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I have honestly had an amazing few weeks. I'm starting to get comfortable with the winter and have begun accepting that the sun now sets before 3:00 pm. And rises well after I am in the school. 
I do not get to witness much of the sunlight (except on my cold, brisk walk home for lunch). I have started to secretly take up yoga and I am the new proud owner of a 2-month-old full beard. 
I have learned a few lessons (self-taught) that I thought I would share with everyone...
1. No matter how well you think you know a "shortcut"... Stick to the road, path or trail during the winter. About a week back, I came out of the coop (the only place to buy something in Whale Cove) and decided Id take a short cut... I'd walk off the trail and go up behind a few buildings... head through the school parking lot and up to my house. Anyways, I seriously only made it about 50 feet, fell through the snow, and actually ended up getting absolutely soaked. I was chest high in snow and couldn't get out. I worked a while and climbed out, just to fall back in. After I finally got out of the snow and back on to the "long way home", I still had about a 7 minute walk in -40 degree winds. By the time I got home, my one soaked boot (somehow there was about a foot of water at the bottom of the hole I fell into... I don't understand how "water" exists in these temperatures but it was definitely there) so... Anyways, my soaked boot was like a cinder block, my pants were seriously frozen and my legs were absolutely numb, dark red and tingly ... Lesson #1... Learned.
Lesson 2...Whether we like it or not, our surroundings don't have much effect on our overall lives or happiness. I have started to recognize that wherever I am and whatever the circumstances... It's on me to be happy. I could find things to dwell on and be miserable about... Sure. 
It's consistently -40 with a horrible wind, I can't really go outside without the threat of being attacked by a polar bear and I rarely see the sun (unless its through my classroom window). Boooohoooo right? Poor Andy? Haha. It's actually the opposite. I don't think I've been happier here than I have been in the last few weeks. And a lot of that has to do with you guys. I started to feel down, feel trapped... (Not that everyone here isn't amazing because like I've said plenty of times now... They are by far the nicest people, the most welcoming and kind people I've ever met... And I genuinely feel at home.) But the lack of sun, activity, the fact that i have no method of getting out on the land and just being homesick had brought me to a place I didn't like...
I woke up one day determined to find something to lift my spirits, and somehow I thought of an idea that could do just that. I started to plan a trip home. But not just any average trip home. I started to put together a plan that would allow me to bring ten boys from Whale Cove home with me. I started to plan a hockey trip... One that would be monumental not just for me, but for many. I started by trying to make sense of how expensive everything is here... Trying to cut corners. I priced a trip out for 12 people to go from here to Geraldton, and the best prices I could come up with were roughly $3000 a person. Just insane. And not doable in little Whale Cove... But, all day I spent trying to bring that price down, and by the end of it... I had it cut in half. Aeroplan is a wonderful thing when you live in the north. Did you know a flight from Taipei to Canada is actually cheaper than a flight from Nunavut to Thunder Bay??? But aeroplan considers Nunavut to Manitoba (direct) therefore being compared to the cheapest flight possible. ;) anyways... Where you all come in... During my attempts to make this a reality, I leaned on a few people who I have always known to be very helpful and insightful... And sure enough... I was helped immensely. "There's this website for fundraising... I get emails for it all the time. You should look into it. It's called www.gofundme.com. People would help you fundraise from all over. It's perfect for your team!"
Thanks Lisa.
I sat back after about an hour of setting the site up and watched you all remind me how lucky I am. In a really weird way, that day was the best day here. But I did nothing at all. I seriously sat on the couch... Watched the hockey games and continuously was reminded of my friends and family as the countless donations for my hockey team poured in. I received over 100 emails and the team fundraising site: www.gofundme.com/5fv3t4 was shared over 300 times. My friends and family and a few complete strangers opened their hearts for a good cause and raised over $1300 in the first day. And by doing so... Made me realize how lucky we all are to have each other. To have what we have and to want what we want.
So... Enough corny talk... But before I move on... I want to say thanks. Thank you not just for your kindness and support, but thanks for all the things people normally don't say thanks for. Thank you for making me smile, for that time You called to talk, or that time you sent an email... Thanks for everything. OKAY... Moving on.
I am now proud to say that I have stood in front of a polar bear and was able to take it all in. I took pictures... Lots of pictures. 
I stood 80 meters or so away from it and zoomed in as close as my camera would zoom. The entire time being completely in awe of how amazing this animal was, how majestic it was and truly how dangerous it was. Haha.
It is hard to grasp, but not being the "alpha mammal" is actually empowering once you accept it. Maybe I'll try and explain that some other time. Can't find those words right now... But, knowing that at any moment, if it wanted to, that bear could really be deadly... Actually somehow made me feel peaceful. Yea... Too hard to explain. And I just sound nuts. Haha. Some other time. 
So the weather here, like I said is basically the same everyday now. It's -25 to -40 but with wind it feels much colder. It's kinda similar to Northern Ontario's coldest. "Our dead of winter". But it's two months away from the "dead of winter". We have yet to see a blizzard. Which is abnormal. They said last year by this time there were many days that school was cancelled because of blizzards. During a blizzard, there is heavy snowfall and massive 70-100 km/hr winds. Which makes it so people can't see outside. It is very dangerous to even go outside as you might get lost, and in those temps, it wouldn't take long to freeze to death. Haha. So yea. A little worse than a blizzard back home. Hopefully we don't see many of those.
I hope everyone is doing fabulous, and I'll be home in less than 3 weeks to have a good visit! Talk soon
If you are interested in helping my hockey team please visit the site below.
And again thanks to everyone who has already supported us! Simply amazing how kind everyone has been!
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