Our Northern Experience

Ashley - My Shining Star

2009-04-30T15:33:00.002-04:00

In an effort to stay within the current posting theme, and because I know it will embarrass her to no end, I just thought I should mention that the NEP wouldn't have existed without Ashley's help.

She was my right-hand man, taking care of everything from scrounging up enough boots, to hotel bookings, to t-shirt design input (just to name a few). Most importantly, she was my sounding post and source of reason every time I needed to rant (or cry) because of some new NEP related catastrophe.

Thanks Ashley. I'll buy you dinner when you get home from Eureka!

Thanks Tara

2009-04-29T23:58:00.002-04:00

It was nice to read the praise Pierre has for Tara, and to hear it from Kaley on the last day. I watched Tara all week and saw how much she carried this adventure on her shoulders - talk about a lot of pressure. The fact that it came out so well in the end is a tribute to her.

Tara, you knew when to compromise and you knew when to be tough. Thanks for everything. As a teacher who has organized everything from field trips to conferences to film festivals, I was amazed at how this trip was planned to the finest detail. You had everything planned for and when the unexpected happened you handled it. It allowed me to totally relax and enjoy the trip because I knew you had it all under control.

You are the nicest dictator I ever worked for.

Ken

Summing up the hours of effort

2009-04-29T23:02:00.002-04:00

It's back to the day-to-day grind for all of us now, and so as is usual for me, I sit back for a few minutes at the end of a day(s) of catch up, for a bit of reflection on what has passed.

I think we can all agree that it was a success on pretty much all counts. It was also a great deal of work for a small group of people, and to them I would now like to offer a few words of admiration and profound thanks.

Ashley and Matt -- As always, you comported yourselves with a professionalism marked by grace under fire. You guys are top notch and CANDAC is fortunate to be able to call on you time and again in so many diverse capacities. You rock!

Jim Drummond -- Thanks Jim for all the support and the vision and not to mention being willing to take a chance on this.

Tara -- In a word, "WOW!" Tara took this skeletal idea that Kaley and I had dreamt up, and put the flesh and muscle on the bones. Without Tara's efforts we dont' have a program. She covered all the bases and has earned the respect and admiration of all of us that worked with her. As it develped, it wasn't always easy, and it wasn't always smooth but it got done and it was done well. As someone who has spent much of my adult life in the field away from the security of office and lab, I can offer no greater compliment than to say "I'd go into the field with you and do it again, anytime!" Anyone that's put something together far from home can only applaud your efforts. Thanks, Tara, for making it work, and for not getting too upset that I wasn't more upset when maybe I could have been ;-)

One last thing. Even though both Kaley and I get credited, the lions share of that credit on this should go to her. She was the one who was on top of it, keeping an eye of things, while I occasionally showed up to put my 2 cents in.

Hopefully, I haven't missed anyone!

Pierre

The end

2009-04-29T00:10:00.002-04:00

Hey guys, miss everyone, it was good wile it lasted but all good thing have to come to an end unfortunately. I know realistically we will never meet again and so to you all that I don't see again it was great. To the few that I might ever run into one day I can't wait for that one day. It was truly the experience of a lifetime and therefore we have a lifetime to share it. Take care!

Once again I would like to thank everyone from teachers to CANDAC members, I won't mention any names to make sure I don't forget anyone.

This is Phil signing out for one last time...

Living a Dream

2009-04-28T20:39:00.001-04:00

The morning after a dream is so hard, trying to figure out what was real and what was imagined; wishing you could go back to sleep and recapture it, but knowing you can never do it. It will never be the same, but it will always be a fantastic memory.
I went to school today but felt like I was living in a fog all day (probably because I was so tired). Everyone wanted to know how things went, and I couldn't come up with enough adjectives to describe the experience.
Thank you Kaley and Pierre for dreaming and inviting us into it.

Goodbye for now.

2009-04-28T15:58:00.003-04:00

It's been an adventure! And it's difficult to believe it's over. I'd like to start off by thanking the great people over at CANDAC for dreaming up this idea and for Tara, Kaley, Pierre, Matt and Ashley for gracing us with your presence, to the teachers: Andy, Mike, Allison, Sonia, Dale, and Ken, thanks for the great memories and lessons that you worked so hard to prepare for. Thanks to the students, all of you are smart and so fun to be around, I will treasure the friendships made. Finally, thanks to all the people of Resolute and Eureka for sharing youy time, knowledge and love of the Arctic.

It will be difficult to adjust back to normal life again, but I have comfort in the fact that I had the oppurtunity to be a part of this experience. I hope to keep in touch with friends made and in the future meet again.

The End of the Best 11 Days of My Life

2009-04-28T14:24:00.002-04:00

I've made it home safe and sound, and managed to get all my baggage too. Unfortunately everything is over now, and I'll have to go back to school again. Don't worry though, because I took a lot of pictures and am ready to show them to anyone and everyone that asks, even to people that don't ask.
I want to thank everyone who had anyting to do with the Northern Experience Program for all the amazing times that we had. I am going to miss you all!! These past days I have had a blast and I have learned so much new stuff. I loved everything from skinning a polar bear, to eating narwhal, to seeing the northern lights to walking along the PEARL ridge above the amazing landscapes of the arctic.
I am truly sad that it is all over now and thank everyone for making the last week and a half the best days that I have encountered so far! I really hope that we will see each other again in the future.

