The weekend of Hockey and Food

Monday, Sept 24, 2012

Like most weekends, they end too quickly. This weekend especially was very eventful, and I’m not just talking about spending all weekend planning for the school week. Saturday was a day of hockey. I signed up in the beginning of the week to play floor hockey on Saturday, thinking I was just going to play for an hour. However, I signed up for a whole day 8-team tournament. Since I haven’t played floor hockey since high school, I knew I was definitely not the one people could count on to score or win any games. Luckily I wasn’t the only one on our Teacher’s team that felt like that. The other teams included senior girls, senior boys, Arctic college students, DEW line employees, etc. We played three games and lost all three. Even though we lost, it was still fun and physically exhausting.

Later that night, we invited a few of our teacher friends and a couple of the DEW line employees for dinner at my house. The night ended early at about 8:30 and I was in bed by 9:30. I woke up the next morning with my lower body being sore from all the hockey playing from the previous day.

Mark, Jen’s friend from the DEW line, invited us for breakfast at the DEW site. The DEW line (Distant Early Warning) is part of the National Defense of Canada as it is one of many radar stations in Northern Canada that detects atmospheric disturbances. Only by invitation, were we allowed clearance to enjoy a wonderful hot breakfast. We felt like we were in heaven! Eggs, bacon, sausages, steak, potatoes, and beans filled our plates. We have not had a breakfast like this since we’re been here. Reminded me of being at Denny’s and ordering the Grand Slam...but better! Our breakfast was followed with a fruit bowl and ice cream! Mark took us on a tour of the station after breakfast. Walking down the narrow and straight hallways, I felt like I was in a submarine. The games room, gym, sauna and amazing meals made us wish that we were DEW line employees. Mark took us to the hangar to show us his helicopter (he`s a helicopter pilot). We even got a chance to hang around inside the helicopter. Jen was lucky enough last year to even get a chance to fly in one. Unfortunately Mark said that was only a one time deal. Overall, the visit to the station was a cool experience. Without the DEW line (built in the 50s) Hall Beach may not have existed. 

(in a traditional inuit amaunti...I dont think she was too happy)