The flight out of Iqaluit was delayed... there was no surprise there. I find the north to be much like South America because there really is no pressure to meet time deadlines; if it does not get done today it may get done tomorrow. I flew with First Air into Pangirtung where we let off the other 5 passengers. I got to get out and walk around the air strip while the plane refueled. The flight attendant came and got me when the plane was ready to leave, since I was the only passenger, and then the flight attendent and I flew on to Qikiqtarjuaq. The flight attendant had been flying this route for 20 years and did his best to tell me all about the national park that we were flying over. Auyittuq National Park (The land that never melts) is located between my community and Pangirtung above the tree line here in the arctic circle. It is vast and mountainous and starkly beautiful. As soon as I am able to upload pictures (my internet is too slow here) I will show you just how amazing it is.

Overall First Air is probably the last North American airline to offer any sort of free decent food, beverage, and snack service other than the delays I honestly enjoyed flying with them. They got me safely to Qikiqtarjuaq in record time AND with more snack food than I could shake a stick at. My kids met me at the airport! It almost brought a tear to my eye at how cute and sweet they are. They were all silent and round eyed at my arrival (all this changed come the first day of class THAT'S FOR SURE!). I really wasn't sure just how much English they had because they were so quiet.

The principal, Ian, was also there with a pickup truck to haul all my luggage to my new house. I share a townhouse with Kathleen the grade 6/7 teacher at the school. It is actually quite spacious and modern. It's part of a five-plex about a five minute walk from the school. There is a mud/coat room, living room, kitchen, dinette open complex on the first floor, a full bath on the landing, and two large bedrooms and a laundry room on the top floor. My room is on the front of the house. I have a walk in closet and more squarefeet than I have in my room down south (it's what they call everything below the 60th parallel).

After some unpacking and what is probably the greatest shower that I have ever had (it's one of those hotel shower heads that could blast you through the wall) I walked over to the school to get oriented. It was very overwhelming and exciting. (I'll tell you all about it another time). I came home and passed out for about 10 hours so that I could have some semblance of brain function for when I started teaching the next day.