HOME

2009-04-28T00:53:00.002-04:00

I'm safely ensconced on my back deck here in Toronto. After seeing everyone off this morning, sleeping all afternoon, and waking up so groggy that I nearly missed my own flight home, I've made it.

I've had confirmation that at least four NEPers have made it home (one having lost a camera and another almost being grounded because of fog). I've not heard from anyone to say that they haven't made it, so at this point I'd say it's safe to assume that everyone is tucked away in their own beds (save Kyle who may or may not still be in transit).

I'll miss everyone. I couldn't have asked for a better crew.

Thank You, NEP

2009-04-27T18:35:00.002-04:00

I am exhausted right now, too much to give a recap of each of the last...five days? My blogging fell by the wayside, and for that I appologize. Fear not: I did continue journalling and photographing snow, though.

I hope everybody gets home safely with all their bags and wonderful memories. (Speaking of which, I'd like to thank Pierre for taking one for the team when Air Canada lost his luggage earlier this week.) I can't wait to see all the pictures. I'm going to miss you guys! It's my hope that the following statement from the guide at the Eureka Weather Station holds true for our group: "People who 'do time' in the Arctic together often stay friends for many years." An NEP reunion somewhere down the road would be epic, but until then, let's follow the wisdom of Ken (a.k.a. Mr. Legacy) and WIKIIIIIII!!!!

Thank you all,
Britney

P.S. I agree with Kayley: this trip has changed lives. Case in point: I have gone from corny puns to cream of corn (mushy and corny) sentimentality.

It's been great!

2009-04-23T02:49:00.002-04:00

Well folks ... it's long after most of you have gone off to sleep, and I'm just finishing up my packing. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for a great experience. I couldn't be happier, or prouder, of the collection of students and teachers that make up the CANDAC NEP. Working with all of you has been a pleasure. Think of me when you are in Eureka. Even though you won't see me there physically, I've left enough blood, sweat, and tears on the setup there over the past few years to be there in spirit. Enjoy the visit, enjoy the Arctic, continue to live the experience. You've all done so very well and I am better for having done this with you.

To the CANDACians, you've done well, but I knew you would. Nevertheless, Very Well Done!

To Kaley ... well, I think we did some good here ... No, I'm sure of it! It's been a pleasure as always.

Fondest regards to you all,

Pierre

Busy busy busy

2009-04-23T01:58:00.004-04:00

The last few days have been heck tick, jammed back with some great activities. From new foods to new friends, to new experiences it's been awesome so far in Resolute. In the last few days we went to the local school meeting the president and the elders. This was a great honor because usually first time visitors of the city do not get the opportunity to meet them. Together we shared some of there experiences and life changes they lived through there life, it was incredible just to be in there presence they really put perspective on things. After wars we shared and Inuit feast, we had a combination of seal, polar bear stew, char, narwhal and caribou. Personally the polar bear stew was the best, it taste exactly like meat you would find at home, comparable to a plain rost beef. I manage to eat everything and was an experience I won't soon forget. Rite after this we went for a little hike and climbed the hill we've been staring at from the hotel. It was a 25 minute hike up and stared the whole city, it was remarkable. Afterward, we went out to an opening and got a chance to fly a wind surfer training kite, it was quite fun. I've flown many kites in my day but nothing like this. Also today in between time i got a chance too try yoga, it was different...

Today we went out ''out on the land'', which means in the outskirts of town. We took a sled called komatik which were dragged by snowmobiles. It was a ruff start because I manage to smack my camera and lost all use of it. The first stop we made was a Thule house which is a dug up home from the ancient people of the land. Secondly we went to some dunes, and small glaciers and ice burgs it was sick. We lucked out today getting weather close to 14 below if not warmer. Tonight we took it easy and joined the locals in a game of volley ball it was really fun and gave us a chance to get to bond with them a little more. As it is now i manage to get my camera partially working after a few smacks and bangs, all in all it was a great day and to top it all off

THE MONTREAL CANADIANS ARE OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS LOSING THERE 4TH STRAIGHT GAME TO THE BRUINS AND THE SERIES 4-0.

Although the last few days had many highs there was one low point. Today we say good by to Pierre one of the CANDAC members, he has been loads of fun and help throughout the trip an unfortunately he must leave to go back home, thanks for everything Pierre.

5-minute blog

2009-04-22T19:07:00.002-04:00

Ok, so this has to be quick. I have to go eat, and I just helped Alex with his blog. (See! I incorporated you in here. You made a mis-steak not doing the same!)

This has been the BEST Earth Day EVER! We went out on the land in a kumatik, and a lot of good times ensued. I probably have about 300 pictures of snow by now... Yeah... You guys at home will be looking at ALL of them. And did I mention the videos of snow? Oh yes, videos of snow. After lunch we went for a hike up to the top of the hill overlooking Resolute. It was absolutely gorgeous. Don't worry, I have pictures. Plenty of them. If my camera were the Arctic, the pictures of snow would be the snow. That's snow joke.

Status report: I've been keeping warm, and I haven't seen any live polar bears.

Happy Earth Day!

