February 15, 2009
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Settling in.....
It has been just over a week of weather and housing delays since I left Edmonton but have finally arrived in Gjoa Haven, where I will be working for the next two months in an acting supervisor position. Only one day in the office in the health center so not alot of time yet to explore.... except of course that noon hour when I succeeded in finding myself locked out of the transient unit!
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut,
located on the southeastern coast of King William Island on the Northwest Passage, is also known as Uqsuqtuuq, or 'place of plenty blubber', because of the once plentiful seal. 
One of the fastest growing communities in the Kitikmeot Region, in 1961, its population was estimated at 100 and now well over 1000.
The hamlet seems very spread out with two sections of the town separated by a long gully. Main facilities such as the schools, COOP, Northern, health center, RCMP detachment & houses, hamlet office etc. also seem to be scattered. Attending a potluck supper last night,
must have driven 20 minutes around every street to find the right unit, finally asking a group of children for directions!
I brought a salad and enjoyed everything from pyrogies to icecream with strawberries and pineapple! 
A pleasant evening with some of the staff from the health center, some of whom leaving soon,
stories were exchanged & some deeper discussions on slowing down, living in the present moment and the richness of life we encounter in our work as health care professionals.
Personally much of the past week has been packing and unpacking and am finally glad to be settled!!! I am in a lovely two bedroom transient unit ( shared housing maintained by DHSS) in a newer area but had to be cleaned, furnished and equipped with the basics
of kitchen dishes, 
pots & pans, bathroom shower curtains, 
bedding quilts and sheets 
.... the latter all of which arrived at 9:30 PM the first night I arrived. It was somewhat like Christmas unpacking and putting away the boxes but must admit very zapped when I finally fell in to bed after midnight!
This weekend am rather housebound because of the minus 30oC temps and horizontal snow
today decided x-c skis were not it, but instead did the stairs as exercise. Also a chance to add those personal touches to the unit such as with my wall hangings 
and books. 
Quite amazed that my plant cuttings have survived, 
although the hydrangea bulb has blossomed at a strange angle....just a little attempt at bringing some touches of spring! 
