Planes, Trains and Automobiles

-18 and partly cloudy in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:23 and Sunset at 16:51.
9 more minutes than my last blog.  The hotel curtain is staying open until 16:51!

Well the smallest plane I flew on was Bearskin out of Kitchener.

They put my carry-on in that little open cubby in the plane in front of the cockpit.

It had a capacity of 19 people but there were less than 10.

You could watch exactly what the pilots were doing "with their instruments." 

The planes were bigger from there.  Go figure!

Travels went smoothly but were tiring.  Lots of views of crazy winding snowy rivers.

I have arrived in Inuvik today!

I will be doing 4 days of orientation and heading to Tsiigehtchic on Friday.

I haven't seen much yet but will probably have a lot to report on tomorrow!

Drin Gwiinzii

16 Candles

-28 with clear skies in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:28 and Sunset at 16:47.
19 more minutes that yesterday.  I will be there to see it shortly!

It is two hours earlier in Tsiigehtchic than it is here.
Therefore this post is really Friday at 10:42 pm and not Saturday at 12:42 am.

Last supper was at Wild Wings with family. 
The Country Girl with Pineapple and Thai sauce.

I just got my full itinerary today.  Yes I am flying tomorrow...:)
I have ended up on this journey because I am an adventurous person.
Most people would be chewing their nails off waiting for the move and flight information.
It was unerving but generally I knew it would work itself out.

I stood on two suitcases a few minutes ago and beat them down so they will close.
One more left to go.  I have to get all the last minute stuff in there.

I have cleaned and shuffled things I meant to put away since we moved to our new house July 15, 2009.
Took care of a lot of odds and ends I have been meaning to get to since forever.
There were some people I didn't get around to see but I got a lot done.

 Jonathan and Joanna Dancing at the Wedding

I contacted my children in the middle of this process and received a letter from their adoptive mother today.  I was just 16 when Jonathan was born.  Jonathan is soon to be 22 and Joanna is soon to be 16.  Joanna is doing well and almost finished Grade 10.  A lovely girl who gives so much of herself to others.  Jonathan was married last year and has a son, Isaiah.  He is also step-father to a little girl, Danielle with whom he shares his love.   It is still sinking in that I am a grandma.  I think I need a cake to go with that.

Not everyone knows my story but it seems a good moment to share more about myself with others.

Drin Gwiinzii  

Elvis has Left the Building

-29 with a few clouds in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:37 and Sunset at 16:37.
9 more minutes than yesterday.  Keep it coming!

The movers came and went today.
There was a 2.5 hour delay but they came.

Rolled out the red carpet and have now left the building.
One guy was carrying boxes on his back.
$1500.00 for 1300.00 lbs at 0.65 cents a pound plus taxes and fuel and a red carpet. 

I will be interested to know the actual weigh in before they leave to go to Edmonton. 
I don't know the cost of the rest of the way.
Probably the same since its pretty close to the same distance.

Two days to go!

Waiting for Godot

-29 and partly cloudy in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 11:41 and Sunset at 16:32.
40 more minutes than my last blog.  Yahoo!

Waiting for pick up of all my boxes.  Waiting.
Roger that...still waiting.

Looks like my last supper will be with family.
My nephew has a basketball game in Newmarket Friday.
We will go out with him and his mom after.
My brother and soon to be sister in law will hopefully make it out as well.

I have sworn an oath to be back in town for the wedding this summer.

Have to make the wedding present from items that can only be found in nature.
So far I've only figured out snowshoes and ice fishing.
Maybe I will learn some other talents. 
I think carving walrus tusks is illegal.

Titanic and other Kitchener Highlights

-38 with light snow in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 12:00 and Sunset at 16:11.
9 more minutes than yesterday.  Tanning anyone?

Apple Fritters at the Farmers Market in St. Jacobs
and perhaps the Titanic exhibit today.

Movies at home with snacks from The Bulk Barn this evening.

Got to get thinking about what to eat for my last supper in Kitchener.
I will be flying out of the Kitchener airport for the first time ever!

8 Days and 7 Nights

It is -41 with clear skies in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 12:04 and sunset at 16.06.
21 more minutes than my last blog.  Woohoo!

The employment offer and relevant paperwork now signed.
Will be getting a call from "removals," shortly. 

Resistance is futile.  The flight is scheduled for January 29. 2011.

Arrested Development. Failure to Launch.

Seems to be a movie theme here.

-28 with a few clouds in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise 12:14 and Sunset at 15:55
Ten more minutes than yesterday.  Keep shining sun!

Lift off has been postponed to January 29, 2010 due to administrative difficulties.
I now have a week to clean the house before I go.  Seriously!

I'd rather be job developing!  LOL

Watching Ray Mears - Artic Survival
Learned how to make emergency snowshoes and ice fish.

Need to go learn some more about how to pronouce words in the Gwich'in language.

Drin Gwiinzii

Are 20 boxes enough for 10 months in Tsiigehtchic? Keep packing!

- 24 degress and light snow in Tsiigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 12:19 and Sunset at 15:50.
Ten more minutes of sun than yesterday.  Nice!

Aerial Photograph

I am hoping that the grey trailer with the sign on it in this pic is the wellness centre.
I will soon find out.  Here is the scene in May 2010 during a 24 hour day.

5 Days to Lift Off

Are you sure this shouldn't say Hollywood?



-31 degrees and clear skies in Tsigehtchic today.
Sunrise at 12:24 and Sunset at 15:44.



Tsiigehtchic is a Gwich'in community with a band council that actively preserves the culture of the people.

You can see and hear clips of the language in spoken form on this website.
http://www.gwichin.ca/

Tsiigehtchic Trailer

I think this is a picture of the Wellness Centre in Tsiigehtchic where I will be working and living.  It is a small town of 100 people.  48 Houses.  A store, post office and gas bar.  There is a small school that goes up to grade 8.  The students go to High School in Inuvik which is an hour and a half away. 

The Magic Bus is from the movie, "Into the Wild."  The pic in my first post is Emile Hirsch who played Chris McCandless in the movie based on a true story of his journey to Alaska and the time he spent in the Magic Bus. 

Preparing for 318 days North of 60.

That's 45 weeks and three days or 7632 hours.  Currently shopping, planning, organizing and generally wondering about this new adventure.  Needed a Canada Goose Jacket and Icebreaker base layers (AKA really expensive long underwear with highly scientific explanations of how it will keep you warm and dry).  A lighweight breathable clothing system that wicks away moisture...bet your clothes don't do that.  I am not sure if that is something I really want my clothes to do.  I will let you know after they get their first day out.

10 days to take off...Charlie my 12 year old Jack Russell Terrier is going to the vet tomorrow to get a license for a pair of doggy wings.  Puppy power might not get him off the ground anymore.  He can no longer leap tall buildings but yes he is coming over 6000 kilometers with me to the Northwest Territories.