A Few Words From Eddie

     Well this trip has been amazing and I'm so glad I got this opportunity. I wasn't sure about the trip at first but the more I heard about it the more I wanted to go.  After having visited Fond du Lac I can honestly say
that I am so happy I was asked to go to Saskachewan. I met so many new people and they all were amazing,  showing us around their town and school.
     We went to the school the first day and met our twins and although they were shy we started talking and got comfortable playing games in their gym. We went to our lodge and for a whole week we were fed some incredible meals by Corine our host and cook.
     We were taken by sled to a cabin where we had a bbq lunch with caribou ribs. It was all delicous and the cabin was really cool!.
     I loved meeting all the people in Fond du Lac. That was my favorite part of this trip. Everyone was nice and friendly and I don't often get to meet new people but I met tons of people on this trip.
We were able to view the northern lights on our last night from the lodge deck.  A perfect ending! Amazing!
     This whole trip has been special for me and for all of us. I didn't know any of the people in our London group when we left but when we returned I had a large family. We all connected and bonded. Now we are all friends.

Goodbye Fond du Lac

Well, it's finally here. April 13th, 2011. It's time to go and leave this wonderful place. But, and I think I say this for everyone when I say, we don't want to leave.

We've had such a great time here and the experience was amazing. This community has been so hospitable and we are so thankful for all that they've done for us.

Thank you so much Fond du Lac. We are so happy that we've been able to come here and enjoy all this beautiful culture.
We can't wait for the FDL kids to come over to London.

See ya
~Natalie

A Few Words from Dan

I will start off by saying that this trip has been amazing. Memories were made, new friendships were created, and most importantly we all had fun doing it. Starting off we had to three planes to get from London to Fond Du Lac. The plane ride to Toronto from London was a little bit awkward for those of us that didn't know each other. But as we took the two other plane rides everybody seemed to bond with each other. And finally we arrived in Fond Du Lac, the scenery here is simply beautiful and I am very sad that we leave tomorrow because I feel as if I could live the rest of my life here, only if all of the other exchange students from Banting stayed as well. This trip would not have been the same without them.

Most of us didn't really know each other that well. To break the ice between everybody, we had many bonding moments while learning from the Dene first nations that live here. We also bonded by having tickle fights, some may say this is nonsense, I call it shenanigans (inside joke). We had movie nights that lasted to one in the morning and although a few people watched the movie, those people I bonded with greatly. When it was too late to watch a movie, another person and I weren't tired so we got up and had a very late night conversation. I bonded with this person greatly and I can say she was my best friend on this trip (you know who you are).

On this trip we learned how to fillet fish, set traps, and even learned to like the taste of caribou ribs, tongue, and brain. This was so much fun some people were even trying brain and tongue, I know I wasn't one of them. But I can say although I didn't try that food, I tried many others.

We even got to go to a Dene church service which was spiritual beyond belief. When walking into the church everyone broke out into song and it was like a blast of air when walking through the church doors. It was simply amazing to the point where some exchange students were teared up. That was an amazing experience where we had the opportunity of learning about the spiritual culture of the Dene people.

This is only one half of our adventure and it was amazing. I hope we have an amazing second half of this adventure when the Fond Du Lac exchange students come to Banting.

Ahmed with His Twin Alex

A Message from Meg {part 2}

Here's to our last full day up north with the Dene people in their community in Saskatchewan.  Here's to the friends that we've made with each other in the house, to tickle fights and giggle-fests, and inside jokes by the dozen.  Here's to the people in Fond-du-lac who have welcomed us with open arms and shown us their culture, welcomed us into their homes, their lives, their school, their church, and showed us every aspect of their life.  We are so lucky to have been given this opportunity, this experience, and these friends.  A great marsi cho to our hosts and to my housemates.  I will miss our breakfasts, late night conversations and all of the laughs we've shared at Haily's Lodge.  Though part one of our adventure is over, part two is just around the corner! We are all so excited for our twins to come to london so that they can see how we live.

Today was a lot of fun at Culture Camp! I ate Caribou brain and tongue.  I never ever believed that I would be able to say that.  It was pretty good too!  And yesterday, we scaled, gutted , and fileted fish!! I know I had scales all in my hair, and all over my clothes.  We all smelled of fish.  Later we played soccer, and the guys and Natalie played really well. I was forced to play for one shift, and yes I did connect with the ball at least four times!!

Today we sewed little purses in the library of the school, and Ms. Day gave helpful hints to Ahmed and I while sewing.  In fact, she saved me many cuts! It has been such fun hanging out with everyone, and though I look forward to the adventures I know we will have in the various planes and with the jokes that will happen, I am very sad to say goodbye to Fond-du-lac and all the people we have met.  London, we shall see you soon!!!

Another Amazing Day Learning From The Elders

Ms. Day and Ms. Grandmont feasting on caribou brains...Yummy....Very similar to liver


The caribou heads slowly roasting over an open fire. The tongue and the brains are considered the "caviar" of the north.


Caribou meat drying in the tent



Taylor enjoying a caribou rib for lunch

A Few Words from Ahmed

This has been one of the best trips I have ever been on! Seriously, can you guys imagine going on a trip where everything that is so unfamiliar to you yet can be found in one spot? Well that's how I feel in Fond du Lac. I mean the great family feeling that is felt throughout the whole community is amazing, the beauty we never notice around us is completely clear to you here, the different activities like sledding, animal trapping, tanning hides and so much more. What I really notice is the hospitality shown by the community as a whole, from the youngest children to the elders, I feel as if all of us have been welcomed as part of one big giant family . While I can clearly see the differences between the society we live in and the society here yet I notice many of the similarities as well. You would think that since Fond du Lac is only 60 miles from the Northwest Territories border and is a fly in only location , that they would be cut off from the rest of the world, but they aren't. All of he kids use the same slang, except for a few words in Dene and a couple of different sayings. All in all, they are all pretty much the same as any other person in Canada. When you separate yourself from your daily routines, like we did on this trip, you really notice all of things you do, say and see. I can't explain how thankful I am for being picked on this one in a lifetime trip.
Thanks a lot to Ms. Day, Ms. Grandmont and Ms. Greenberg for bringing this trip together and giving us this chance. I'm going to miss all of the people I met met here in Fond du Lac, our twins and especially my twin, Alyx . I can't wait to see all of them in London and show them all of the wonderful things about London and Banting. I'm also happy I got to meet Mr. Steele!