Taking my position here in Clyde was a bit of a snap decision. Thankfully I had some very good luck. I was informed through friends of friends in Nunavut that I was heading to a community with a nice group of Newfoundlanders.
Well, what an understatement! I recieved the warmest of welcomings from these 4 lovely couples who live in a 4 apt complex coined "Signal Hill". They have become like family over the last 8 months and I've just about spent more time in their home than my own. They have put on many tasty meals for myself and fellow co-workers. I quite enjoy the Jig's dinner and Fish and Brewis and of course the local cuisine;narwhal, caribou (cooked and raw), Arctic Hare and Arctic Char. They have been teaching here for years and have been a serious wealth of knowledge for a newbie like myself.
Community members also extended a very warm welcome to this new qallunaat. I was greeted with a warm smile and many hand shakes from people as I walked around my new home. Both children and adults excitedly proclaimed "Welcome to Clyde". I'm happy to say that kindness has not worn off. I'm reminded of that same eager spirit each time I step outside.
My weeks are quite busy preparing for my energetic grade 7's and my weekends are enjoyed havin the craic with the Newfoundlanders. I was also lucky to find a fellow Nova Scotian here in Clyde, Deborah. She has become a very close friend and has also provided me great advice with her teaching and life experience. We share the joys of both cooking and travelling and do a lot of walking together.
Nov 21st our sun disappeared below the horizon and we lived in darkness for 2 months. Each day there was a window of roughly an hour with a dusk/twilight like light in the sky. With the help of a sun lamp and great friends life passed like any other day! My body wanted slightly more sleep than usual but those effects take place during a Nova Scotian winter as well.
We are now heading towards 24 hours of sunlight and do I ever love the super long days!! Spring here is seriously beautiful and the colours in the sky are phenomenal at both sunrise and sunset. The school year is quickly winding down and I'm already looking forward to another one!
We were unfortunately late getting away so missed much of it, but had quite an exciting adventure onto the sea ice non the less. It was a little bumpy on the sled but so exhillarating to see civilization disappear as we became enveloped by the beautiful landscape. It was a feeling like no other to be on top of the frozen ocean with nothing but white as far as the eye could see. It's not everyday that you cruise by an icelocked boat on a ski-doo!
