Merry Christmas

Although I am sad to miss the holidays with family and friends, I am happy to be relieved of the stress of holiday preparations. We have celebrated somewhat here in Inukjuak, and plan for several more get togethers in the coming week. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and I will see you in the new year (only 5 days left!!!!).

We had our work Christmas party on Friday. All of social services, the mid wives, nurses and interpreters were there. There was tons on "southern food" or non Inuit meals, and I tried some "country food". It was a very interesting experience. They opened up some cardboard boxes and laid them on the floor as a table. Then took out frozen fish and seal and caribou, and used an axe to cut the frozen meat into bite size pieces. I tried a little of everything just for the experience. We then played games for prizes and had a gift exchange. The best gifts, of course, were home made Inuit crafts.

On Christmas eve the nurses are having a traditional meal with turkey and tortiere. I will bring a home made pie and Christmas goodies that were sent to me from my mom, YUMMY! On Christmas day we will be doing a fondue with cheese and meat with chocolate fondue for desert, no calories in that meal! We will all be working both days. The clinic is not technically open, but we are all working, stocking the rooms and doing paper work and seeing patients who call. The support staff will all be off for the holidays.

Yesterday I went for a 2 hour walk. The river has frozen over, so I crossed it to climb the hills of rock on the other side. It was quite the exercise, and I was soaking wet under my jacket when I returned. But it was worth it, I got some great pictures and it was a beautiful day. Sunny and bright, about minus 25. After that I finished the last of 9 books that I had brought with me.

Today I am on call, and so far I have only gone into the clinic once. Its a good thing too, because its minus 41 today, and it feel bloody cold out. I have done over 70 hours of overtime in the 8 weeks that I have been up north, which seems incredible. I don't think that I did that many hours of overtime in Montreal in a whole year!

Well, that's it! merry Christmas to you and your families, I will be thinking of you while I pass the time here. I will see you next week. Get ready to PARTY!