Don't Worry Be Happy

In the past year I have crossed the international date line, the equator and now the Arctic Circle. Not something I'll likely do in any year ever again! Inuvik has a highly diverse population - people either grew up here or arrived here from far away places. At the local sandwich shop, two of the guys are from Tunisia and one from Jordan. (And they make a delicious schawarma sandwich.) Today at school I met one of the CUSO volunteers from Germany. I've seen more black people in my few days here than I have in Vernon. Areas like this tend to attract people from a wide variety of backgrounds and reasons for being here.  A large majority of the teachers I've met are from Nova Scotia or Newfoundland - all are making a life for themselves here - not necessarily just passing through, although I'm sure there's some of that too. Another animal display in the Inuvik airport Yesterday I gave a presentation about online learning to ALL the teachers in the district. Th...

Inuvik.  Not Iqaluit. Or Inuktitut. Or Nunavut. Inuvik. In the Northwest Territories. Above the Arctic Circle. That's where I ended up this week to give a presentation to teachers about online learning, specifically Moodle (the online learning platform that I've been working with). Inuvik. 4500+ km as the crow flies from the place we just spent the past 6 weeks - St. Andrews New Brunswick.  There likely are 2 points in Canada that are farther away from each other but not many. Inuvik.  No polar bears. No igloos. But a community garden greenhouse.  Check it out on Google maps street view - you can go right inside .  It used to be the arena. And how do you get there? Well we started from Kelowna on Friday night with a direct flight to Whitehorse. Surprisingly this is one of the few domestic flights I've been on that actually provided food - a nice little plate of cheese, grapes, sliced meats, warm chocolate chip cookie - thanks Air North! Unfortunately the...

We arrived at Bantry Bay Farm just in time for the 2nd annual Triathlon. This prestigious invitational event features teams of one or two competing in the bicycle (from the mailboxes into the farm), the run (from the greenhouse to Susan's house and back) and the swim (down the slip'n'slide in front of the barn). The preparations included Porter and Finn testing the slip'n'slide.... ...Karen, Liana and Sasha erecting the banners and signage..... ...Kathy preparing the watermelon for the contestants....  ....Tony and Ross getting ready (hydrated).....  ....contestants sporting their team signage....in this case Luke and Tony (Bush Hoggers)  ...Karen and Liana...international team (The Netherlands and Australia)...  ...Jenny and Rowan (the Lobsters) ...Bella and Brendan (The Pink Panthers),,,,  ...Dylan (The One Team)...  ...Lori and Sasha..(Fashionably Fast)  ...Porter...(Eat My Dust)... Then the main event. T...

I'm happy to report that Marj and I managed to find the best gelato and the best crepes in all of Florence.  We had some trouble finding a place to stay in Florence but managed to  book a room at a guest house called GH Happy. It is conveniently located and the owner is a wonderful host with the most incredible recommendations for visiting the city.  He spent about 1/2 hour when we checked in yesterday going over various things we should and shouldn't do which included lunch, dinner and ice cream recommendations away from the main centre. We had lunch at the suggested creperie and they were fabulous. It was at a small 'hole in the wall' (literally) but the food was amazing.  Not to mention the glass of wine for 1 €. For that price we could excuse the plastic cup it was served in. This was the ham, brie and porcini mushroom crepe. 4 €. And this is the place for the next time you're in Florence. Florence is full of amazing sculptures, most of them from the Re...