First of all, we are leaving Tuktoyaktuk. Although it has been a year full of incredible experiences and adventures for all of us, it is too difficult for the kids to live up here. They are just too different from the Tuk kids and will always be reminded of it, in moments of bullying, teasing or just in everyday interactions. The kids up here have not had the same experiences as James, Patrick and Charlotte, and as a result, they do not relate well to each other. The majority of the kids up here like being outside, playing sports and being on the land for hunting, trapping and fishing. Our kids, aside from the occasional snowball fight, are not outdoors kids at all, and much prefer to be inside reading, gaming and playing with their gadgets and toys. Tuk students' natural learning environment is on the land, learning the skills necessary to provide for and nurture an Inuvaluit family. They do not adjust well to a classroom environment, which is all our children know. Essentially, they are like oil and water.
That being said, all three kids have learned a lot of life lessons which will be useful to them for the rest of their lives. They were bullied and learned how to handle it, what to do and what to say. We are very proud of each of them for standing up to their bullies, having the courage to speak up about it and to talk about it openly so that others will learn from their experiences too. We would like to think that we are a pretty tight-knit family, but this year has cemented that fact. When you feel like you are all alone in the world, turning to others who feel the same way makes a world of difference! They have learned the value of their education, after being in a classroom full of students who were not comfortable in the learning environment. They have learned about respect, after seeing so little of it in the school and in the classroom. They have learned that when they are feeling down, not only can they rely on their family, but they can also lean heavily on God, who will always see them through. They have learned not to take what many would consider the most basic elements of life for granted and to cherish what they have. These lessons are just the tip of the iceberg so to speak...in a north-of-the-Arctic Circle kind of way.
Greg and I have grown, too, both professionally and personally. We have learned that with God, anything is possible and we have grown even closer together as a couple. We have faced adversity together and learned how to handle extremely stressful situations and people, and how to comfort each other during these times. We have learned to appreciate each member of our family and their own unique role he or she has in supporting it, as well each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we have learned that no matter how terrible a day or a week has been, it, too, shall pass.
All five of us now subscribe to the theory that in the North, whatever doesn't kill you just makes you stronger! There were times when we were so homesick or so heartsick that we thought the school year would go on forever. Sometimes we just wanted to pack it all in and run away, but we stuck it out and we are the better for it. We met some pretty amazing people here, people we are proud to call friends and will consider so for life, and others who will quickly fade into the past.
In Tuktoyaktuk, there is no March Break. Instead, there is a May Break because this is the time of year when the sun doesn't set, the snow is beginning to melt and it's the perfect time to go out on the land to hunting cabins at Husky Lakes and fish, hunt and bond as a family. Since attendance is low at the school during this time of year, why not have a spring break now? It makes for a long haul for the teaching staff with no break between January and May, but upon the return from the break there is only six weeks of school left. The countdown is on!
For the Wilson Family, May Break means a trip to Ontario! We are very excited to be returning home for a visit, eating some fast food, drinking water with fluoride in it, driving on the 401, and, of course, visiting with friends and family. For Greg, it is a short but sweet visit as he will be returning to Tuk in order to complete his one year term. The kids and I, however, will remain in Ontario for the remainder of the school year, making Parry Sound our home base. We have been homeschooling all three kids up since the beginning of April and that will continue upon our return home.
Where do we go from here? Well, some of you heard that it was almost a done deal that Greg was going to re-hired to lead his old organization back to its former glory, but that did not pan out. It was quite a blow when this happened, but we have picked ourselves up, brushed ourselves off and are actively looking for work again. We each have a few irons in the fire in Ontario, and although we hope that one or some of these will work out, we are also applying to boards all over Canada. We would prefer to say in a major centre, or at least in a community with a road leading to it, and preferably an inexpensive plane ride home. A community with a bank, a few restaurants, a variety of stores, churches and schools would be nice too, and after Tuk, that is a step up!
Our adventures in Tuk are ending, and although we are happy to be returning to our dear ones, we are a bit sad to be leaving. We never in a million years thought that we would get to live on the shore of the Arctic Ocean, and yet here we are! Many of you have said we were crazy to do this, but the incredibly unique experiences we have had far outshine the hardship of living in such a remote, cold and rugged part of the country. We all will remember our adventures here in Tuk, and are better people for having learned and loved in this community.
I have decided to keep blogging. Stay tuned for updates on our summer adventures in Ontario, Greg's thesis defence, our trip to DisneyWorld, and of course, where we will land come September. In the meantime, our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your love, support and prayers while we have been so far away this year. We couldn't have done it without you! On a personal note, I would like to thank you for your kinds words, support and encouragement as I found my voice on this blog and recorded our adventures over the last ten months. Some of you have suggested I write a book based on our time in Tuk, and I want to let you know that this is an extreme possibility. I hope that you will continue to enjoy reading my blogs about our more tame adventures now that we are returning to mainstream society.
As for our next adventure, who knows were we will wind up? We do know, however, that God will lead us and we will go where He needs us to be, and that you will love us and pray for us no matter which corner of the world we may roam. We love you.
