Spring has sprung in Salluit!

Bonjour!

Sorry it has taken so long to post again - every day is busy here!

We're finished our physical health unit now and are on to Sex Ed and Puberty. We've been getting some really positive feedback from the teachers and (in their own way) the kids, which is really encouraging! One of our favourite memories from last week was when we were teaching a body image class to some of the more senior girls. Two girls, who seemed totally uninterested and unwilling to participate during the lesson, came and found us at recess and asked us for help filling out the worksheet we'd given them. It was great to talk to them about body image and self esteem and feel like it was getting across. Today, we taught a puberty lesson to a Janie's class. They were a bit giggly and embarrassed when we taught, but they must have learned something because Monique, who teaches the other grade 6 class, she told us that her students kept asking "When are Heidi & Nikki going to teach US about sex??".

Last weekend, Kate and Danny offered to take us out snowmobiling. Unfortunately, Nikki got food poisoning at the last minute and spent the day in bed, but I was lucky enough to go out with the teachers. It was my first time on a snowmobile, but now I'm totally hooked! Followed by Nanook and Trey, Kate's two huskies, we drove along the frozen bay all the way to the mussel hole. It's an hole in the middle of the bay that never freezes because of the tides. We picked some mussels and I even tried a raw one - kind of gross but mostly bearable.

One thing we've been doing very well up here is eating! Even though getting good fresh produce is a big problem in most Northern communities, you can generally find decent stuff at the co-op if you know the right days to go. Monique has given us full run of her well stocked kitchen and pantry, so we've been making everything from hummus to fajitas to oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

This week it has been a lot warmer and the snow has almost completely melted in a matter of days. On Tuesday, it was so gorgeous and sunny that Nikki and I couldn't resist the urge to go for a little hike at lunch hour. We walked up the hill behind our house and looked out over the town and the bay. We're still trying to get out to see the Northern lights, but it has been overcast the last few nights. Unfortunately, our chances are running out since it's staying light out until almost midnight now! Even though we'd be upset if we never got to see the lights, we're happy that spring is in the air. The teachers told us today that we can look forward to a bonfire in the mountains in the next couple of weeks! We'll be sure to keep you updated :)

Bissous,

Heidi & Nikki.

Ps. GO HABS GO!!!!