Positive memories of my job at Garden Hill
-when I went to the interview the one man asked how soon I could pack
-I received a travel cheque in a timely manner to get there asap
-my vp met me at the airport right away and he drove me over the ice road
-the highschool staff was cordial and friendly and supportive
-having luch in the Home Ec. room every day was a highlight
-my junior high students gave me a hard time and then did a turn around and did very well for the final exam
-I left at the end of June and decided to come back in November and they hired me very quickly
-The Director of Education, Mr. Nelson Mckay was always a very gentle and good hearted person who treated his staff with respect and courtesy
-I have fond memories of all my students, Grade 4, Grade 2, Junior High, Senior High,
-the young students were full of life and energy and enthusiasm
- the older students were quiet and maybe too passive at times but there was always the one or two who would speak up and say what was on their mind
- the students had so many challenges because of tragedies in the community and they rallied and stood firm with each other
-other teachers were a delight to be around
-it was a pleasure to watch and listen and observe the variety of characters who came up north and no doubt I was at the top of the list
-I have to repeat once again how the highschool staff had so much fun giving me a fun time with their good natured teasing and joking and even though I did not understand the native language they always included me and I enjoyed the flow and movement of the language and I could read alot of body language
-they always used enough English when I was around so I did not feel that I was left out of the loop
-one time when I had an emotional breakthrough the school counsellor and another staff member took me aside and gave me prayers and moral support
-hey, the pay cheques never bounced
-I grew as a teacher just at that crucial time of my life when something on the horizon was going to take me away from a job I loved
-I loved the northern landscape, and the sound of the crunch on the snowy ice road, the hoar frost gently hanging on the mighty spruce and pine trees, the amazing sunrises and sunsets, the flow of the water as it moved through the seasons surrounding my island home from water to ice and then the inevitalble return to the same and yet subtly different condition and circumstance
-the beauty and horror of nature that gives birth to both joy and depression
-how I miss the north