Unexpected Change in Latitude

Right now, I should be in Rankin Inlet in western Nunavut. I should be finishing off the last couple of days of the Nunavut Educational Leadership Program (ELP). Instead, I am sitting in a cafe on 7th Ave in New York City watching the crowds out the window and blogging. All school administrators in Nunavut must take the ELP as a condition of employment. With travel time it is an investment of about 2 weeks of summer vacation time. So, as you can imagine, enthusiasm for the course varies greatly from person to person. As well, teachers who are interested in becoming administrators can also apply to attend the course. I was looking forward not only to the course, but was also excited about the chance to see and photograph some tundra plants. I have been an amateur botanist since childhood and have been tantalized by the end of summer remnants of arctic poppies and cotton grass when I arrive in the arctic in mid-August. On July 4 around 26 of us flew to Winnipeg from various places and were scheduled to fly up to Rankin the next morning. There were two other groups meeting in Iqaluit and somewhere in NWT. For two days flights were cancelled because of bad weather in Rankin. Four times we were checked in for flights that never left. Four times we repeated the tedious process of recollecting our luggage off the carosel and waiting for instructions from the person in Rankin who was organizing us. We were all packed with winter clothes and camping gear, so there were tons of luggage. At the end of the 2nd day, with no weather change in sight, the program leaders made the decision to cancel the program. On a positive note, our group spent 3 nights together in 3 different airport hotels and had fun dinners together every night. When time allowed, we explored a bit of Winnipeg (between cancelled flights). It was a great way to get to know a bunch of people who share so much in common. So, I found myself with nearly 2 weeks of unexpected free time. Everything at home was taken care of and I had excellent pet/house sitters. It seemed a shame to waste all that, so at the airport in Winnipeg on my way back to Halifax I booked a last minute week in New York. I flew to Halifax, repacked in my car, leaving behind winter clothes and camping gear and picking up some summer clothes I had left in the back seat. As I had 10 days between arriving home and setting out again for ELP, the unexpected vacation felt like such a gift. I am just finishing off an amazing week and feel rested, energized and inspired and ready for the next month of enjoying Nova Scotia and getting ready to head back up north on August 14.

Here we are in the airport in Winnipeg at the end of day 2 waiting for a decision about cancellation of the program. I am hoping that the leaders of the course find a creative way to deliver the course by distance over the up-coming school year.