I would be willing to do a quick phone interview on the subject of sealift. After a couple emails back and forth we agreed that he'd use a quote from one of my old posts. I was not at all disappointed that I didn't get to do a real interview. As I told him, the quote from the blog is much more eloquent than anything I would have been able to come up with on the fly. I was glad not to have the pressure.

The article was published in the July/August issue of Up Here and although it took a while to get, I finally got to read 'my' article. It's called Summertime! Aaron writes about the things that rock about summer in the the arctic and that of course includes sealift.

I'm so excited to be named and quoted in print. What I was even more surprised and thrilled about was that I got the final word. The section I contributed to was #24, the very last one. While I'm not going post the whole article I thought I'd share my section.

Up Here Magazine Page 39.

If you are interested in reading the piece in it's entirety you can check it out here. I'm sure anyone who has spent a summer up north will relate and get a good chuckle out of it.

Thanks Aaron for including me.

A new conversation piece

The competition to design the new Nunavut license plate is over and the winner is....

Source
Designed by Ron Froese of Iqaluit.

If you hadn't heard, there was some licensing thing with The Northwest Territories which meant that Nunavut can't use the polar bear shaped plates anymore. They asked people to submit designs for a new plate which will start being used this summer.

We have the polar bear plates on our van (yes still, we'll get around to it at some point) and I love them. They are a great conversation piece in almost any parking lot. You know, the standard conversations... yes, I did drive from Nunavut. It took me about 4 days because one of the pontoons that inflate from the bottom of the van sprung a leak. I'm sure all Nunavumiut have had a similar conversation at some point.

I can't say I'm very excited about this new one. Townie said it well when he said they feel like something a tourist would buy at Arctic Ventures. It is just too stereotypical, like the only thing missing is an igloo. What about celebrating something that the world doesn't instantly think about when they hear the Canadian North. A kamik shaped one? A woman carrying a baby in an amauti, under the northern lights if you must. Walrus or narwhal?

Anyway, I'm sure this plate will conjure up as many questions from random people, especially old men, in parking lots. I'm still happy I was able to drive around with the old one for a while.

*** And to answer the other question I always get- We had Nunavut plates on our vehicle because our permanent residence was in Nunavut. Even though it never left New Brunswick we still had to have it registered up north.***

My last northern post.

The movers have packed our stuff and moved it out to the airport. I sit in an empty house (well, empty of my stuff anyway) and reflect on our time here in Nunavut. We've had some fantastic times, met some amazing people and have seen and done things most Canadians never will. It hasn't all been roses, especially the last 6 months here in Pang. Some people have done their best to make things difficult for us but I refuse to let that taint the fond memories I will keep of our northern adventure. During our time here I've learned many things about myself and I'm very thankful for that. It has solidified my marriage in many ways too. I think Nick and I are stronger for this place where much of the time you have nobody to entertain you but each other. I'm so proud of the work he's done, the life we've built and the  sacrifices we've made.


I think the best way to celebrate our northern adventure is to revisit some of my favorite photos. They're not all great pictures but they do have the best of my memories attached.

Our first day in the north. July 16, 2008.

Feet in the Arctic Ocean.

Dog walks with great friends. Photo by Jennifer Eichenberg 

Love my amauti. Photo by Jennifer Eichenberg

Northern Lights

Learning to make parkas.

The Bowhead whale in Cape Dorset.

New years eve 2009.

Snowmobiling

Polar Dip. July 2009

Exploring Pang.

At the top of Mount Duval.

Nunavut Day Barbecue 2010.

The views never get old.

Neither do the sunsets.

So this is it.

I’ll miss being part of the northern blogging community as I’ve made friends with many other bloggers along the way. I hope you will continue to follow the our little family’s southern adventures and watch as our kids grow. I’ve decided that I will be sticking with this version of the blog as it seems that is the popular opinion and am already looking for ideas to update my header to reflect our new location.

Finally, I want to thank Nunavut and it’s people for it’s hospitality. For being the first home our kids have known. I hope to get back here someday and be able to show Oliver and Isaac the beautiful land they may not remember considering their age. I’m proud to have been a Nunavimiut, if only for a short time.

A Santa-rific day

Yesterday Santa Clause took a little time off from his workshop in the north pole to make an appearance here in Pang. We felt honoured considering it's so close to the the big day and made a point to get out and see as much of him as we could. The day started out with the annual Pang Santa Clause Parade. Santa rode on a sleigh carried by a pick up truck and he and his elves threw candy out for the onlookers. This parade was unique in more ways than the usual. First Santa led the parade rather than follow along at the end as I'm used to. Since there aren't any floats, just a few decorated trucks and snowmobiles I guess that makes sense.