Halfway

2009-04-22T18:39:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately we are already halfway through the trip, but we have done soooo much already! Yesterday we had a "tea" with the elders of the community and I learned a lot. After the elder's tea, they brought out a whole range of different local animals for us to try and eat: I ended up having narwhal, seal, arctic char, caribou and even polar bear! We have learned everything from solar eclipses to the flora of the arctic to the different animals that live here.
Today we went onto the land on a sled pulled by skidoos. It turned out to be awesome!! There wasn't very much to hold onto, because we were just sitting on a tarp, and one of the CANDAC people, Pierre, fell off and nearly got hit by the sled behind us. We were "on the land", meaning away from the village, for about 2 hours and we saw very cool historical Inuit sites, and we went out onto the ice. On the ice, which is the north-west passage, we traveled for quite some time and stopped at random places to see massive bits of ice which were being pushed up out of the water.
I'm pretty sure that the sun doesn't ever set, so it is light almost 24 hours a day. This has given everyone lots of energy and most of the time we stay up till 12 or 1.
Besides all the arctic stuff, I learned how to juggle, and I learnt how to snow-kite, one of the teachers, Andy, brought a snow kite with him.
All in all, everything here is very, very, very awesome!!

Stocking up...

2009-04-22T11:30:00.006-04:00

So! Yesterday, I did indeed try some of those wild meats (though not raw)! When we visited the elders at the school, we had caribou, polar bear stew, arctic char, seal (mmmm), narwhal, and mini strawberry cheesecakes. I have to say that seal was my favourite. The seal meat is dark dark maroon, because of their super-human blood which lets them hold their breath longer. This protein-rich wild meat I think will sustain me for our excursion today!

When we were with the elders, we got to ask them questions - and they all had to be translated to and from Inuktitut. The elders grew up before industrialization happened up north, so they really are messengers for their history; they lived and saw it all. They told us about some of the changes they saw and experienced, and specified noticing the ice melting faster - so it's safe to go out on the sea ice for shorter periods during the year. It's been difficult to teach their culture, as people have adapted partially to 'southern' lifestyle, and many Inuit did not survive through the disease and other problems brought by explorers. I can imagine that since the culture is no longer a way of life, it is much more difficult to keep it alive.

Today, we are going "out on the land" on sleds called "kamatik"s (I'm not sure I spelled that correctly) with skilled locals who know about the land. Exciting!
So far, the wildlife I've seen consists of ravens (in Yellowknife), dogs in the town, and a small bird flying in and out of the rocks.

Seal, Polar Bear and Blubber Oh MY!!

2009-04-21T18:02:00.002-04:00

The girl who will not come within a 100 miles of celery has just had polar bear stew, caribou, arctic char, seal and narwhal muktuk (I may have just butchered that spelling, so I apologize). Today started off with presentations from Pierre, who works at the Eureka Station, and was one of the collaborators of CANDAC, and from Ken, one of the teachers that is up with us. Then after lunch, we went to the school here and had an oppurtunity to meet with the Elders of Resolute and learn from them. Then we had a really nice Elder Tea, where I had the chance to try all the northern foods. The only thing I can safely say I will never eat again is the narwhal blubber. It took like 5 minutes to chew fully, but it was an expierence to say the least. Tomorrow we are going out on the land for the day, and I am looking forward to it. It is just spectacular how people can lead such rich lives with little contact from "southern tools". I think the crew is heading out to play some snow soccer now, and potentially fly a kite, so I will end off here. Love from the snowy arctic!

Bloggin' it up at Qarmartalik School!

2009-04-21T17:57:00.002-04:00

Hey y'all! I'm at school now. The fact that it's in a different territory, with a different set of awesome folks, is what makes it an incredible experience, though. Having just met some incredible elders of the Resolute community and sampled delicious polar bear stew, muktuk, char, caribou, bannock and seal I am in a state of euphoria right now.

Today Amanda and I thought up the new provitory of Yukonic Columbia. Perhaps I'll make a digital version of our flag and coat of arms later. Our motto is in Latin: 'Westus bestus'. By the way, Ken got us to do it as an activity, we didn't just randomly merge our province and territory... Pizzly bears for the win!

Now for a little quote about static electricity:
Britney: "Why are you going to shock me, Courtney?"
Courtney: "Because you're fun!"

I'm an honorary student here at Qarmartalik, so I'm hoping there won't be honorary homework assignments...

Susan, one of the elders I ate with today, told me that seal meat keeps you warm. (I ate quite a bit, mom, so you can stop worrying.) I hope it serves me well when we're out on the land tomorrow. What an incredible way to spend Earth Day!

I hope today's Day of Silence has gone well at Esquimalt, and that lots of people wore green. Remember: you don't need to speak to wear green, but it sure does say a lot.

I'm really happy with the way the group has come together. It's been fantastic going through all of these spectacular and momentous experiences with this amazing group of folks.

"The odds are good, but the goods are odd." -Andy Preto

Tara breathes a sigh of relief

2009-04-21T10:59:00.001-04:00

The first photo album on the official website finally works. Four more to come this afternoon as long as the internet cooperates.

*phew*

Photos!

2009-04-20T19:55:00.003-04:00

One of the pictures here is the view from the pilot's monument in Yellowknife, another shows the two puppies as tour guides showing us around town, then another one is a sundog in the sky. Very nice!

