I am here!!

Well, I arrived safe and sound. Interesting trip - I got here and there was an extra student from York so they weren't really expecting another student. They basically knew there were three coming and four arrived. Thankfully they scrambled and found me a place to bunk for the night until they figured things out. I think they felt sorry for me after the rig-a-ma-role so I ended up in a nice little house (half of a duplex) all to myself - for now at least...
 Unfortunately there is not a receiver for TV so I get CBC; no internet other than the 2 computers that the nurses all use at the hospital and dial-up only. They have been waiting for the wireless high-speed to be hooked up since December but I have learned very quickly that this culture much resembles the Latin one in that I do not believe there is a word in the language for 'hurry'. Food security is a whole new ballgame here. Fortunately I brought the makings for some pasta in my suitecase or I would have been quite hungry by morning when the store opened. The Nothern Store has a little bit of everything - emphasis on the 'little'. To give you an idea - a bag of milk is around $13; a can of Campbells tomato soup $2.75. We are fortunate here in that we can order groceries from Timmins. A store there will package the items and send them by air freight. I estimate the things I purchased were at least twice the cost of home with the shipping charges. Well worth it to get some fresh veggies. You do not realize how lucky we are until you are without access to some of these things. I will never take lettuce for granted again :) Lots of snow and quite chilly although nothing compared to what we can expect over the next 6 weeks I'm told. I was sitting on the couch and I saw a snowy owl swoop down to catch a mouse under the snow. It was really cool!! I got a pic of him and I will post as soon as I get a chance. There is an ice road to Moosonee - it takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours each way. I plan to make the trip in February. My honey may come up so hopefully we can do that together. The patients are interesting. Lots of the challenges you would expect with Northern Aboriginal communities. Substance abuse, nutrition issues, pregnancy and STIs etc. The hospital actually operates as a clinic seeing appointments and walk-ins as well as fieldiing the emergencies in the area. There is a long-term care side with some of the elders of the community. There are not many traditional practices here but the Band is trying to bring them back. Well lunch time is over so I best get back to work. More later...