White Sugar and Vodka

The Tlicho Flag

So truth be told, I’ve been uninspired lately. I work an 8 hour day in the clinic (with a late night call back a couple times a week), come home and go for a jog, walk or ski with my co-workers/preceptors. I make some chow, do some research and pass out. Wake up, rinse, repeat. Tuesday and Thursday is vollyball night where I go get my ass kicked in a grubby old gym with the few other adults in town who play sports. On the weekends we usually go for a long ski or snowmobile ride and sometimes watch a movie with the school teachers (ie. the other white folks).

This weekend is the last weekend the ice road’s open so half of Gameti has gone to party in Rae, the Vagas of the North, or shop in Yellowknife, New York of the North. When the end of the week came and it was 10pm and I was hanging out in my apartment screwing around on the internet, alone, I was wishing I had bummed a ride with someone to Yellowknife, or anywhere; anywhere outside of Gameti. I’ve been here 6 weeks now with 4 left. It’s not bad I know. Considering how much work I have to do at the Health Centre, 4 weeks is nothing. But when I think about how long till I get to go out for a beer, do my own grocery shopping or just hang out with friends, it feels like forever.

I’ve been trying to make friends here, but it’s tough. When I asked what people do for fun here I was told “drink, smoke and have sex”. That would certainly explain the high population rates. Believe it or not, I have no problem with drinking, smoking or having sex, but that’s not exactly what I had in mind. Ice fishing, drumming, dancing perhaps? Something that’s less likely to get me in trouble. No such luck with the locals.