Our first morning in Resolute

2009-04-20T16:11:00.002-04:00

When I went to bed at 12 am last night the sun was shinning on the other side of the hotel and I thought, "I can handle this land of the midnight sun." But at 5 am this morning the sun was already high in the sky and shinning in my window.
Today we visited the local school to meet the principal and staff. We were honoured by the souvenirs they bestowed upon us and humbled by the plans they have for us this week - sea ice walk, cultural crafts, food such as polar bear, seal, char, and caribou, and music - throat singing and drumming.
This is a special trip for all of us ambassadors from across Canada and the wealth of knowledge we're gaining is incredible.

I'm still working on the official photo albums!

2009-04-20T15:51:00.003-04:00

Touring around Resolute.

The entire NEP crew.

First Visit to the School

2009-04-20T14:16:00.002-04:00

Hello! I'd like to say that the reason for me not blogging excessively is because we're always doing something or exploring, and there's always something to see out here!
Last night, after our arrival in Resolute and check in at the hotel, instead of turning out the lights to go to bed, I put their screen covered by a black garbage bag up to the window. And this was 11:30 at night - still light out! However, the dogs seem to know when to go to bed; the dog outside my window was curled up to keep warm while the winds blew. There's a vastness that is the view.. all the way to the horizon, white and flat, but with ridges sheltering part of the town.
When we arrived we went out on a walk around town (which didn't take very long, mind you!) we got a glimpse of what life up here is like. While we all enjoy taking pictures, we still have to remember that this is their town and homes, and their yards we're photographing so we need to be respectful. Polar bear skins and skulls sit outside of homes that the locals have hunted. Andy, one of the teachers, gave us a breakdown on the native people of Nunavut and their culture which was helpful. Pierre, one of CANDACs members, told as about the PEARL research base in Eureka. Actually, when we were still in Yellowknife, a Nunuvut architect came and spoke to us about his career and projects, which I found just fascinating!
This morning, we visited the school (Monday). Typically they would have school today, but this was an exception as just about everyone in the community was at a funeral ceremony for the recent passing of an elder. The community here really is tightly knit. Brian, the school principal, spoke to us and welcomed us at the school with other staff members. Everyone in Resolute is addressed by their first names. We also had RCMP come and join us!
The communication in Resolute has a lot to do with body language, facial expression and eyes; if some one simply raises their eyebrows or squints, that is a yes or no respectively. I would assume that having to watch the body language of others is a more honest way to communicate emotions.
I loved walking through the school; their walls are decked out with drawings, pictures and captions of the accomplishments of the students and community. There are photos of the skinning process of a polar bear, igloos, fantastic beadwork, throat singing... only to name a few! We put our parkas and boots back on near to the entrance - which were very necessary for our short walk to and from the school. However, the locals have adjusted to the weather and would not need our heavy duty winter boots.

My Resolute Resolution

2009-04-20T14:01:00.006-04:00

My Resolute Resolution: I want to blog more frequently. On that note, here's my blogging for the trip so far...

I would like all concerned parties in Esquimalt and elswhere to know that I am alive, and all of my baggage has arrived in Resolute, too! Don't worry, blog community, I have been punning away here. Apparently I'm "the girl who wrote the song," and my serial blogging before my departure ensured that my reputation as a quirky spunky punster preceeded me.

I haven't done any homework, because I've been so caught up in this amazing experience... This is a note to my future self while doing catchup: THIS TRIP IS INCREDIBLE!

In case you were wondering, (and I know that you are) I haven't seen any live polar bears. There was a stuffed one in the airport when we arrived here, which was the most interesting advertising gimmick I have ever encountered.

Mom: I have plenty of socks, and I've been documenting what I've been eating, because I know that's the first thing you'll ask when I get back to Victoria. Brace yourself, because you'll know all sorts of fascinating details, like what sort of yogurt I had on the plane (strawberry). Also, check your email.

I have been meticulously taking notes and pictures. That, along with all of the spectacular activities has kept me fairly busy over the last few days, so I'll give you a run-down of the last few days (this is without looking at my notes, by the way, so excuse the lack of excrutiating detail):

April 17th: The flight to Vancouver was delayed and I almost got sent to Edmonton, but Air Canada decided to hold the Vancouver-Yellowknife flight until I got there. I waited about 3 hours in Victoria, and I was in the Vancouver airport for all of 45 seconds, because they de-planed me first and I was whisked into a plane at the very next gate. The lady at the gate said "Well, I won't check your ID because I just saw you get off the plane, and we've been monitoring your progress since your plane took off out of Victoria." Yep, I was pretty much an Air Canada celebrity that day...the one that's not Celine Dion... I loved walking around Yellowknife and meeting everyone. I love everyone associated with the NEP. The Northern Lights were highligts, both literally and figuratively. (You missed the puns, didn't you? Well now they're back with a pun-thirsty vengeance.)

April 18th: We had some amazing speakers. I took many pages of notes. We then went to Boston Pizza (which is apparently called BP's 'out west' and somehow I just found this out even though I'm about as 'out west' as they come...) and Bowling, where everybody learned that I really love to dance.

April 19th: Air Travel! We had a great time playing games and making jokes all the way from Yellowknife to Resolute. I love Resolute. The fact that the puppies are our escorts and just run and play all over town makes me incredibly happy. They're so friendly. I mean, NEP folks are friendly, too, but in a different way: they haven't tried to lick my face. Karaoke was hilarious, and I have compiled a list for an NEP Album that I will post later. I had a hard time getting to sleep because I was so fascinated by the whole concept of seeing the sun out at midnight, but I'm fine, because I can be highly enthusiastic with minimal sleep.

