Summer Snowstorms

I spent most of the morning getting ready for the grade 5 class' inuksuk project and watching the environmental class' video. At this point, it seems that I am going to have to finish the video editing for them. This is fine with me, but I do not intend to present the project to the community, even on their behalf. As I have said before, it is essential that these students promote the recycling program, because they are valued members and future leaders of the community.

I had a great conversation today with Pia, the high school girl who works at the Heritage Society in her spare time. Pia is a 19-year old single mom with two kids, ages two and four. You may be thinking that this girl has wasted her life or that she has made poor decisions. I admit that those thoughts crossed my mind at first. However, the more I have gotten to know Pia, the more impressed I am by her maturity and drive. She is brilliant and insightful, and I have no doubt that she is destined to be an important leader in her community. Today's conversation was a great reminder of how inspiring it is to be surrounded by other motivated young people.

Pia as she made phone calls for the recycling project

I told Pia that I wished I could stay in Cambridge Bay longer, simply because it took me so long to get adjusted that I didn't feel I had actually done anything for the community in return. I cannot help but feel inadequate after everything that this community has done for me; I wish I had discovered more ways to give back to it.

The kids assemble their inuksuit and answer questions about their creative choices

After work, Johnny helped me go shopping for the dinner he invited himself over for. : ) We called up Cameron and convinced him to come, too, and I rushed home to do the dishes. We had a great time eating dinner, but Johnny was restless and wanted to play Inuit baseball right afterwards. I find that he has much, much more energy than I have ever had.

A little after 9 pm, it began to snow the most beautiful, soft snowflakes I have seen here in Cambridge Bay. No matter how long I stay here, I think I will continue to be in awe of summer snowstorms.