What was really unusual was the amount of observers this time around. Normally there are few watchers because everyone in town joins with whatever vehicle they have. This time there were groups of parents and kids lining the parade route waiting for Santa to come by.

Taken from the moving truck out the window. It was the best shot I got of Santa but that's not saying much.

Nick was driving us in the police truck back at the end of the line of cards. From our point of view is seemed that the parade was all over the place and perhaps that the cars at the end had lost track of the lead vehicles. What we quickly realised was that many of the vehicles weren't trying to be part of the parade at all. They were filled with people who had just watched Santa go by and were then trying to get ahead of Santa so they could be there when more candy was thrown in a different part of town. We noticed many of the same faces several times over the course of the parade. I do understand the want of more candy but with few 'alternate routes' to get around town it was causing parade chaos in the form of traffic jams at the intersections. That's sure something I've never seen here before.

In spite of the confusion, and probably a little because of it, I had a great time. I love a parade of any kind and the uniqueness of the northern parade will always have a place in my heart. The kids had fun too with Isaac waving out the window to the onlookers and Oliver working the lights and sirens and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas over the truck's loud speaker. I bet the brass won't let him do that when Nick pulls parade assignment down south.

 The other Santa excitement was that after the parade, he went to the Northern to hear the wishes of the kids in town. I took the boys to sit on his lap and get the picture that I didn't get last year. If you remember we went and did the visit but never received the picture. They ran out of ink to print the photos and when I asked to have it emailed, it just never happened. I'm still disappointed not to have it since it was both boy's first time with Santa and as they say, you never get that time back. BUT ANYWAY....

The audience with Santa went as I thought it would. Oliver did great. Walked right up, said hello and hopped on his lap and had a chat. Isaac on the other hand was overtaken with panic as soon as I put him down and the result is this lovely picture.

David Kilibuk was taking the pictures. I scanned it so I could post it.

Isaac is going though his separation anxiety stage so it's exactly what I knew he would do. I was planning on leaving him home but Nick had to go in to work so that option was out the window. Since we were there I thought I'd inflict some mental anguish on my 14 month old. I know I'm not the only mom who does it so I don't feel that bad... maybe I should, but I don't.

Santa-rific day complete.

Reflections

I am filled with emotions in regards to ending our time in the north and feel like I'm somewhat on a roller coaster at the moment. We planned to be here at least till the spring so to find out that it's happening so much sooner puts me in a bit of a tailspin. I'm a planner and sometimes the littlest change can throw me off. A change of this magnitude makes my brain go crazy with what's, where's and how's. Not that I can't roll with the punches but I do find myself awake at night remaking to do lists in my head over and over. In the end, it'll all get done, and what doesn't isn't all that important.

I couldn't be more pleased with Nick's new posting with it's proximity to our families. As fate would have it, only a few weeks ago Nick's mom took a new job in Oromocto and had joked that maybe we could move there. I guess maybe she new something we didn't. She plans to commute back and forth to Saint John everyday but I'm sure (and hope) there will be many stops at our place for dinner, or crashing with us when the weather makes that hour long drive too much. That's an open invitation Dale... Make sure you take us up on it. I'm also excited to have my nephew spend weekends with us so he and our boys can grow up being significant parts of each other lives.

We are very much looking forward to living in the world of malls, Costco and play places. Swimming lessons, photography courses and tennis clubs. Old friends and new friends, new jobs and new colleagues. Nick will be not be on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week like he is now. I will be looking for a job outside the house and the kids will be going to daycare. It's going to be a whole new world for us. But as much as I can't wait for all these things, I look at many of these perks with trepidation.

I'm going to be working!!! Yay, I get to go have adult conversations for 8 hours a day. I get to be a productive member of society doing something other than cleaning my house and playing with the kids. On the other hand, boooo, I'm going to be working. I'm going to be joining the ranks or working moms who try and find time to 'do it all', who never can and have guilt because they miss their kids. They miss milestones that their baby sitters get to tell them about. When I really hash out the pros and cons, the money I will bring in is a necessity for the family. I know there are people who do it with much less but there are sacrifices that go along with it that we are not interested in making at this point. And, in all honesty, I think I'm going to enjoy motherhood and my kids much more when I have something for myself outside the home to fill that part of me that's not just a mother.

