EH! Back In Canada

Just wanted to update that I am indeed in Canada at the moment...Montreal mind you, but Canada nonetheless.  Be back in Charlottetown tonight!

Almost time to go home

So, I made it 7 weeks here in Sweden - foreign country, new surroundings, and at the end of tomorrow I will officially be a teacher and a 2012 graduate of UPEI.  I know that technically I can't say that until May 12 around noon, but I figure it's safe to say - I don't think that they would let me be the valedictorian if I wasn't graduating!  But the journey here in Jokkmokk is coming to an end, and despite my excitement to get home and get ready for the summer and whatever lies ahead, I can't help but feel some sadness.  It's the same feeling I think most pre-service teachers get when they are leaving a classroom, likely never to teach those students again.  I've learned a lot from the students and teachers I have had the chance to get to know here at the Bokenskolan, as well as the members of the community who see me and recognize me as a familiar face.  It might be small, but Jokkmokk has more charm than most towns that I have been in, and that is something that I will definitely never forget.

I had a chat with one of the gym teachers yesterday, and it was also a conversation that I will remember for a long time.  He told me a bit about his career - how he didn't start out in teaching, but worked in the Military for a number of years before working with the UN, and how his various positions allowed him to travel the world.  There were lots of things that spoke to him on his journeys, but overall he told me that he felt he would always come back to his hometown of Jokkmokk someday.  That opportunity presented itself when his mother got sick, and upon his return he decided to go into teaching, and he told me that he's never looked back.  I told him about what I thought I might do in the future, where I might go, and he gave me this suggestion: 

"If you want to travel, do it while your young. Labrador isn't going anywhere, and despite where you may go, it will always be your home."

We then finished up our conversation, and he wished me well in life, and told me that he hoped that I would make it back to Jokkmokk someday (which after this experience I fully intend on doing, although it will definitely be around the time of the winter market!).  It was nice to have that kind of encouragement from a fellow teacher who saw promise in me, and I felt incredibly reassured that I have chosen the right profession.  Leaving Jokkmokk will be sad, but there is no way that I could ever forget the wisdom I have gained while I've been here.

Mush!

Yesterday was another outdoor activity day at the Bokenskolan, but instead of going along with the students this time, Leila and I were invited to go for a day ice fishing about 45km west of Jokkmokk with Caisa and Eva.  Due to the wind, it was a bit too chilly for ice fishing, so we went out on dogsled with Caisa's dogs instead!  It was a super experience, and I felt very at home on the sled, just listening to nature and taking in the world around me.  When we got back we had a proper outdoor lunch, with pita bread, reindeer meat, and a cabbage and sour cream concoction which was delicious - I ate three :)  We also got to meet Caisa's parents, who are lovely people.  Her youngest daughter also came with us, and I was incredibly impressed at the ease she had when it came to taking the dogsled on her own (Caisa and I followed alongside her with the snowmobile, but she was still amazing!)  All in all, I think it was the best day (besides skiing) that I have spent here in Jokkmokk, and one that I will remember for a very, very long time. 

Lulea

So, despite being somewhat grounded in Jokkmokk for most of the Easter break, Leila and I were able to make one trip to the city of Lulea (pronounced Lule-o, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to put the little circle above the a, which makes the sound 'o').  It's a beautiful place, reminding me of certain parts of Ottawa, and made me a little nostalgic for my nation's capitol city.  It was a fun few days, with Caisa's (my supporting teacher) fiancée loaning us his apartment for the weekend.  We did a bit of shopping - where I got a SMOKIN' deal on a spring jacket - and took in the city centre.  It would have been nice to spend a bit more time there, but alas, student papers beckoned to be corrected, and back to Jokkmokk we came.  It's nice to be back at school though, and the realization that there are only two weeks left of my education program is starting to sink in!  I do have one major accomplishment - besides the jacket - to be proud of from the break: my valedictorian speech is finished!  No, I wont be posting it, but I will post some pictures of Lulea for y'all to admire :)

 One of the malls that we were in had a nautical theme

 Ok, so it's the wrong orientation, but there was a captain's wheel!

 This was the floor - made me think of Corrie's arm (he has a tattoo of this)

 Lights from one of the restaurants we ate at

 The Culture House

 The garbage can outside the Culture House - I thought it looked cool

 Easter Fun!

 The roosters made me think I could have been in Portugal, minus the snow

 The view on the street outside the apartment

 The building across the street

 Orange bike :)

 The Church - best landmark to find the apartment :)

 Church - side view

 Red bike :)

We ate lunch on the corner...there was a guy in there who had the worst BO I've smelled yet! Good buffet, though.

Today was Reindeer Day

Well, it happened - today we went on a hike to the top of a mountain to take a look at Jokkmokk from above, and I spotted em - reindeer! Yay!