Just Qik'in Around

As different as day and night...

2010-06-24T13:16:00.001-04:00

Is it blasphemous to say that you don't want to see the sun? I suppose it would be if you had read my blog entries from the dark season last year, but my attention span is quite short. I so sick of the sun; actually, no, that's not true...I miss the night. It's been months since I've seen true darkness and, with the summer solstice this week, it is even more obvious. I'm so tired.

Actually, something that is blasphemous is the state of this blog. I've been in my new home for more than a week yet have only written one entry. What's that about? It's not like I've been crazy with work - at least not work that I get paid for...I'm officially on summer vacation.

Qikiqtarjuaq, my new hometown, is still a mystery to me. I have been too much of a hermit, but I think I needed a little bit of that after leaving Pang; sure, it would've been nice to do that on some tropical beach - to not have to speak with anyone and, instead, drink girly drinks - but that really wasn't an option. Here my company has been Judge Pirro, Judge Joe Brown, Maury, and the Cake Boss. The first three confirm my life could be a whole lot worse and that last one tells me where I want to visit the next time I visit the New York tri-state area.

Now, for moving day...

You see, Scarlett and Gryphon could tell there was something going on as soon as the boxes started coming out. Wow, I hate packing; they could probably pick up on this as well. Something I figured out? A handful of lavendar in the dog carrier works wonders...they're still jumping in and out!

I was packing (with a lot of help) right down to the wire. I did, however, get a few hours of sleep in the nasty light. The morning of my departure the ravens had gathered to pick through the garbage; those birds are crazy! I think I've always associated them with crows (sorry Clare), but they're totally different...and quite devious. Check out their size in this picture: I know the lighting makes it difficult to see the dogs, but the bird is bigger than both!

Now, I have a few pictures of leaving Pangnirtung, but I think I will focus more on the arrival in Qikiqtarjuaq...new adventures are better than old goodbyes. Check these pictures out:

Over Auyuittuq Park...

The hamlet of Qikiqtarjuaq...

The landing strip...

...and everything looks sub-standard because of my crappy camera...

The flight came in on a beautiful day; one during which I actually appreciated the sun. As with all of my northern experiences, it seems like people are generally happy, confused, or busy when you arrive at an airport; I've never really met anyone who was angry...ok, maybe I should add 'frustrated' to that list. When I got off the plane I was determined to be happy but this was met with either confusion or frustration.

No one was at the airport to meet me, so I asked someone to take me to the housing office, and I don't think anyone was too impressed.You see, even though I had contacted someone at housing the previous week on the phone, everyone else claimed to have no idea that I was arriving. The person I had spoken with had actually gone on vacation without telling anyone!!! Fortunately, they ended up giving me the master key to my unit...a unit that had been allocated to my position but to which the paperwork hadn't been completed. Ahh!

When I finally got into my place, I realized how much of a waste it was to bring some of the stuff I did from Pang. I didn't have a huge 'house sale' because I thought I was moving into a similar housing unit...a housing unit with nothing but furniture - not even a shower curtain! Ok knew it had a tv and a microwave, but I didn't know it had absolutely everything else. Dishes, cutlery, pots, pans, towels, bookshelves, coffeepot, etc. This list goes on and on. I could've made so much money in Pang by selling stuff, but it's a nasty lesson I had to learn the hard way.

Anyway, I met a few people and, although they probably think I'm a little crazy, it's better that they find that out now. My dogs, as always, have already earned me an identity ('the girl with the two little dogs'). I don't particularly think it's the best thing and, unfortunately, it's going to get worse - explanation to follow. I suppose I'll survive. The biggest problem that I'm having with them now would be the kids; yes, I'm guilty of not having them socialized enough for the jerkiness and unexpected movements of children. The little girl next door comes over daily asking to see them, and I feel sooo rude when I say no. That's the way, however, I've been advised to react. Now it's to the point of kids tormenting the pups from outside..."hi doggies, what are you doing? Ruff, ruff, ruff!"...while the dogs get worked up into a frenzy and bark until they vomit.

