Games Night

It's Friday!!! And lucky me, they have not put me on the on call list yet, so I am free for 2 days. It was a slow day at the clinic today. Every friday morning is like a administration morning. everyone has tasks to do, like stock the code room, schedule medical consults, restock the exam rooms, fill the pharmacy, do the stock order and so on. They also have a meeting with the staff and the midwives and talk about patients and what is going on in the clinic or the village that would pertain to us nurses. The afternoon was general clinic, but it was very quiet. The whole village was in line at some office to receive a government check. All those above 18 years old got some sort of allowance today, so one one came in to get medical help. I think I saw a total of 3 patients today. So far, I have felt like I am on vacation, but I am sure that will change. I am looking forward to being able to do more stitches and see more patients while I am still on orientation.

Tonight I was invited to one of the nurses houses for a game night. I met many new people. There were teachers, and social workers and youth protection workers and the nursing team. We played taboo, backgammon, talk, taboo, jenga, and rummy. Just sat around, had a couple of drinks and got to know those people that I will be hanging around with for the next 2 months. everyone is really nice and inviting. It should be a good christams here, aparently they do pot luck suppers and hang out for the entire week of christmas.

The plan for the weekend is to go for a long walk and check out the village. There is a small museum that I would love to see. Will probably raed a book and just settle in. Have a good weekend everyone!

Arrival In Inukjuak

Hello everyone. First of all, I have great news.....I finally got Internet! It is a broadband satellite receiver that I can travel with anywhere in the north. So, so far this evening I opened about 40 emails and spent an enormous amount of time on facebook! The service is much slower than at home, but it is better than nothing.

Yesterday I flew from POV to Inukjuak. It was a short fright of about 45 minutes on a plane called the dash on air Inuit. These flights are always interesting! The plane is super noisy and I always wounder if I will make it to our destination. When I landed I was greeted by a local man who had an envelope with my name on it. It contained the keys to my new lodging. He is the local "driver", who commutes the nurses where they need to go. We left the "airport", which is smaller than the size of my apartment, and drove to my new abode.

I did not spend much time at the new place, as I was told it is always a good idea to say hi to my new co workers upon arrival, and the clinic would have closed in an hour. So off I went, on a 15 minute hike to the clinic. I met the team at the clinic, who are all in their early 30's and french. They seemed nice enough and the head nurse walked me through the clinic. It is smaller than the one in POV, and there is no hospital attached to the clinic. Any patient needing hospitalization needs to be flown to POV. From there I walked to the local Northern, which is the grocery store. Lucky for me, the selection was much larger and there was actually fresh meat and veggies. I had a meal of chicken and broccoli, my first real meal in about 2 weeks. The prices were still out rageous: 5$ for 2L milk, 10$ for a bag of chips, 8$ for a brick of cheese, 3$ for a head of broccoli...you get the picture?

I had a mini crises when I got home and explored my new home. I found myself all alone and in a very different world. I broke down and had a good cry and then everything felt better after calling home to mom and dad. The apartment is less than clean, and smells of cigarettes, but worst of all the bathroom is through a hallway to a common area for 3 apartments......so no privacy. I will have to get used to that. For now I am on my own, but another nurse is due to move in on Sunday, and a psychiatrist will come sometime next week.
It is beautiful here though. I can see the Hudson Bay out my window. It is breath taking. Plus I saw the Northern lights last night.

Today was the first day in the clinic. It was not busy and the team thinks I am a good luck charm. But I will write more about the team tomorrow, because survivor is playing and I get it on the cable here. Yeah!!!!