April 20th: Today we went to visit the school. I love it there. (Yeah, okay, I love everything about the trip...) We're all honorary students/teachers/partners in education, now. I immediately felt welcome and comfortable there. I have some very interesting things to show people back home. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Elder's Seminar and the Elder's Tea!

For those of you who know my lion Seamus, you'll be happy to know that he's doing very well livin' the High Arctic Life. He's used to travelling, but he does miss his friends back home. He's currently in my hotel room taking a nap.

Happy Earth Week, everyone! I hope all of the planned Leadership and ESCAPE events are going well.
Political Club: I'll be trying to find out the official list of ESQ-R.R. candidates, but if I don't have time, please let me know when I get back!
Hello Ms. Tomasino and TA 3! I bet I have the best excuse for missing TA this week, eh?
Tree Committee: I'm above the treeline right now, so it's up to you Tree Musketeers to keep on tree-in' in the free world.
I'd also like everyone at Esquimalt High School to know that I wore my 'I Heart ESQ' t-shirt on my way to Yellowknife in order to kick off my trip.
I'd like to say a warm High Arctic Hello to all of my friends and family, and thanks for all of the advice.

Stay tuned for more cool details! (Sorry...)

Days 1,2

2009-04-20T01:12:00.003-04:00

I had some technical difficulties this was my blog from a couple nights ago.

Well I arrived in Yellowknife last night, been super busy since then, as you can see it took me two days to get a chance two write in. Yesterday was a blast, flying from Toronto to Calgary then up to Yellowknife the day went by pretty fast. I know there's probably some people back home that have been waiting for this message and I'm sorry once again it took this long but time has flown by but hello to you all. Yesterday we got in town around 3pm (which is 2hours behind eastern time) got my room and then went out to the town for a hour or so before we gathered and got our gear. For those who have never scene arctic it is bigger then anything imaginable, for good reasons, no way I'm freezing up there. It's been great, all the new friends and teachers are super nice and it's making it very easy to have fun. After we went to have supper we had the chance to go see the northern lights which were remarkable, although it did cut into some sleeping time, it was worth it. At first there was not too much to see but as the night went on at about 1am they finally came out for good. This was really superb and nothing like I've ever scene before. It was a great end to a long day being up for almost 20h straight.

Day two had an early start. We had a jammed packed day full of activities and presentations prepared by the CANDAC members to help ease in the transition and answer many questions about the program. We also had during that period two very interesting guest speakers come talk to us about architecture and ice roads, both were very intriguing. Then after a day inside we hit the town for some super and some intense bowling, it was epic.

As the time moves along were all getting to know each other more and more and getting much more comfortable, tomorrow morning we're heading off to Resolute where many adventures await...

Resolute

2009-04-20T00:55:00.003-04:00

Today we finally got to experience the true North. The last few days we've spent in Yellowknife but they have had warm weather and not really given us a true taste of North. We left early this morning after having some slight difficulties taking off from the airport. We got in Resolute Bay at about 4pm (which is now only 1hour behind eastern time) and it was amazing. The scenery was really out of this world there was mountains and dunes of snow as far as the eye can see and white as can be. The weather was quite cold but with the equipment we were given and the excitement of the day we soon forgot about it. We took a quick tour of the town and was really interesting. The housing was quite different from the exterior but once inside was it was really nice. Many pictures were taken and new adventures around each corner. Tomorrow we get to go visit the local school and really get a chance to bond with the community, I can't wait. Till next time...

After Three Days in the North

2009-04-20T00:22:00.002-04:00

Three days are over now and things are getting more and more exciting! We are currently in Resolute, Nunavut, after staying in Yellowknife for a couple days. the weather in Yellowknife has not been too cold, but now that we are in Resolute, it has dropped to -22'C, with a wind chill of 34'C!! We got to use all our crazy warm winter gear on a walk around the town. Some things that we have done so far include exploring Yellowknife, learning so much about the dangers of the Arctic, going bowling, and of course flying all over the place. We have done so much more than that, but our days here are so packed that it would take the rest of the evening (actually morning now I guess) to finish writing it.
Everything that I have seen so far has been nothing like anything I have ever experienced, every little thing I see and feel is almost totally new. Today, when we arrived in Resolute, the only thing that I could see was a tiny little group of houses (the town of Resolute) and the rest was just white! Everything, as far as the eye can see, is pretty much uninhabited white area, and is a thing that you must really see for yourself to experience. Luckily, I took lots of pictures to share with everyone.
I am sure that the next few days will be even more exciting since we are going to the local school tomorrow and doing a whole range of activities with them.

NEP website

2009-04-19T21:08:00.002-04:00

I know! I know! You can't see the pictures! I'm working on it! Now that we have a semi-decent internet connection, my hope is to get you some pictures by the end of the day. But no promises!

Gotta go! Pierre's talking about PEARL!

Finally in Resolute

2009-04-19T19:01:00.002-04:00

I still can't believe that I am here! We arrived in Resolute this afternoon, and I have been in a state of wonder ever since. After being scared out of our wits yesterday after being told in orientation yesterday the million and one ways a person could die or lose a limb while in the North, most of us were thinking "What have we gotten ourselves in to?". But all is well =) We just got back from a walkin tour of Resolute, lead by an entourage of curious puppies. Supper just got yelled out from somewheres in the depths of the kitchen, so I am going to run and grab some food. It is funny how being outside makes you so much more hungry. Much love from the cold north.

