Old Dog, Old Tricks

Sallluit is a very small Inuit village, sitting on a bit of beach, surrounded on three sides by steep hills and a huge bay on the fourth side. Most of the village is very flat and is very easy to walk around when the wind is not blowing 100 km per hour. Walking thru the village is a fun experience for me. People call my name and I feel very popular. They arn't saying: " That bloody teacher, I'll give her what for." The children are very happy to see me and follow me as I walk.

Yesterday was a glorious day. A perfect day for a walk to the Northern store. That means I have to walk all the way across the village. It is the longest walk I can do within the boundaries of the village. I love that walk on nice day.... in Jan. I wonder why I have to live so far from the store. It does not take me 1o minutes to do that walk.

I think most of Salluit was out walking or riding bikes, roller blades, scotters.. anything with wheels. I soon had a gang about me, weaving in front of me, weaving behind me, riding along side of me. We were all glad to be out of school and in the sunshine having fun. My students Jajie ( of goose hunting fame)and Abigail were with Jasmine and Patricia. Jasmine, the smallest, was on the biggest bike. Her short little legs could hardly reach the pedals. But Jasmine loves a challenge.

After a bit Jajie asked if I wanted to ride his bike. He is always a helpful, giving soul. My first inclination was to say NO.. a big NO, but then I changed my mine and said YES!!! I did manage to ride it but could not steer at all. I kept turning and going down streets I did not want to go down. And I was doing this with just a touch of speed. Jasmine was riding along one side to give me courage ( and lots of directions) and Abby was trying to do the same on the other side. I was a bit concerned about crashing into them... and hurting myself. I finally go the stearring part under control but was concerned about the speed. I think I might have been a bit vocal about that concern.

Jasmine then decides to give me a lesson on the brakes. This was such a modern bike that the brakes were on the handle bars. My things have changed since the 6o's! Jasmine tells me to squeeze the brake thing gently. All of a sudden Jajie yells at me ( he is running along side of me, sort of an out runner) not to use the left brake as that siezes but to use the right brake only. He tells me if I squeeze the left brake I will go flying. Now I have a speed problem and in the midst of that I have to figure out what is left and what is right. Not a good time for thinking. The water front and beach area is coming up fast. If I go down that slight incline I will be in deep trouble... I 'll be up to my butt in snow and sand.

I did manage to slow the bike down and make the turn to the Northern store. There was lots of laughter. I challenged Jasmine to see who could go fastest. She is the smalles t so I thought there might be a chance I could beat her and still stay on the bike. Why is it people go from too slow to too fast? She beat me but then went head long into a snow bank. Thank-God it was her and not me.

All my younger playmates followed me in to the Northern. I bought a bag of Double Stuff Oreos ( $8.15 a bag) which we ate down by river. ( OH MY GOD THEY WERE STALE!) We laughed at my trying to ride a bike., how silly I am but how much fun to see my butt up on a bike. Teaching here in such a small village is fun that way. I can be silly and I can laugh about it with my students. I hope it mitagates my having to be the heavy in the classroom at times.

The good weather has finally arrived in the North and with it a lighter spirit.