Onward forward to Indiana

The next stage of our lives starts in precisely 6 days and an exciting stage it should be. As is true for most moves, we are largely traveling into the unknown. The first few weeks will be full of discovery.

I start orientation to the Masters program on the 16th. Jason will be filling out work permit forms during the first few days and then enjoying a holiday while waiting for the paperwork to come through. Mean while we'll discover what South Bend and Notre Dame have to offer, looking for furniture etc...

Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Discovering who else is in my program (it's very international)
2. Studying on a beautiful campus
3. Having experienced advisors
4. Building a new community

Our address for the next year is:

Apt. 227C E. Cripe St.

South Bend, IN

46637

USA

We'd love to hear from you as the year moves forward. Blessings to everyone.

In peace,

Gjoa Haven

It's not everyday that someone knocks on your door and tries to sell you a polar bear tooth. But that's exactly what happened to me today; and after two weeks of being up here it almost seemed normal, or should I say, I wasn't surprised. Yes, I'm in Canada, but it doesn't feel like it.
Gjoa Haven is very far north. I am up here working for three weeks helping to build an extended care center. Slowly the people of the north are adapting to "southern" culture through new developments such as these. But thankfully there are still strong currents of inuit culture and practices imbedded in their day to day lives. It is not uncommon for some of my colleagues to skip work because the weather is perfect for sealing or hunting, or to speak in their own language with one another. They are a day to day people, attune with the moment and their surroundings; they are smart, artistic, friendly and peaceable.

Our First Home!

This is our new home!!!!!!!!!! It's an aweful picture but for now it's the only one we've got. Yesterday we took the huge step into the unknown world of home owners, quite scary really. Ok, here's the description of our wee home.

It's just two blocks away from Grant Park mall, in a perfect location for me to bus to school. It's close to shopping, my pottery and more importantly, Nathan (just a 10 minute walk). It's 725 sq foot with a half finished basement. Definitely enough room to have anyone visit us who wants to. It's got a big enough backyard for us to put in a garden, which we're excited about. We're very excited and look forward to showing it off to people. We'll be moving in on January 2, just in time for me to start school the next day.