It was . . . . an experience.
I don't believe in public slander and there's never any real reason for burning bridges so, I'll just say this: I left on my own terms and I have no regrets.
It'll cost you at least two drinks if you want the rest.
I'm lucky enough to be joining Canada Post here in Iqaluit as a Full-Time Assistant the day after my Birthday and I couldn't be more excited. For the first time in 12 years I'll have a day job and weekends off. What do people do on Friday Nights anyways? . . .
In all honesty, this is a move I made for Steph and for a more secure and dependant future. The lifestyle is different and something she can count on a little more. I'm excited because it's a federal position and I'll actually be home to spend time with her. I can't tell you how many nights we've spent where the only time we saw eachother was when we'd come home from different shifts and found eachother sleeping. I'm normal . . . and grown up now. Oh boy.
My short term goal is to try and change Townie Bastard's opinion of the Post Office by the end of 2010.
Wish me luck!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
19 Hours of Sun
You don't believe it until you see it.
Lately, the sun has barely been setting. Even when it seems like dusk you can still see the lighter shade of blue peer out from the horizon. The sun goes down to that level around 10 pm but rises again by 2am. Now, if you were a plant this would be your vacation spot but, I'm one of those people who has trouble sleeping as it is.
Either way, it's quite amazing to experience. All the pictures you see of people who take daylight photos at 3am are completely true. If you should ever make it up here, be prepared to wake up suddenly and think you've slept 2 days away. Wind your watches, change the batteries in your clocks, because lately I don't know what time is what time.
Lately, the sun has barely been setting. Even when it seems like dusk you can still see the lighter shade of blue peer out from the horizon. The sun goes down to that level around 10 pm but rises again by 2am. Now, if you were a plant this would be your vacation spot but, I'm one of those people who has trouble sleeping as it is.
Either way, it's quite amazing to experience. All the pictures you see of people who take daylight photos at 3am are completely true. If you should ever make it up here, be prepared to wake up suddenly and think you've slept 2 days away. Wind your watches, change the batteries in your clocks, because lately I don't know what time is what time.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Has it really been 8 Months?
It all flew by. . .
8 months have felt like 2 weeks. It's like the feeling you get on your last day of vacation but, ours isn't over yet. Life in the north has been a never ending surprise of turns and events that we've come to realise will have an everlasting affect on the both of us.
Getting to know this part of Canada was a risk we'd would take all over again. We call it a risk because when we first decided to take this journey, we were both scared. Our first few months were rocky, isolated, and stressful both individually and as a couple but, when the smoke cleared, we came out better and stronger. This place has that affect on you. Maybe there's something inspiring in the beauty of the white that covers your life most of the year or maybe the people you meet here move you with their experiences. Maybe the never ending dark months and the endless days of sunlight help eliminate the grey areas in your life. Anyway you look at it, Iqaluit will change you.
Friends have come and gone and are still coming and going. We've said goodbye to a few already and we're about to say goodbye to a very important one. The hardest part about being up here is that you miss your old life, old town, and old friends. But, what's even harder is meeting new people and knowing that your relationships or friendships may have an expiry date. It's the bittersweet part of life in the north. I will promise you that some of the people you meet up here are truly inspirational people. The musicians, the journalists, even the people at the Post-Office are great great people. Some of the friends we've made up here will definitely be people we'll know for a very long time. You'd never expect to meet people who fit in so well with you and who you are but, they're up here and it's great.
8 months later Iqaluit was still the right choice. It's been up and down but, we're still up. We miss home, we miss Tim Horton's and we'll always miss High Speed Internet but, we still love it up here. We'd still tell anyone and everyone that it's worth coming.
Thank you Iqaluit.
8 months have felt like 2 weeks. It's like the feeling you get on your last day of vacation but, ours isn't over yet. Life in the north has been a never ending surprise of turns and events that we've come to realise will have an everlasting affect on the both of us.
Getting to know this part of Canada was a risk we'd would take all over again. We call it a risk because when we first decided to take this journey, we were both scared. Our first few months were rocky, isolated, and stressful both individually and as a couple but, when the smoke cleared, we came out better and stronger. This place has that affect on you. Maybe there's something inspiring in the beauty of the white that covers your life most of the year or maybe the people you meet here move you with their experiences. Maybe the never ending dark months and the endless days of sunlight help eliminate the grey areas in your life. Anyway you look at it, Iqaluit will change you.
Friends have come and gone and are still coming and going. We've said goodbye to a few already and we're about to say goodbye to a very important one. The hardest part about being up here is that you miss your old life, old town, and old friends. But, what's even harder is meeting new people and knowing that your relationships or friendships may have an expiry date. It's the bittersweet part of life in the north. I will promise you that some of the people you meet up here are truly inspirational people. The musicians, the journalists, even the people at the Post-Office are great great people. Some of the friends we've made up here will definitely be people we'll know for a very long time. You'd never expect to meet people who fit in so well with you and who you are but, they're up here and it's great.
