Inuvik - Week One

Goodness, I have been having some real computer issues up here. I thought I would have no difficulty getting internet access and being able to Skype, Blog, Facebook, etc., but I should have known better. I AM living only 100km from the Beaufort Sea on the Arctic Ocean.

So here I am in Inuvik. It's quite cold up here, and snows every day (flurries), so I am glad I brought my winter coat. I had also brought along a summer skirt and sandals in case we went out. I laugh at the the thought that I would actually wear those items.

The above photo is me and Rachel at the airport, just before we boarded. I was trying to be calm, but I would burst out into tears, and I had a real feeling of just wanting to cancel the whole trip. I knew I had a flight booked home in three weeks (of the six) but even three weeks is a long time. I think going into the unknown was hard, but leaving Rachel was even harder. My friend and classmate Karianne is with me, we flew up together, and that helped a lot on the trip up there.

One of Shane's co-workers kindly picked us up at the airport with our huge bags (packing for a month is hard!) and drove us to the college residence. This is the residence from the outside, just built last year:

 This is a picture of the shared kitchen. There are about 3 other women/girls who share it with us. It's quite nice.

This is a picture of me standing outside the Inuvik hospital. It has about 50 beds, a long term care facility, a boarding home for people from small communities who have to come and stay for medical reasons. The boarding home is upstairs at the hospital, and it's called "Transient". I don't really like the name. Reminds me of hobos. 

 Me posing in front of the college. It took a really long time to upload these, so I apologize for having two of the college. I actually like pictures of buildings. I will try to put myself in more of them, to make them interesting. I should have become an architect. Haha, too late now.

 Again, some buildings, houses actually. But aren't they cute? They are called "Smartie Box" homes and I have already been inside on on a client visit. They are a landmark of Inuvik, quite famous I think.

 This is the Aurora College campus. It is simply a gorgeous building, all beech wood and glass inside. I will take some photos. Yep, Architect or Interior Designer, that's what I shoulda done.

This is in the Public Health office. I will be independently running clinics by the end of this semester. The clinics includ Well Child, Well Woman, and STI clinic. 

This is Karianne sitting on a Utilidore. Because Inuvik sits on permafrost, no one has basements. Nobody has underground plumbing, either. So all the heat, water and sewage flow to and from these big pipes into homes. They are everywhere! Some are high enough that you can walk under them, this was low enough to walk over. Can you imagine what happens if someone hits one with a car or one is damaged by a construction crew? Total chaos. Anyway, they are pretty darn ugly.

This is the famous "Igloo Church" that is another landmark in the town. It's quite stunning. We are going to go inside next week and go right up to the top. I will try to get a better picture of the "igloo-ness" of the building. Again with the buildings, I know.

As I have mentioned, my internet access is sporadic and I am limited to library time until I can figure out how to rent internet services for my time here. I did walk around town on Saturday to find the two data stores, but hey, surprise, they are only open M-F. I am finding small town/community a bit frustrating, as I will blog in future weeks. The pace is SO slow, and this is me talking from Yellowknife. No one is in a rush, or stressed. At 12pm sharp, zoom, everyone is out the door for lunch so fast, I am often still putting on my shoes while the next-to-last person waits impatiently for me so they can lock the door. Same thing at 5pm. In the morning, we start at 8:30am, but I am always waiting outside for someone to arrive and open up the unit. I think I really need my own key.
Anyway, it should be a great experience, but of course I am nervous and trying to apply all my skills, practice them, and cope with living away from my family. But a week has gone by already, so that is encouraging! Will write more soon,
V