Sunday, November 13th.

I didn't think I would enjoy the routines and quiet so much....being here has reminded me of the beauty of savouring nature and the simple everyday little details. Walking down to the grocery store, and watching the children enjoy the snow. Although the development of technology, brings different results! Four wheelers pulling sleds, or as the snow gets thicker on the ground ski-doo's abound with their rear passangers.

As days go by, and normalcy returns to the school I see the children allowing themselves to be kids. The after school activities help, as there is no library other than the one we are trying to organize in the school. Game nights, computer cafe, volleyball, mural painting etc.... all become the only entertainment in town! Just the other day I had a young man in my office from grade seven, who was explaining to me that he didn't come to school in the mornings because he only went to sleep at seven am. So, what do you do all night? was my question and he mimicked the thumb actions for the XBox video games... We've since had another meeting for parents, on how to assert yourself with your kid, and other parenting techniques.

Ricardo continues to teach Karate to the adults twice a week, which becomes a good source of exercise and camaraderie (mostly teachers, both white and native). He's also starting to recruit adults to take English as a Second Language, and hopefully reach the ones that need to learn how to read and write. He's close to finishing his BA in political economy, which he's been doing online for some time now. In the afternoons, when he goes for his nature walks, he's got a companion, Nanook who shows him where not to step! Here you see him whining and barking where the ice isn't safe.

And we continue to learn about and further understand all these northern wonders....