Resolute

2009-04-19T18:56:00.002-04:00

It's rather chilly! Today we made it to Resolute. We disembarked the hotel around 7:30 this morning with a fleet of taxis to take all of us and our gear. Our flight was only about four hours and went very well, we only had one minor setback! Upon arrival to resolute we managed to load all of our gear and ourselves into three large vans and made our way to the hotel. Surprisingly the hotel is rather large and comparable to a maze! There are rooms and hallways everywhere and it is going to take a little while to find everything. We then went for a walk around the whole town...it is very small. We saw some polar bear skins outside and even some puppies! I'm sure we looked rather silly walking around with our big boots, snow pants, and parkas with our fur hoods pulled close around our faces! At least we were warm! I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!!!

Northern Lights

2009-04-18T10:23:00.002-04:00

I found myself on my back in the ditch with my head swirling. This is what comes of spinning around while looking up at the northern lights. The snow was three feet deep so it was an adventure getting out with my parka on. It was around 1:30 am Yellowknife time when I fell in the ditch. I've been awake for about 22 hours and am even more pumped about this expedition. I'm really looking forward to ice kiting soon. This is amazing!

Warm Greetings

2009-04-18T01:54:00.002-04:00

We've all arrived safely at Yellowknife and settled at the hotel. I feel very at home with these friendly fellow Canadians! Surprisingly walking out of the plane with my sweaters expecting to see my breath, I actually ended up just wearing a t-shirt around! The temperatures in Resolute and Eureka are very cold, however - so we will have very good use for the parkas we tried on today.
It's dark out as I'm typing this, and a group of us are driving out to get away from the city lights... to enjoy the northern lights! It's a great clear night, and we can even see a great streak of green rising from the horizon just outside. I want to reach up and grab them so I can show you.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go... leaving on a jet plane.

2009-04-17T17:20:00.003-04:00

I can't believe I leave today!! I just finished up the last of the packing, luckily my winter clothes weren't that far down in the closet. Here in Alberta it is finally heating up, with only a few patches of snow left. So I'm super excited to head back into the snow for this awesome Arctic adventure. Most people I've talked to think this trip is cool too (I could bring along a few body bags full) and I feel lucky to be chosen. Just a few more things to get ready, then I'm off to catch my plane!!

Looking forward to being there and meeting everybody!

Friday Morning

2009-04-17T09:29:00.003-04:00

Well, I've been here two days now and thoroughly enjoying it. Yellowknife seems like it would be a great place to visit in the summer. The food has been great. The chance to meet and talk with other teachers and the CANDAC people has been so much fun. I've learned a lot about Canada so far and I haven't even met the students yet to hear their stories.
The northern lights were amazing to see the other night.
We're looking forward to the arrival of the students and the journey to Resolute.

The Final Day Before the Arctic

2009-04-16T20:14:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone,
Over the past couple weeks the excitement has just been building and building, and now that the trip is so close, I'm almost ready to burst!! I have spent the last three days gathering all the things I want to take and just finished stuffing everything in my suitcase, luckily it all fits! After saying goodbye to everyone at school and unfortunately recieving a whole bunch of work that "I'll miss out on during the trip", I feel totally ready to embark on this adventure. I am looking forward to and really cannot wait to meet all the CANDAC participants going and I'm totally pumped at the idea of exploring what the Arctic has to offer!

160km down thousands more to go!

2009-04-16T19:35:00.003-04:00

Hello folks, I'm the newfie of the group and I am super excited. I can't believe this is the night before our big trip. I don't know about the rest of the participants but this is my first time flying and I'm quite nervous. However I'm sure the adventures and experiences we'll encounter will definately be worth it.
Well I look forward to meeting and sharing the upcoming experiences with all of you.

'Twas the night before CANDAC

2009-04-16T18:39:00.001-04:00

'Twas the night before CANDAC, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except Britney and her computer mouse;
Her luggage was stacked in the minivan with care,
In hopes that her 10AM flight would soon be there;
Her parents were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of their daughter in a parka danced in their heads;
And the other participants on Facebook in the CANDAC group
Were also preparing to 'fly the coop',
When in Britney's head there arose such a clatter,
She checked all her lists to see what was the matter.
Away to her bedroom she started to dash,
Tore open her backpack, and got her camera - with the flash.
She was looking forward to the northern promise of snow,
And the fact that with respect to zero, the temperature was far below,
When, what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But the sudden revelation that her trip was quite near.
During last minute packing she had to move pretty quick,
She was running out of time and could hear the clock tick.
More rapid than stallions 7AM came,
And she woke on her keyboard to the sound of her name:
"Now, Britney! Your flight's soon! Go get in the car!
If you miss the flight to Vancouver, you won't get very far!
Re-check your list! Make sure you have it all!
Now cross it off, pack it away, and dash away all!"
She was soon at the airport, and waiting to fly,
Hoping for no delays or obstacles in her trip in the sky,
So up to the Arctic she flew,
With the bag full of warm clothes, snacks and other things too.
And then, in a twinkling, she heard the pilot say,
"Yellowknife is only 20 minutes away."
As she zipped up her bags, northward bound,
She felt her heart beginning to pound.
She was dressed all in fleece, from her head to her foot,
But unlike Santa, she wasn't covered in soot.
A bundle of notebooks she had flung on her back,
And she had some homework she just had to pack...
Her eyes twinkled, and her face was so merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, like a little Arctic fairy!
Her droll little blog matched her trademark hair bow,
They're both quite quirky, and now they're covered in snow;
The smile she wore showed all of her teeth,
And she wore her enthusiasm proudly like a wreath;
She really hoped that her luggage wasn't sticky or smelly
Due to turbulance that shook the plane like a bowl full of jelly.
She was smiling and joyful like a Christmas elf,
She wasn't worried that she was making a fool of herself;
With so many exciting thoughts in her head,
She knew from this trip she had nothing to dread;
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
To find where to go in the airport and not have to lurk,
After encountering several "I don't know"s,
A group gave a nod, and Britney's smile arose;
They went to the hotel, but the cold didn't make them bristle,
They immediately knew that this group was not fissile.
They all began to exclaim, as they relaxed after their flights:
"I hope nobody snores in the next 10 nights!"

