...A year ago today...

I'm not sure anyone is tuning into this blog anymore, although I still get a dozen or so hits a day.  In the last few days.. I've been thinking about a year ago, and what I was up too!  You see it was a year ago today that I boarded a plane--in Toronto and headed to Montreal, and then to Kuujjuaq, and then to Iqaluit--then had a 4 1/2 hour layover in the Iqaluit airport--where I knew no-one and well everyone seemed to know everyone... and had all that time to 'wonder' what THE HECK had I got myself into... and then I arrived in Pang... around 7:30pm... and swept off to the Lodge...

I honestly can't believe it's been 2 1/2 months since I left the north... I know I left a part of my heart there...the people, the job, the experience.. was so amazing... and we all know sometimes these things have to end... (and I'm not saying that I'm not enjoying driving a car, going through drive-thrus, getting takeaways.. and starbucks--because that would be a lie)...but there are somethings I seriously miss....

So here's a top ten list... on the day that would have been my 1 year anniversery in the North....of things I miss from my Northern Adventure!!!(in no particular order)...


10.  The Northern---yes, it was one of my 'fun' things to do... the walk to the northern on Fridays--usually pay day Friday's... one of the fun 'social' events of the week!!! I don't really miss the prices OR the selections...but I do miss that 'built' in social event!

9. Seeing the Northern Lights dance over my head, it was the most magical and powerful thing.... I could have danced and stood in wonder for hours...

8) Day trips I took with strangers--that became my friends.... to the Arctic Circle, to Crater Lake, and to see the Icebergs.... those are memories I cherish!

(the three following photos were taken by my friend Claus Vogel)

7) Artists that come to your door selling you awesome stuff... like earings, carvings, prints.... man I miss it!!

6) Arctic Cotton that blows in the wind..... so pretty..

5) Planes... oh how I miss you.... after travelling so much for work from September to December... and being in the air so much.. I seriously am having airplane withdrawals... soon to be fixed by a weekend trip to Ontario!

4) The gorgeous views, especially the Pang Pass...

3) Random Icicles everywhere... in unique formations!!

2) Loonie Toonies--and other community events...and potlucks!!! and Movie nights!!! :)

1) Hiking in my back yard... the land is so goregous... and beautiful.... and amazing...

Now to be fair I probably should do a list of 10 things I don't miss.... (in no particular order!)

10) the sense of isolation... and being 'stuck' somewhere--especially when the weather is bad...and there are no planes in or out!

9) the price of food, and selection of things to buy to eat...

8) the lack of movie theatres, coffee shops, and resturants, the lack of a 'dating' life!

7) the gossip/ high school behaviour that often happens in small communities... hard to keep track of who is talking and who isn't talking.... but people still attending the same events etc... (drama!)

6) running out of water... and waiting over 24 hours for a water truck to come and fill you up! or waiting for the sewage truck to come...

5) snow-machines driving at 'crazy' hours of the night... waking you up!

4) children playing and screaming outside in the 24 hour sunlight.... at 3am outside your bedroom window...

3) the wind that shook my bed--because the house was shaking on the pillars/posts.. and the sound of things crashing into the side of it...

2) the smell of the dump burning.....

1) the pack of wild dogs that follow you everywhere when u are walking... or children that ask you your name!

Well folks there you have it... my lists.... and if you are interested I do have a new blog of my life in Winnipeg... you can find me here!

I miss you Arctic Living....

Thanks for all the VOTES!!!

Wow... Thank you for all the votes!!  The Nunies are officially over another year-- and Clare just announced the winners on his site... CHECK IT OUT ...   drum roll.... Yes that's right... my post about my first boating trip... this past summer won best post!!  There were some other amazing posts in that category...

I feel pretty honoured to have won in the best post category, and gave it a good run for the best new blog category! All the bloggers that were nominated are pretty awesome... so check them out when you get a chance!

Thank again!

Cheers,

Sarah

VOTE... vote.. VOTE... vote!!!!!!

Just wanted to let you know that the Voting for BEST NEW BLOG has started... PLEASE take your time to go and VOTE!!!  HERE  

 THERE are TWO places to vote for ME---BEST NEW BLOG, and FIRST BOATING TRIP (best post)

Thank you, THANK you, thank YOU!

PS. Stay tuned for my new blog... it's in the works... the relocation has had some 'bumps' in the road!!!!

..the Nunies...

I'm just stopping in to say.. that Clare has posted about the Nunies..and to quote

"Yes, its that time again, Nunavut's premiere (well okay, only) blogging awards - The Nunies. There is no change in the format this year. There are three categories: Best Blog, Best New Blog, Best Post"

Stop over there to see the rules... but basicly all you have to do to nominate a blog is...

"You can nominate up to five blogs for both Best Blog and Best New Blog. Nominations should be emailed to nunavutblogs AT yahoo DOT ca. The five blogs with the most nominations will go on to the voting round. Clare will not nominate any blogs but Clare will cast the deciding vote in case of a tie for the fifth position."

There are a heap of other GREAT northern blogs you can check out.... HERE

Thanks for your support (in advance!)

Today was a great day... the sun is still throwing me for a HUGE loop... and my new job is awesome...but I totally MISSED my 5min walk home.. instead of the 45min car ride!