Now, explanation of the comment above? My little northern family will be welcoming a brand new St. Bernard this summer. Yup, it's true. Last year it would've been perfect. This year, however, I'm a bit scared of what the kids will get up to...I can't leave her alone in the house with the little dogs when I'm at work, so I'll have to be a bit creative. I guess you'll get a laugh from my updates throughout the year.

Anyway, I have to run. My plane south to a land with a moon and stars begins tomorrow morning. I'm tired. I want to rest with the convenience of Indian food and lassie (or maybe wings and a cold beer) - something I haven't enjoyed in almost a year. I spent Christmas in the north and, though I made a weekend trip to Ottawa for an emergency visit to the vet, I haven't had the chance to fully enjoy grass and trees and lattes and Tim's coffee and movie theaters and roadtrips and and and...a full day/night cycle.

Please, no more earthquakes...I want to be in Ottawa by 5 pm tomorrow.

A front-end loader, I shit you not...

2010-06-18T01:51:00.001-04:00

When you move to a new place there is a lot you can say - both good and bad. I have both. What I'll start with, though, is the funniest...

You see, it was one misstep after another when I first arrived. Grin and bear it, right? Blah, blah, blah (those stories can be saved for another post). The fact that I had no water, no phone, and a housing office that had no record of me were all par for the course in the north. What was really frustrating was that it took me two days hunting around and asking absolute strangers if I could hire them to help me move my stuff from the tiny airport. No luck until this afternoon.

This afternoon, after many rebuffs from this wonderful northern carrier, good ole First Air, I got lucky. I've never had problems with them before; in fact, I've always preferred their cuisine. What I've found, though, is that community-based airports are far from standard. Though I live very close to the runway (and the First Air cube van drives back and forth all the time), I could not organize a delivery.

My solution, I shit you not, was something I won't forget. This is my view to the front (and down):

...and this is the view behind...

I was basically standing on the 'loader' part of a front-end loader being delivered to the airport in a grand fashion. When I got there, the guy holding down the fort said, "how is it possible that you've been in town for only a few days, yet you are able to find a taxi?" All I could think was, "It wasn't without difficulties."

Ta da!

And these are the guys after dropping off my stuff...

And this is, I can say, a happy ending I can sink my teeth into...

I'm waiting for the warmth...

2010-06-12T13:32:00.000-04:00

It's June 12th. It's 2.0 C out there right now. It's 1.1 C in Qikiqtarjuaq right now. In Ottawa - where I'll be in a few weeks - it's already in the mid-20s. I haven't experienced that kind of heat since last August! The reality of spending time in the north is only now hitting; in the winter you notice that it's colder than the south, but it's still cold in Ottawa. Now all I can think of is that it's June and I wore my mittens to school yesterday.

I'm writing on this blog when I know that I should probably continue boxing my stuff. I know that it probably looks worse than it is, but packing to this extent is not really my strong suit. Unpacking, on the other hand, works well for me. Next week at this time, I'm hoping to be drinking my coffee curled up with a new view to take in. I also hope to have my internet hooked up to report it all. Yay!

Just waiting...

2010-06-09T19:11:00.001-04:00

Even though I'll be living in Qikiqtarjuaq a week from today, both my parents and my friend who travelled here from Seoul have already been there. What's that about? For those of you who don't know, First Air and Canadian North fly a standard route: Iqaluit-Pangnirtung-Qikiqtarjuaq-Pangnirtung-Iqaluit. Knock out the weather in Pang and you're set for a loop around. This is what I've seen so far...

...flying in...I don't really know if you're supposed to see the hamlet down there. With a population of about 600, perhaps the buildings would melt into the snowscape. I guess I'll see next week.

Next there's the evening sun through the clouds. This one's actually taken at the airport. I'm pretty psyched that it's not completely flat. Although it's not as mountainous as Pang, there are still hills; the result is that it feels more open...not as cramped. A plane next to the landing platform would be nice though.

And the last picture is the one which interests me the most; the local airport residents. I realize that pets are pets and sled dogs are sled dogs but, regardless of your personal thoughts on who you share your house with, one has to agree that they are beautiful creatures.

...they do, however, look a bit ominous...I'll give you that..

..but, hey, this pic was taken when there was barely any snow in Pang! It looks like I'm going to get a longer snowmobile season next year...