A. Borealis

2009-04-16T10:24:00.005-04:00

As Tara mentioned we had the opportunity to see auroras last night. I've seen both the northern and southern lights before but never really tried photographing them. I finally had some success last night so here's a few images. I didn't have much time to play around with the camera settings, but at least you can see some color.

Aurora

2009-04-16T03:22:00.003-04:00

I'm sure someone will post pictures tomorrow, and I'll do my best to collect some for a picture album on the official website, but I just had to mention that the CANDAC folks and NEP teachers just spent the most amazing hour marvelling at the Northern Lights.

It's late. We're all exhausted. We've already pushed tomorrow's breakfast back by an hour, but I'm willing to bet that everyone there will tell you that it was worth it. A million times over.

I have all my fingers crossed that the students have as much luck as we just did when they get here in a couple of days.

Good night all. Stay tuned for a more comprehensive summary of our day....coming to you sometime tomorrow.

The Twelve Days Before CANDAC

2009-04-15T01:50:00.002-04:00

I love re-writing songs so that they fit with my life. Here's a little diddy I've been updating daily for the last 10 days (I pre-did the next two days):

On the first day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the second day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the third day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the fourth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the fifth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the sixth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the seventh day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Seven Whales A-Swimming, Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the eighth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Eight Maids A-Hiking, Seven Whales A-Swimming, Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the ninth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Nine Britneys Dancing, Eight Maids A-Hiking, Seven Whales A-Swimming, Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the tenth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Ten Arctic Hares A-Leaping, Nine Britneys Dancing, Eight Maids A-Hiking, Seven Whales A-Swimming, Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the eleventh day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Eleven Typers Typing, Ten Arctic Hares A-Leaping, Nine Britneys Dancing, Eight Maids A-Hiking, Seven Whales A-Swimming, Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.
On the twelfth day of waiting, my two gloves gave to me Twelve Flights A-Coming, Eleven Typers Typing, Ten Arctic Hares A-Leaping, Nine Britneys Dancing, Eight Maids A-Hiking, Seven Whales A-Swimming, Six Parkas Zipping, Five Ringed Seals, Four Sprawling Landscapes, Three "Going when?"s, Two Turtlenecks and a Polar Bear chasing me.

In Yellowknife

2009-04-15T00:35:00.005-04:00

And after a grueling flight from Toronto to Edmonton featuring endless numbers of fidgeting, and seemingly parentless children, the CANDAC crew has arrived at the Coast Fraser!

We arrived in style in our rented mini van, and are ready to get down to business bright and early tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures from the first leg of our trip, so here's a picture of Ashley's and my hotel room with all of our luggage.

Teachers arrive tomorrow!

Started the adventure early

2009-04-14T22:34:00.002-04:00

Hello to all
I left Nunavut a few days ago to get a head start on this adventure. From Arviat I flew into Yellowknife and jumped on to a small plane and flew to a fishing lodge where I spent a couple of days, you guessed it, fishing. I meet people from seven different countries there, all were there to experience the Northern Lights, except me I just wanted to fish. Everybody wants to come and experience the north. Who can blame them, you may not want to leave yourself after this experience.
All my lesson plans are finished and setting on my desk for the supply teacher. Let me tell you that was the hardest part of all this. We are actually on spring break right now and school goes back on April 20th, so I only had a few days of planning to do.
See you all shortly
Mike

More Fun Than A Hovercraft Full Of Eels!

2009-04-12T16:29:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited that I can't resist peeking at the blog every so often. I just checked out the link that Jasmine put up, and I saw that "my hovercraft is full of eels" is under the category of "Useful Inuktitut phrases." Obviously this is going to be quite the epic journey.

Everyone at Esquimalt High School can attest to the fact that I am addicted to making puns. (Seven days without a pun makes one weak.) I feel that it's only fair to give all NEP participants a warning about that. It's part of the "quirky sense of humour" mentioned in my application. In order to help you develop a little bit of immunity from my punfortunate sayings:
Q: What did the big furry hat say to the warm wooly scarf?
A: "You hang around while I go on ahead."