Cheers, Sarah

Starting a new Journey....

2009 was a good year... I honestly couldn't have hoped for a better year... You see I had finished my MA the year before and really hadn't worked in about 18months when 2009 rang in! but in Jan things started looking up...I had a 2 week contract with the MS Society--doing school kick off assemblies for the 'read-a-thon' program...(it was a cool gig..and got to stay with my good friend Amanda in St. Catherines..that was even cooler!)... then in Feb..I started supplying at a daycare in Toronto--and mid Feb I got the call for the interview.. and accepted the job to come to Nunavut... and I had the best 10months of my life... living and working in Nunavut!  I can say I've been to all the communities in the Region... even Sanikilluaq! 

All in all it was a great year... I had lots of adventures...way too many to recount... but the most exciting thing was... I found my groove... a part of me that I had 'forgotten' since returning from Australia... I'm so happy I found that... I made a heap of new friends...and will carry those friendships with me in the future....

So this brings me to YESTERDAY (Dec 31, 2009) After a LONG day of travel...(like 12 hours or so...) that involved me arriving at the airport to find out that the plane I was suppose to be on...had 'mechanical issue' in flight and returned to Iqaluit not landing in Pang.... This led me to switching airlines for the first leg of my journey---convincing the staff that I could get on the plane that was on the ground--not the one arriving later that afternoon.....(so I could make my next connection in Iqaluit)... then boarding that plane.. and having 3 attempts at taking off...(something to do with the auto something didn't engage..a safety precaution to do with 'gravel runways'... if one engine failed--the other would do something to compensate so we wouldn't crash!?--still not 100% sure)... BUT we got off into the air... I didn't have a window seat--which is probably good... I had spent enough time crying early that morning while dancing around my friend's house... and if i was actually looking at the scenery out the window... I'm sure i would have cried again!  When I arrived in Iqaluit.. I got to see my friend Leslie and her three beautiful girls one more time in the airport and met someone that shared the rest of my trip for Winnipeg...someone that is from the 'peg... but had been living in Iqaluit for the past 2 years...but now is moving back! 

I arrived in my hotel room in Winnipeg at 11:59pm (Central time)...It seemed so fitting to be here at midnight... I'm starting the next adventure...a new job, new city, new apartment, new cell phone.... so many new things!!!!  I need to look forward, as sad as I am to have left the north... I'm looking forward to the new things... I have a feeling 2010 is going to be a great year... I mean why can't it be!?

Once I get some things figured out and am settled here in Winnipeg... I'm sure I'll be blogging all the time....and when I do... I'll leave you a link where to find me...

Wishing you and your families--health, happiness and lots of laughter for 2010!!

Cheers,
Sarah

I've wanted to put up a weather report for awhile...(partly because they haven't shown SUNs in the forcast for months now...) and I think the moons are way cool!...but this is not really a report you want to see when you are suppose to fly out... in oh... 4hours!  Let's hope that the ceiling improves, and the wind stays calm, lots can happen in that time frame!

Updated:  Guess my fingers crossed didn't work...(I wasn't that hopeful...) the plane flew over.. and headed back to Iqaluit... now I have to sit and wait to see when First Air reschedules me.... not so bad...another day in Pang... (although... I'm guessing my 36hours in Toronto is not going to happen!)

Names...and a prize, say it ain't so....

When I was in university... I got two gold fish(well had many sets of two gold fish--as I digress)... it took me a long time to figure out names for those two fish... I watched them swimming... I cleaned out their bowl, I fed them.. and finally like 6 weeks into being a 'fish-mum' I came up with their names... the first two were "Chesterfield" aka Chester (for short) and "Cushion" (no shortform required)... (weird names.. I know but it took WEEKS to figure it out...my friend and roommate Sarah at the time would probably agree it was way too long to name something like a fish...)...Then next set of fish... (after Chester and Cushion went off to fish heaven) were named Pickles and Olives... (ok, ok... maybe I really did have issues with naming fish! lol)... and then there was Jules and Suds.... and that was the end of the fish for awhile... (aren't you glad I haven't had to name a BABY yet?!--oh I am.. that child might be 5years old before I come up with something!!!!)

You might be asking yourself what is the point of this?  Well I'm in that place yet again.... and I NEED to find a new name for something.... ie) my new blog... because I can't be "newbie in the north" when I hit Winnipeg--although the temps right now are COLDER than Nunavut...(projected to be like -30C on Friday when I arrive..gasp!)...I still need to find something new... but I can't think of anything... and dont' want it to be like 6 weeks or maybe never for me to blog again...

So I'm asking you, yes... YOU to comment and leave your suggestions for names... I'm moving to a new city... (I've been there 2 times in my life... the first when I was 12years old and travelling across Canada with my grandparents and 2 brothers---only memory is that my Grandpa drove on a few one-way streets the wrong direction! YIKES! I hope I don't do that!.. The second time was earlier this month when I flew out for the interview....)  I'm starting the dream job.... hmmm what else can I say? I'm a shutterbug... and love taking photos... (is that enough for you to work with?!).... I'll let you think about that.... for awhile..... and I cant' wait to see what you come up with......

And you know what? if I like the name... you might even win a prize!!!!

Thanks in advance! Sarah