8 months later Iqaluit was still the right choice. It's been up and down but, we're still up. We miss home, we miss Tim Horton's and we'll always miss High Speed Internet but, we still love it up here. We'd still tell anyone and everyone that it's worth coming.
Thank you Iqaluit.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Trews - Toonik Tyme
I’ll always remember April 2010 as the time when The Trews came to Iqaluit. There was this buzz around town about it. Everyone you talked to was either up in arms about the cost of the band coming or they didn't care and were just so happy to see a show. Either way, there was a buzz.
The band stayed at the Nova and made an appearance in the pub the night before their much anticipated appearance at the Curling Club. They signed autographs for those who approached and signed T-Shirts, DVD’s, and CD’s for local promotions and charities. Kyle was playing in the pub that night and they happily sung along with what he played. What surprised me the most was that they seemed more amazed to be up here than we did about them coming. As the acting bartender, I fielded a lot of the usual questions you’d get from people who aren’t used to being up here but somehow it came across as charming. The guys genuinely seemed interested about the city and what happens up here. One thing is for sure, they were all proud to have seen this part of the country and they made it clear to me as well as others. True Canadians.
They drank us out of Moosehead and were the last ones out of the bar but they were all incredibly kind, generous and fun people to be around. If you didn’t recognize them you’d have thought they were just another group of people that’s how well they fit in after a few hours. I don’t know if it’s legal to have played that many Black Crowes tunes off one iPod in a single night either! I don’t need to fluff anyones feathers or glorify someone because of their pop culture status, but I find it necessary to share the insights I discover. It helps break the prejudice and assumptions that people often carry for people who have status. The entire Trews outfit were nothing short of friendly, fun and respectful people.
When the night of the show came around the Curling Rink was full. Everywhere you looked you saw familiar and excited faces. It was so communal to share that excitement and to all be there holding the same anticipation. Concerts are more quality than quantity in Iqaluit however, this one felt big. Whether you were a fan or not, the accessibility of The Trews music was inescapable; you knew their songs. And it was evident from the second they walked on stage . . .
The lights went out . . . and the speakers rang out the organ intro to The Band’s “Chest Fever”. It was a musical way of saying Here comes the rock”. The band walked on, the crowd screamed and finally the show was here. For the better part of 2 hours the band filled the rink with a jammed packed set of Trews classics. Within the first 30 minutes we heard “Fleeting Trust”, “So She’s Leaving”, “Ready To Go”, and “Poor Ol Broken Hearted Me”. The onslaught seemed relentless but eventually slowed down when the band came a little more forward on stage yet stripped back for an acoustic set. The crowd was overwhelming and ate up everything from the ever-popular “Sing Your Heart Out” to new cuts like “Highway for Heroes”. It wasn’t long before the band plugged back in and performed extended and remixed versions of classic favourites like “Tired of Waiting” and “Yearning”. They even threw in a crowd sing-a-long of “ K’naan’s new Canadian anthem “Wavin’ Flag” just for good measure.
It may have cost $15,000 for the performance fee and it may have meant that the local opening acts played for the love of music (which means FOR FREE) but, it was something special and something that I’ll remember for a long time. When you looked around at the hundreds of faces, there wasn’t one single person in that rink that wasn’t beaming with joy. Not one.
I don’t think it’s in good taste to tell the stories of how drunk the band got after the show or how their drummer “missed his flight” the next morning; you can always ask me in person! This was a great night to be in Iqaluit and a great night to be Canadian.
My first Toonik Tyme was a great one.
And Sean Dalton, if you’re reading this: I hope you finally got home safe and... you’re a $&%#’in Legend!
The band stayed at the Nova and made an appearance in the pub the night before their much anticipated appearance at the Curling Club. They signed autographs for those who approached and signed T-Shirts, DVD’s, and CD’s for local promotions and charities. Kyle was playing in the pub that night and they happily sung along with what he played. What surprised me the most was that they seemed more amazed to be up here than we did about them coming. As the acting bartender, I fielded a lot of the usual questions you’d get from people who aren’t used to being up here but somehow it came across as charming. The guys genuinely seemed interested about the city and what happens up here. One thing is for sure, they were all proud to have seen this part of the country and they made it clear to me as well as others. True Canadians.
They drank us out of Moosehead and were the last ones out of the bar but they were all incredibly kind, generous and fun people to be around. If you didn’t recognize them you’d have thought they were just another group of people that’s how well they fit in after a few hours. I don’t know if it’s legal to have played that many Black Crowes tunes off one iPod in a single night either! I don’t need to fluff anyones feathers or glorify someone because of their pop culture status, but I find it necessary to share the insights I discover. It helps break the prejudice and assumptions that people often carry for people who have status. The entire Trews outfit were nothing short of friendly, fun and respectful people.
