I landed in Fort Albany, Ontario on Friday August 19th 2011 at about 12:45pm. I had left Toronto Ontario only four hours previously and switched in Timmins Ontario to a charter flight with a usual 9 seats, most removed to make room for cargo. I was the only passenger until we landed in Moosonee Ontario a half hour out from Albany where we picked up one small girl. It was in Timmins that I learned all of my luggage had been left at the Toronto airport and would not arrive until the next day. Little did I know that the carrier they would be using did not fly in to Albany on a Saturday. I was able to scrounge up some food the next day and the tap water in my place is potable so no worries there. I slept on the end of my mattress with a pillow from the couch and fell asleep listening to the rain and wind lashing against the siding. My headache had evolved into nausea but for the most part I was able to hold the tears at bay with silent reminders of the lack of toilet paper to blow my nose. My cell phone stopped working once we took off from Timmins, I have no house phone, the possibility of no internet for a year and the post office at the corner store is not open on weekends. I was feeling extremely cut off and terribly lonely.
By this time I have had the chance to meet some people, the majority of them teachers and most of them returning for their second year and thus with the experience and hindsight to know what it is I might be going through. Most have been exceptionally helpful, one giving me a tour around town and handing out any and all advice that came to mind. Another, after figuring out my present lack of necessities has lent me a make-shift curtain for privacy in the living room, bed sheets and a blanket to sleep on, a kettle to boil water and blessedly a towel and shampoo to shower with. A week ago this may have seemed basic and terribly uncomfortable but from where I now sit and look at things, the view is looking much less harsh and smiles come more easily. My helpful neighbour presented me with the use of her phone last night to allow for me to make connections back home, letting them know I’d arrived safely and was indeed alive! Today I hope to get my bags and be able to set up my new home. Tomorrow I meet the rest of my yet-unknown colleagues and will have the chance to see my classroom for the first time.
Wish me luck!
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As it turns out, the flight from Timmins was cancelled today due to technical problems, though I suppose I shouldn’t be worrying about my stuff so much as the fact that two teachers and the principal will not be in until tomorrow afternoon. Only I was so looking forward to having a pot and a fork to make and eat my pasta with!
A couple other teachers and I walked out to the point on Albany River today in the hopes of seeing a few seals. They say it’s about the right season for them now. It’s around an hour and a half walk one way so we were out for quite a while but unlike the last two days, the rain held off. We made our way past the dump where they were burning garbage, and saw the sweat lodge just before reaching the boat launch. The beach was a bit of an adventure to climb down to but was well worth it, covered as it was with tons of clay and rounded multicoloured stones, in several of which we were able to find very clear fossils. We had two of the dogs along with us; Squatter and Crazy Dog. They’re both very protective and Squatter especially is extremely loyal. They were nice to have on the back roads and had a grand time guarding us. 
I took several pictures of the river from various angles; we’ve been told that in the spring when the ice breaks up the water can rise one to two meters in a matter of minutes. I’m just holding out hope that there’ll be a safe chance to match the before pictures with some after pictures J
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