Helenenorth

 Hello friends I had hoped to keep you all up to speed on my trip to China, but I was not able to access blogger because it is a google thing.  China does not do google.  I also had no shaw the whole time away, so I had to rely in Gmail--at least that sort of worked. It was so wonderful to see so many people after four years.  I set up a daily schedule of visitations, and made over 23 visits to families, former students and colleagues.  The trip took me to Fuzhou, where Bert had rented me a one bedroom apartment.  I used that as my headquarters, and traveled to Ningde, Xiamen, Quanghou, Beijing and Huiyang. My friends helped me immensely by booking the tickets for me, and it was easy to pay them, using transfer, on my Chinese Bank account.  They also helped me to book the taxi rides in and around the cities I visited.  Taxi is very cheap.  Lili, in Fuzhou, took me out to the university, and took me around a lot to visit.  Sharron, in Bei...

 Hello all Graduation night!!  Wow.  Two young ladies and one gentleman.  I didn't know any of them, as I wasn't teaching the senior grades.  I also don't really know anything about them, where they are from, their parents or relatives.  But I must tell you it was the most dramatic graduation I have ever witnessed. About 200 villagers, and youth gathered in the decorated gym about 4:00 PM, this Saturday afternoon.  The graduates came into the space  where everyone was standing, clapping and cheering.  They took their seats, and the principal began the ceremony. There wasn't a sound as she spoke. She told the audience how proud she was of the students, and how their hard work, commitment to study, and regular school attendance  had paid off.  One by one each graduate was introduced by a parent, teacher, and a mother and daughter team.  It was clear that these speakers were bursting with pride as they introduced their graduate....

 Happy Spring----- Well, it is like spring when the snow melts, and the road turns to ice--but we are far from the southern version.  Today, we expect the annual May blizzard with winds up to 100 k, snow fall up to 10 cm, and winter for another month!!  Having said this, the ice is breaking up, and we can now see the ocean, now that is a good sign for sure!! I would like to share the amazing activity of the cross country ski expedition.  All school in Nunavik participate.  Staff members are sent to a training in Montreal early in the year.  They learn all about such trips including first aid, meal preparation, navigation, cross country skiing pulling a sled with sleeping bags, food, tents and other necessary items.  They come back from this training and meet with students from grade 8-12 to let them know about it, and to invite them to participate.  Over the year, the students meet weekly train, and form friendships.  The actual event takes p...