When the night of the show came around the Curling Rink was full. Everywhere you looked you saw familiar and excited faces. It was so communal to share that excitement and to all be there holding the same anticipation. Concerts are more quality than quantity in Iqaluit however, this one felt big. Whether you were a fan or not, the accessibility of The Trews music was inescapable; you knew their songs. And it was evident from the second they walked on stage . . .
The lights went out . . . and the speakers rang out the organ intro to The Band’s “Chest Fever”. It was a musical way of saying Here comes the rock”. The band walked on, the crowd screamed and finally the show was here. For the better part of 2 hours the band filled the rink with a jammed packed set of Trews classics. Within the first 30 minutes we heard “Fleeting Trust”, “So She’s Leaving”, “Ready To Go”, and “Poor Ol Broken Hearted Me”. The onslaught seemed relentless but eventually slowed down when the band came a little more forward on stage yet stripped back for an acoustic set. The crowd was overwhelming and ate up everything from the ever-popular “Sing Your Heart Out” to new cuts like “Highway for Heroes”. It wasn’t long before the band plugged back in and performed extended and remixed versions of classic favourites like “Tired of Waiting” and “Yearning”. They even threw in a crowd sing-a-long of “ K’naan’s new Canadian anthem “Wavin’ Flag” just for good measure.
It may have cost $15,000 for the performance fee and it may have meant that the local opening acts played for the love of music (which means FOR FREE) but, it was something special and something that I’ll remember for a long time. When you looked around at the hundreds of faces, there wasn’t one single person in that rink that wasn’t beaming with joy. Not one.
I don’t think it’s in good taste to tell the stories of how drunk the band got after the show or how their drummer “missed his flight” the next morning; you can always ask me in person! This was a great night to be in Iqaluit and a great night to be Canadian.
My first Toonik Tyme was a great one.
And Sean Dalton, if you’re reading this: I hope you finally got home safe and... you’re a $&%#’in Legend!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Muddy North
The warm front is finally here.
It brought a little ash with it but we're not about to complain.
Everywhere you go now you need your rubber boots. Iqaluit feels more like a city of slush than it does a city of the north. "Soaker" is a common phrase in our house lately and with the melting snow comes falling ice. I don't mean little pieces of snow or icicles, I mean body sized chunks of ice. Last week a piece nearly crushed me; I ended up taking pics of the debris left behind me. If I hadn't have been reaching for my keys, I probably would've been crushed. Seriously.
But now that the ice on the roof is gone, there's only the snow left. These falling chunks of compacted snow have become our new source of entertainment. Every half hour or so we hear what sounds like a falling human being from our roof. The cats jump, a shadow flies by, and a loud WHOOSH grabs our attention. It's nice enough to leave the windows open lately so we've been doing so and when we're really lucky, a body hits the open window and we all get the living daylights scared out of us.
I'll try and tone down the dramatics here but, a part of me thought we'd never see warm weather again. The cold and the snow has just become so common and routine for us. With all the melting and mud, I actually felt surprised to see it. I think it had set in that the warm fronts where going to be short but, I think a part of me had finally become okay with them never coming. I think I might miss the snow once it goes. I know Steph won't!
Since my blogging has become sparse at best, there's actually a lot to write about. Steph's brother Brian has moved in with us and has adjusted to working in the north well. It's nice having another guy around. We males like to consume large amounts of chips and play copious amounts of video games in packs so, Jordan is happy.
It brought a little ash with it but we're not about to complain.
Everywhere you go now you need your rubber boots. Iqaluit feels more like a city of slush than it does a city of the north. "Soaker" is a common phrase in our house lately and with the melting snow comes falling ice. I don't mean little pieces of snow or icicles, I mean body sized chunks of ice. Last week a piece nearly crushed me; I ended up taking pics of the debris left behind me. If I hadn't have been reaching for my keys, I probably would've been crushed. Seriously.
But now that the ice on the roof is gone, there's only the snow left. These falling chunks of compacted snow have become our new source of entertainment. Every half hour or so we hear what sounds like a falling human being from our roof. The cats jump, a shadow flies by, and a loud WHOOSH grabs our attention. It's nice enough to leave the windows open lately so we've been doing so and when we're really lucky, a body hits the open window and we all get the living daylights scared out of us.
I'll try and tone down the dramatics here but, a part of me thought we'd never see warm weather again. The cold and the snow has just become so common and routine for us. With all the melting and mud, I actually felt surprised to see it. I think it had set in that the warm fronts where going to be short but, I think a part of me had finally become okay with them never coming. I think I might miss the snow once it goes. I know Steph won't!
