The North: Safe for Vampires

I taught my first full day today (3/4 80 minute blocks with the remaining one for prep) and, amid technical difficulties and navigating those tricky new-teacher waters (i.e., what can I get away with because there's someone new standing at the front of the room?), it was a tiring day. A satisfying day, to be sure, with many wonderful moments, but one that has left me pretty wiped out. Hence this post, which I've been saving as a 'back-up' for days just like this.

So, a little something on the apparent randomness of prices here in Pond Inlet. We have two stores -- the Northern and the Co-op, which are more or less the same and have nearly all the same things you would expect to see in the south, including pineapples, avocados, whole grain bread, and so on and so forth (plus local Arctic char!).

But the prices! Some are entirely normal:

A dozen eggs for $3.65, with 18 for $5.59.

But, the keener your eyes become for prices and their southern counterparts, the more quickly you realize that the familiar prices are for items that have been subsidized. Things like cookies? Well...

A sweet tooth can get you in a lot of trouble up here!

And then, sometimes, you realize that someone in some office wrote something on their list of Things to be Subsidized, and left other things -- extremely similar things -- off of the list, leading to absolutely bizarre price differences:

Okay, okay. Spaghetti. Definitely should be subsidized...

But that FANCY pasta with the slightly thicker noodle? LUXURY.

And spices? Well, let's just say that we had all best hope that there aren't any vampires lurking around Bylot Island. I'm afraid that vampire-proofing our homes would be a costly venture (although garlic bulbs? reasonably priced!):

And, because you can see groceries anywhere, here is my obligatory mountain photograph:

Even with fickle prices, I really can't complain. This place, dear readers! Wow.