I think that it's going to a huge adjustment getting used to all the choices and opportunities we're going to have. There is something comforting and relaxing about living in a tiny isolated town where you're options can be very limited. There is no keeping up with the Joneses. No rush hour. No over booked life. I enjoy the quiet life we have here. I love that a super busy weekend means getting the house ready for a Saturday night dinner with friends. I like wearing pajamas bottoms 90% of my waking hours and that getting all dolled up means jeans and a T-shirt. I think it's great that to Oliver, a drive to the dump is as exciting as a trip to Disney World. Most of all, I relish all the time we have to spend as a family. Nick coming home for lunch everyday. Family suppers every night and being there for hugs and kisses at bedtime. I'm sure it won't be long before we are caught up in the rat race and are striving to get back a glimps of the simple life.

I am going to miss the people of the north and how welcoming they can be. I'm going to miss the beautiful scenery I look out over every day although I am excited to have trees back in my life. I'm going to miss the weather in a way because I hate the heat and humidity but I'll be happy if I never see snow on Canada Day or a -40 windchill again. I'm really going to miss the 24 hours of daylight but I won't at all miss the long stretches of darkness. I'm going to miss my sealift room but look forward to the convenience of not having to cook every single meal. I look forward to having the mall close by but don't think I'll ever stop on-line shopping. I will miss having 30 day vacations but I won't miss having my travel plans at the mercy of mother nature's whims. I am excited to use a car again but I'm sad to trade in my amauti for a car seat.

The question I've been asked most over the last 3 and a half years is, "Do you like it up there?" Sometimes that can be a tough question. At times I've been able to answer with a resounding YES. Other times the things I like about Nunavut were overshaddowed by the challenges that can go along with northern living. Now that I'm reflecting on my time here, weighing the good and the bad, I can say overwhelmingly that yes, I do like it here. I am very happy to have had this chapter in my life, in our family's life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. And yes, I would do it all over again if I had to go back. I have learned an enormous amount about myself and my ability to adapt. I've heard it said that a northern posting can make or break a marriage for some couples. I'm happy to say that I think Nick and I have made it though happy and probably closer than we would ever have been had we not come here. I appreciate having had the opportunity to be home with my children which I would not have had down south. And finally, I am proud and honored to have experienced the beauty of the Inuit people, their culture and the land where they live. So few can say that and I'm glad to be one of them.

But now it's time to shed my northern parka and don the sou'wester of a martimer once again.

Much ado about nothing

It turns out that the storm didn't amount to much. We're certainly getting our share of blowing but from what I saw the worst reading on the Environment Canada website was 71 km/h this morning sometime. The rest of the day hovered around 50 km/h which is still a good breeze. The wind is continuing this evening at about those same speeds and is expected to peter out overnight.

So we're good. Just wanted to let you know.

Batten down the hatches

From the Environment Canada Website:

WIND WARNING IN EFFECT

 

Saturday

 

Cloudy. Light snow beginning early in the evening changing to periods of rain late in the evening.

Wind east 70 km/h gusting to 90 increasing to 100 gusting to 150 early in the afternoon then

diminishing to 30 gusting to 60. High plus 2.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gusting up to 150 kilometers an hour.... Hurricane force winds start at 118 km/h.

The last time a storm like that happened here in Pang (Novemeber 17th, 2010), a truck was overturned, the roof was ripped off a couple of houses and there were several boats lost. We were lucky and only had some construction debris land around our house. We also had a few hours of lost power and no internet for about 36 hours. Not bad considering. And those winds were only 130km/h. But we live on the sheltered side of town.

The town is bustling around getting ready. The store was full of people picking up non perishables to eat if we lose power. The hamlet is setting up an emergency shelter at the school for people who are living on the windy side of town. I have all the flashlights charging, candles out and jugs of water at the ready.

I hope that when we wake up tomorrow and the warning was for nothing and we end up with nothing but an unseasonably warm day. On the other hand, I love a good storm and as long as nobody gets hurt or looses anything of value, I do love to see the power of nature at it's finest. I'll update you when it's all over but if you don't hear from me for a few days, you'll know it was a big one.

Second to last barge of the year

Taken from my front step:

Up the Pang Pass

To finish off our weekend of exploring what Pang has to offer we took a boat trip up to the entrance of Auyuittuq National Park. Here are a few highlights....

I call this my sausage costume. Not my best look but I was sure glad I had it on. It was a chilly day.

Our fearless leader, Peter.

There was already ice up the pass. Hopefully that means that the fiord will ice over before January this year.

A bunch of harp seals showed themselves on our way up.

I can't ever say it enough, it never gets old.

