A Week of Firsts in Pinehouse

Tân'si? That is how are you in Cree! So far, Jess, Devin, Kiel and I have been able to learn a couple of Cree phrases. I couldn't begin to tell you how they are spelt since I only know how to vaguely pronounce them. However, not bad for a couple of days! We all look forward to learning more.
Since arriving Monday, we have been busy! We've met tons of people, had a variety of meetings (with teachers, health professionals, community members), canoed, walked around the community, gardened, fished, prepared presentations, etc.


It's been great! Everyone here has been so kind and very generous. To say that we are looking forward to the next 5 weeks is an understatement. We are all very impressed with the enthusiasm for organizing different initiatives in the community.


Here is a list of our "firsts" since arriving Monday in Pinehouse. You can guess who did what and some apply to multiple people.

• Catching a fish.
• Building a garden plot.
  
• Using a wheelchair as a wheelbarrow. (In MTL, we improvise).
  
• Eating rabbit.
  
• Seeing an eagle.
  
• Singing the Sound of Music soundtrack in a canoe.
  
• Driving a giant truck with a pile of dirt in the back.
  
• Canoeing in Pinehouse lake.
  
• Frying fish.
  
• Eating Pickerel.
• Eating fried bannock.
• Using a circular saw.
• Canoeing to an abandoned island...full of ants. (We now know why it's abandoned).
  
• Picking up a sweet pair of sunglasses from an island.
  
• Hunting mosquitoes with a sword.
• Learning Cree.
  
• Potentially meeting Pedro the skunk under the clinic shed
  
• Playing Bananagrams.
• Living with a Native family.
• Getting the nicknames D-Money and K-Town.
• Being called Sarah Jessica Parker.
• Seeing beaver paws in a freezer.
  
• Eating a bacon butty sandwich.

Hope this finds you well wherever you are!

- Sarah

P.S. If Kiel had Facebook his status would be "Sarah didn't bring a bathing suit but she did bring a bread maker". Me: I thought it was a brilliant idea... Who will be laughing when I'm eating delicious fresh bread?