Since my blogging has become sparse at best, there's actually a lot to write about. Steph's brother Brian has moved in with us and has adjusted to working in the north well. It's nice having another guy around. We males like to consume large amounts of chips and play copious amounts of video games in packs so, Jordan is happy.
Friday, March 19, 2010
I Miss Iqaluit.
All bets were on us never coming back.
I've been looking at St Patty's Day pictures from the pub and pictures that our new roomate (Brian, Steph's Brother) has sent and it has made us miss home. I know technically we "are home" but, our new home is Iqaluit and it's where we wish we were.
We took a trip back to Ontario, then Florida, then Vegas for a plethora of reasons. We're on the home stretch of our vacation and we can't wait to get back.
Sure, the Coffee is better and the prices are cheaper but, I'll take expesive dinners over traffic-jams and noisey roads anyday. I know it's hard to believe that a place so cold could feel so warm but, it's the truth.
I've been looking at St Patty's Day pictures from the pub and pictures that our new roomate (Brian, Steph's Brother) has sent and it has made us miss home. I know technically we "are home" but, our new home is Iqaluit and it's where we wish we were.
We took a trip back to Ontario, then Florida, then Vegas for a plethora of reasons. We're on the home stretch of our vacation and we can't wait to get back.
Sure, the Coffee is better and the prices are cheaper but, I'll take expesive dinners over traffic-jams and noisey roads anyday. I know it's hard to believe that a place so cold could feel so warm but, it's the truth.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Southerners!
I'm sure there's a diagnosis for this but, after you're up here a while, you can start to notice the people who aren't or haven't been for very long. Their questions seem silly and there tendencies make you smile. They all expect to have the conveniences they had at home and when the luxuries aren't found, they either chuckle in disbelief or throw a fit.
"What do you mean there's no beer store?"
I choose to criticise this issue publicly because when we chose to move up here we did our homework. If I was still in Ontario and was planning a week-long trip up here, I'd still do the same research and tap the same resources because the area is so remote and the way of life is so different. More over, the people that usually ask the most ridiculous questions are the people who have an incredible amount of clout; policemen and women, lawyers, doctors, GN workers, biologists . . . the list goes on.
"I didn't think it was going to be THIS cold..."
Coincidentally, we're about to return home for the first time since we arrived. I'm curious to see how much of a shock the "south" is for us. Believe me, I have a list of things that I have to do when I'm home and yes, a lot of them include some pretty immaterial things but, I'm wondering how we'll feel about it all. Will we miss the conveniences or have we come to love our new way of life?
I write this today feeling somewhat like a hypocrite. I don't mean to put my nose up or to knock anyone because it does take living up here to really grasp the way things are up here. Working in the hospitality industry up here gives me a clear insight to some people's niavety and ignorance but, I don't fully blame them. It just amazes me to see how some people are so knowledgable and others are completely oblivious. Between the YouTube Videos and the Northern Blogging community, there isn't a stone left unturned.
At the bar I continually tell travelers, hotel guests, and passer-bys that our blogs are the "go-to" resource guides to traveling to and from the Nunavut communities. During the G7 a lot of questions were thrown my way. I offered the same answer whether the person was German, American, British or Canadian:
"Google: 'Northern Nunavut Blog' . . . find one, and search them all."
"What do you mean there's no beer store?"
I choose to criticise this issue publicly because when we chose to move up here we did our homework. If I was still in Ontario and was planning a week-long trip up here, I'd still do the same research and tap the same resources because the area is so remote and the way of life is so different. More over, the people that usually ask the most ridiculous questions are the people who have an incredible amount of clout; policemen and women, lawyers, doctors, GN workers, biologists . . . the list goes on.
"I didn't think it was going to be THIS cold..."
Coincidentally, we're about to return home for the first time since we arrived. I'm curious to see how much of a shock the "south" is for us. Believe me, I have a list of things that I have to do when I'm home and yes, a lot of them include some pretty immaterial things but, I'm wondering how we'll feel about it all. Will we miss the conveniences or have we come to love our new way of life?
I write this today feeling somewhat like a hypocrite. I don't mean to put my nose up or to knock anyone because it does take living up here to really grasp the way things are up here. Working in the hospitality industry up here gives me a clear insight to some people's niavety and ignorance but, I don't fully blame them. It just amazes me to see how some people are so knowledgable and others are completely oblivious. Between the YouTube Videos and the Northern Blogging community, there isn't a stone left unturned.
At the bar I continually tell travelers, hotel guests, and passer-bys that our blogs are the "go-to" resource guides to traveling to and from the Nunavut communities. During the G7 a lot of questions were thrown my way. I offered the same answer whether the person was German, American, British or Canadian:
"Google: 'Northern Nunavut Blog' . . . find one, and search them all."
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