Expedition Postponed

The expedition team was supposed to fly to Ward Hunt Island, the northernmost island in North America, at 3:30 tomorrow morning. However, because of bad weather forecast at landing position, the departure day was rescheduled to the day after tomorrow. So today each one of us spent the time freely.

I myself spent time by acquiring gasoline for burner and maps with help from Lucas the hotel manager. Today was Sunday and CO-OP was closed, so I had to ask Lucas a special favor.

Lucas, 27 years old, who is always willing to respond to our various requests. Lucas, a very helpful person, will be promoted to the owner of the hotel next week.

In a spare time, Lucas took me to a nearby hill by his snowmobile. There found was an igloo, which was dome-shaped and made by blocks of snow. I was told that the igloo was used as a fieldwork in school curriculum where the elder teach the younger how to make igloos. Long time ago the Inuit used to build igloos in winter and placed skins of seals on the floor and lived inside the igloos. But now they ride snowmobiles and live in a warm house where you can stay in one T-shirt.

On the hill Lucas let me try riding on the snowmobile (license is not needed as long as the driver is 16 years old or above). Because I love motorcycles, it was very exciting experience. After a while, another snowmobile came and a while woman got off and recognized I am a Japanese and greeted in Japanese "Konnichiwa (Hello). Watashiwa Kitakyushuni Sundeimashita (I used to live in Kitakyushu City)." I have several friends living in Kitakyushu City, so I let them know about today's meeting. When I travel in a foreign country, I often meet people who say "I used to teach Japanese."

As I was feeling seriously lack of exercise recently, I asked, "Is it ok to walk up here?" He answered, "No it is not safe because there are many polar bears." In deed there are many rifles and bullets all over the place. Even women have hunting licenses. So there is no choice. I will come here again by snowmobile.

Inside the hotel there are many Inuit paintings and photographs hang on the wall. I would like to introduce them in my future journals also.