Party With Your Parents!

My main job today was taking pictures of the mural, which is turning out to be quite wonderful! What's even more exciting is that the public seems to be really enjoying it. Many people have stopped by the high school just to see it, and the mural artist cannot work five minutes without someone complimenting her on the work. It has been a real community effort; students, elders and random community members have been painting throughout the week! They even let me help, although after a while, the pressure got to me. I mean, after all, my mistakes will be there forever. I can just hear them saying, years from now, "You see that squiggly line there? That was that American girl." : )

Two of "the ladies" work on the mural

Talia and Bobbi work on the mural with the school in the background

I attempted to participate in the Frolics tonight, but found that other than the nightly traditional games and music, the events were geared mostly towards a younger crowd. I thought of what Renee told me yesterday about the Cambridge Bay Youth Centre (Canadian spelling, eh?). I mentioned it to her because I read about it before I came. I had found a magazine picture where a boy said he worked at the youth centre to give kids the opportunity to do things besides drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, the youth centre was closed last year because the man in charge of it no longer works for the Wellness Centre. There are "teen dances" and sports arenas, but if teens are not involved in sports, there are few after-school activities available. One person was extremely shocked when I told them I was in a club in high school whose sole purpose was to volunteer. Though there are art and music classes, there are no after-school arts groups in the community whatsoever. Evidently, the Wellness Centre is considering re-opening the youth centre, but right now, there are very few constant social opportunities for youth in Cambridge Bay. Furthermore, there are hardly any social opportunities for people my age. There is "the Elks" on Friday nights, but you must enter that social scene only if you are prepared to party with your parents (seriously)! Since there are no restaurants or stores open past 6:00 pm, the social scene is quite limited. A lot of younger people have been visiting their families during Frolics, so I have been meeting a few younger people, but most of them are at least 25 years old. Fortunately, I am very mature for my age...maybe. : )

The model for this part of the mural was one of "the ladies" who works at the Heritage Society

P.S. If any of you have nothing better to do this summer, send me a letter! I would love to get some mail up here! I might even write you something back if I remember to check my post office box. : )

Abbey Bucher
Box 1209
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut XOBOCO