Introduction
The Olympic Games have begun. Although we’re not near Vancouver or Whistler, it is something you cannot get around. It is on television and in the talks of people. Surprisingly often we’re asked about or complimented on the Dutch speedskaters, even though it is a sport that is not that big in Canada. We’re just over half a year in Canada now and things keep happening, making it never boring so far.
Some bad luck back home
Our car broke down. Ank (Bas’ sister) is using it during our year in Canada. So when se called that the steering column was malfunctioning, we knew it was bad news. After some investigation, weighing options and everything, we decided to pay for a rather costly repair. And if that wasn’t enough, shortly after it was fixed she got a flat tire and we had to pay for the replacement of two of the tires. And next to these financial setbacks our hamster Harrie (pronounced as Harry) passed away as well.
Some bad luck in Canada
The euro is doing bad. The stuff in Greece and Portugal caused a drop from $1,55-$1,60 in exchange for 1 euro to $1,40-$1,45. It may sound minor, but we saw our rent was €60 more than the month before that. We see some recovery now and hopefully it’ll be back at its former rate soon.
Teaching
Last update incorporated the sad news of me not being hired at Sir John for a permanent position and my new goal to sub at other schools as well. Ever since, I put in three days at Weledeh, the school I told about as well in that last update. I also subbed a day at Ecole JH Sissons School, a French Immersion school with grades from pre-kindergarten to Grade 6. (Groep 1 t/m 8, in Nederland de basisschool en een peutergroep) They really needed a sub bad when they called me, so the fact I am not teaching in French wasn’t a problem to them. I taught Physical Education and had to teach 6 different groups, ranging from the age of 4 to the age of 11-12. Som basic workout and some soccer practice. A truly interesting experience!
I also worked as an Educational Assistant for a week, working one on one with one of the special needs students at Sir John. Although I have taught levels which included students like her before, it was a new experience for me. Basically, you go with the student to every class that the student attends, helping out, reteaching what is taught, structuring, encouraging and what not more. I worked 3 out of 4 periods with that student and helped out one period on another class with 30 generally bad-attending and not too strong students. From both experiences I learned a lot and it gave me some new tools which I surely can use when I am teaching again myself, wherever on the world that may be.
I seem to be rising in the substitute teacher ranks with Sir John, so we’ll see if they can truly keep me busy or if I will keep focussing at working the other schools as well. So far I have been blessed with a lot of learning opportunities, but I start to feel an urge to plan some classes myself and teach in a way that suits me and that I feel serves the students best. And even for that I seem to have good chances of voluntarily do that. Although from time to time I am still a bit sad they didn’t hire me.
Judith
Judith is still volunteering at Mildred Hall two mornings a week. She also helps out in the Rotary reading program on Weledeh once a week. It has been quiet for Talaria Communication the last few weeks, but recently some new work is coming in. Let’s hope that continues, although Judith may get some opportunities in Yellowknife as well. We’ll see and we will tell you more once we know more. But for Judith Yellowknife may provide some learning opportunities as well!
Moving
Basement apartments seem to be starting apartments in Canada. It ’s the apartment you start to live in, to later move to another apartment on a higher level. Since we’re living here for 5 months now we got the question if we wanted to move to an apartment with a balcony, larger windows and the same lay-out. According to our landlord we were the first persons doubting whether or not to do that. But the beds seem better, the balcony and the door to the balcony allow us to ventilate better. We can keep our phonenumber, our buzzer code and we can move up any furniture we feel is better than the furniture in the new apartment. We’ll be able to open our mailbox for a few more weeks, so we’ll have two for a while. So we decided to do it. For those who have our address, please exchange the #111 with a #311. We will move exactly two floors up 😉 and new mail should go to that address. This weekend we’ll move our stuff up.
The weather
It is uncommonly, unhealthy and weird warm weather in Yellowknife. We’re at temperatures from -5C to -15C, while normally it should be at least 10 degrees Celsius colder. This weekend will hit the lower parts of the minus twenties again, but the last few weekends have been warmer, allowing us to walk around quite a bit without the need for snowpants or balaclavas. But the winter so far has been a bit of a disappointment, especially since The Netherlands have had a really good and cold winter and we missed that for temperatures that were only a bit lower or even equal to those in NL at times. We do hope for some good cold and clear days in the near future and for it to last until spring (That is around the end of May here).
Concluding
We’ll try and make some new pictures in our new apartment as soon as we moved and update you guys with some pictures we took in the last week as well. For now, we’ll be busy as always. Thursday I’ll be in Sir John for the afternoon and Friday all day. Friday will be Biology 20 and Science 9, looking forward to that one for sure!