Thanks very much to Sarah for watching the kids for us so we could go out and enjoy the day with my parents. And a huge thank you to Peter Kilabuk at PEO Services for a fantastic experience. I highly recommend using him if you are ever in Pang and want an enjoyable and informative trip.

A view from the top

When I got off the plane here in Pang for the first time I saw Mount Duval and said, "that’s my dad’s mountain". I said it because I could just picture him arriving here and saying that he wanted to climb it. He’s just that kind of guy. So when Mom and Dad arrived on Friday evening the first thing we had planned was to do just that.

It took us about 3 hours to reach the top which I’m pretty happy with. Considering we (my father excluded) are not in the best physical shape I wasn’t sure a successful climb would be possible. It was a tough climb with deep snow as we got closer to the top but still easier than I expected. Seeing the view of town and the Pang Pass from the top made it all worth while.

Taking a break.

Town from the top.

The tundra was very beautiful. So many different colors and textures and very spongy.

The Pang Pass in the background.

To see many more pictures of our day check out Sarah's photo's here.

This is September 23rd.

Guess what we woke up to today?? Happy first day of Fall....

Splash

Just a few shots from our family ATV outing last Sunday. As you can imagine Oliver and Nick needed a hot bath and some hot chocolate when we got back to our place. It was only about 3 degrees so those splashes made for a chilly ride home.

Akuluk

After three years in the north we have accumulated quite a collection of Inuit art. The one thing that was missing was a print of some kind. Cape Dorset (where we lived before Pang) is the 'print capital' of the north and their annual print sale is world renowned. I've been to the sale and although there were quite a few pieces I would have loved to buy, the cost was just more than I was willing to pay. I'm not someone who buys art as an investment. If I like it and the price is right, I'll buy it. Even if there is no real value in it. I never found something that fit all my criteria so my search continued here.

Last time I was down at the Uqqurmiut Center for the Arts and Crafts I found what I was looking for. It's called Akuluk. An etching done my Andrew Qappik.

Even though I'll admit I've seen pieces that I like more than this one, when I saw it, it spoke to me for two reasons. One: Akuluk is a Inuit term of endearment that we use every day in our house. Two: The woman is wearing in amautiq. Being able to carry my babies in this traditional way will always be my favorite thing about living here.

I'm very happy that I finally have my 'wall art' to complete my collection. I really hope that means we're done buying because I suspect our collection already exceeds what we'll have room to display in our future home.

And so it begins...

I woke up to this today.

I snowed last week as well but it was only the on the tops of the very tallest mountains way off in the distance towards the park. Today, it was right outside my door. Of course, by noon it was melted and all was right in the world again. I've heard some other snow comments from around the north on Facebook and on other blogs so I know we're not alone.

Let winter begin.

The cupboard is bare

It's getting to that time again where the shelves of our sealift room are getting very empty. I spent some time condensing everything in to one shelf in the other room and this is what we have left.

We did our own sealift this year when we were on our way back from Florida. We went over board on some things and we have of course realised since that there are things we completely forgot. I'm looking forward to all sorts of things like my new cookie sheets. Nick went a little crazy at Toys R Us so I think O is going to be a happy boy. I'm trying to convince him that we should save some of it for Christmas but we'll see if his excitement gets the better of him.

The boat is due to arrive the first few days of August so we'll have to wait till we get back from our vacation to enjoy all the stuff we have coming. I also made a big mistake by packing all the summer clothes we wore in Florida in the crates thinking that we would have them back long before the time for our vacation. In the crate is also my purse, sandals and bathing suit. I guess I have some shopping to do. Oh, poor me!

Highlights from our Canada Day

Raising the flag on the newly refurbished flag pole.
Much better than last year with Sebastian holding the flag above his head.

Jackpot! Isaac gets something from the candy toss.
We're not sure if someone gave it to him or if the stroller was in the
right spot to catch it as it fell.

My favorite part of the day as always: The Parade.
As usual there was maybe 20 people watching but there was lots of participation.
I heard it was about 50 cars and vehicles piled with people.

Junior and some of his friends joined us on the drive.

I love this shot. If you look closely you can see the long
line of cars behind us.

The boys hard at work flippin' burgers. The line was LONG.
I waited over an hour to get our lunch.

Oliver killed time by playing with the kids an he never once came
looking for me. I'm not sure if his independence is a good thing or a bad thing.

Some chose to have seal rather than burgers.

Festive little guy.

My filthy boy stops playing in the dirt and has a hot dog.

We had a really great day celebrating Canada's birthday. I hope you did too.