Well. Now that we are back to writing in our blog...we had a true Northern experience this past week, that I figured we could share with all you folks back home...most who still don't even have snow!
Monday afternoon we got word that a crazy blizzard was coming in. We were not at all surprized to get the news that we wouldn't be headed into school on Tuesday morning. We got the whole day off, but we took a wander out over to the school- mostly to use the internet. There wasn't too much snow, it was the wind that was crazy. Most storms in the north aren't too snow-based. The winds just rip across the tundra with nothing to slow them down and create these massive snow drifts. They absolutely tower above your heads and can bring the town to a stand still. The weather is comparatively warm during a blizzard though, which is nice.
When we settled in for the night on Tuesday, we couldn't help but notice the wind picking up. We stuck our heads out the front door and we're blown away. We could not see across the street. It was a complete white out. When we tried to check our water light (it turns on red when you run low, and we were betting with the storm the water trucks would not be out) the garbage bag we use as a curtain got ripped out through the window. It was like a vaccuum.
Wednesday was easily the worst day. The snow was piled up against our door well past my hip, and we were told to stay inside no matter what. As if we would want to do anything else. We were officially snowed in- a la Little |House on the Prarie. The winds got up to 90 km an hour. It was simply not safe to go out. It ended up being kind of a surreal day. We haven't had such a lazy day since we got here. We woke up at 11 and it was pretty grey outside, watched a movie and by 1 in the afternoon it was midnight dark outside. The day flew by and it was eleven at night before we knew it.
It was definite confirmation that we need to come home for all our Christmas breaks. With storms like that, we would end up spending most of our holiday holed up on the couch. We're looking at two crazy weeks at home, but it will be worth the plane ticket just to see everybody.
Anyways, the storm finally calmed down mid-morning. This afternoon we were back in school. Everyone is gearing up for the Christmas concert, and school is just down right pleasant, so I was happy to get back and see all the kidlets. We are also planning our big YMCA exchange trip to Toronto for the spring and we wanted to get a parent meeting in before we leave for the break- hopefully the weather will cooperate!
One last thing...anyone looking to learn more about the north, try giving 'An Arctic Man' by Ernie Lyall a read. He lived in Taloyoak in the 70s- or Spence Bay as it was known then- and he puts a really interesting spin on it. Tons of his descendants are still in town today and we know them well.
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