One Week and Counting

2009-04-12T01:35:00.003-04:00

The anticipation inside me keeps growing and spontaneous adrenaline rushes sneak up on me as I prepare for our arctic adventure. Even the weather here in Port Coquitlam, BC is egging me on; just last week it snowed again to help acclimatize me to the cold (in April!! -very unusual) although now I am enjoying the first warm days of spring before disembarking to Yellowknife on Friday. The new climate is definitely going to be a welcomed change.
Putting my regular routine on hold is very exciting. Every time I step out of my habits, time seems to pass incredibly slower and more vividly than normal. The plan is to absorb insane amounts of information in this period of time and yet slow down enough to enjoy!
And yes, with my notebook and camera ready, I will be sure to take pictures galore and tell you all just what happens!

Just a sidenote: I'm going to learn some Inuktitut phrases just for fun! In case anyone else is interested, heres a website: http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/inuktitut.php

The Magic of the North

2009-04-11T20:56:00.002-04:00

Well, here it goes. I've never blogged before but the concept fascinates me. As a teacher I see my students using the Internet and its resources like crazy and I'm just trying to keep up. I'm not envious of the students who will have more than a week's worth of homework to catch on (as I attempt to plan lessons for a supply teacher for the same time period), but this experience will be so worth it.
Courtney mentions the magic of the north and since it was announced that I was going on this trip I've found out how much Canadians love the north. I applied to go out of my own dreams to see the north but everyone I talk to tells me how jealous they are. Even deep in southern Ontario where I live people love the north and want to see it. My instructions are to get lots of pictures.
I'm looking forward to meeting teachers and students from across Canada. I hope we establish bonds of friendship that will continue long after.

Greetings from the token Northerner

2009-04-11T13:07:00.000-04:00

I currently live in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and I LOVE THE NORTH! Now it is cold 80% of the year, and there are weeks in the spring and fall when the trucks can't bring groceries up, but Yellowknife and the rest of the north, still has this magnetic pull that draws you in and makes you fall in love with the area, the people and the culture. Yellowknife is full of vibrant people, who have had to come up with ways to fight going crazy in the long, dark winter months. Where else can you find ugly truck and dog contests, or a Walmart whose biggest competitor is the town dump? Where else in the world are snowmobiles allowed to go anywhere in town except for the main street? Where else do you find people willing to create traffic jams just to let a ptarmigan (which is the silliest bird in existance) cross the street safely? Where else can you stay up 24 hours and never see the moon? Only in the north. In the north being an artist or musician is as noble a profession as working in the mines, and just as common. Even better, it only takes a 5 minute drive out of town to completely lose yourself in nature. The north is still largely untouched by humans. It is one of the few places where you can still hear silence. The north is my home, and I can not wait to see more of it. I am so excited to meet the other participants and show off my city!

Much Ado About Packing

2009-04-11T01:24:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's getting to be that time: the weekend of packing. I think I'm going to spend just as much time - if not more - searching for socks and gloves this weekend as I do looking for Easter eggs. I'm not feeling at all listless: I have plenty of lists, and plenty of energy.
I'm going to be missing a week's worth of Physics 12, Calculus 12 and Literature 12 classes... While that is a daunting thought, I am really looking forward to the trip. One of my goals for the Northern Experience is to learn one thing that could be considered relevant to each of my three courses, and bring it back to share with my class.
I think it's worth mentioning that I have had the song "Take Off (To The Great White North)" stuck in my head for the past week. For those of you who haven't heard it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot70G4wSQi0

Anxiously Anticipating an Awesome Arctic-stravaganza!

2009-04-09T20:46:00.000-04:00

All of this excitement is causing auspicious Arctic alliteration, as you can tell from this post's title. For the last few weeks I've been talking to a lot of people about our upcoming Northern Experience. The reactions vary from "WHOA! THAT'S INCREDIBLE!" to "Why are you going there?" The most common is "I hope you don't freeze." I especially love the wide variety of comments concerning polar bears:

Can you take a picture of a polar bear?
You should get a polar bear's autograph.
Bring me back a polar bear.
Don't make polar bears mad.
If you see a polar bear and it wants to give you a hug, don't fall for it.
Tell me if polar bears really drink Coca Cola, like in the commercial.
And etcetera...

As you can tell, everybody loves to give advice...especially about polar bears... One of my friends asked if I was going to meet Santa, while another said "The Arctic, is that the one with the penguins?" Essentially, the reactions have been priceless and memorable. Many people are eagerly awaiting the presentations I've promised to make when I get home, and many others are envious of me for getting to go on this trip.

In case you were wondering, I'm from Victoria, British Columbia. The weather here has been getting more and more sunny lately, and when it has rained it's been rather warm. It's currently 6 o'clock, and a bright and a sunny 13-degrees Celsius. In short, I will have quite a shocking change of scenery in a week's time. True North, here I come!

NEP - the countdown begins!

2009-04-09T13:14:00.001-04:00

Greetings everyone. Welcome to the NEP blog.

Here you will (hopefully) find posts written by all 26 participants of the Northern Experience Program. Stay tuned for news of this once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Outreach Coordinator Update:

Things are coming together! Can't wait to catch that plane on Tuesday!

Some links of interest:

http://www.norwichgazette.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1503778

http://northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1461518

http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2009/env/0304n01.htm

http://www.cambridgereporter.ca/news/article/166540

http://northumberlandnews.com/article/123313

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