Snow as a sign for spring?

Gorgeous weather yet again! Our cheeks are almost burned from the excitement of being outside with the students. It seems that the community is run almost entirely by kids rolling around in their puffy snowsuits- mornings, evenings, their faces are constantly pressed to our kitchen window and knocking on the door. I took the dog for a walk yesterday and half the students joined in- they think of it as an extracurricular activity now and were sad when they showed up at the door and we were making dinner- "we're all set!" the 5 of them announced, all lined up in their snowsuits.

The past three days have been spent floating between the classes, getting to know the students. What a wonderful school! The recent breakfast program is amazing- all the students gathered together to eat toast. And more toast even throughout the day. It seems you're constantly just talking to toast-filled mouths. Tomorrow Julian and I will start making smoothies for them and hopefully get our health program started with the elementary students in the afternoon- Friday for sure! (the principal has been away, otherwise we would have been well on our way). Having established close relationships with many of the students already, we are eager to get our lessons underway!

Perhaps the biggest challenges at the school have resulted from the 24 hours of daylight. Students are constantly playing outside all night and as a result are offered a mattress at school if falling asleep during class. After a long and productive meeting with the community nurse yesterday, we have a much clearer idea of what needs to be targeted in the community and how best to manage it. We are maintaining a strong relationship with her and will consider her opinion on many new topics addressed with the students.

Aside from school life, we are both eager to begin Inuktitut (language of the Inuit) lessons next monday and I am super excited for parka-making on Friday (trying to convince Julian to join...).

Love from just south of the pole,

Sarah and Julian