Today was a travel day. We packed up in Sisimiut, said goodbye and headed south. It took two flights, with a stop in the town of Kangerlussuaq, but we made it back to Nuuk with a blue sky and smooth winds.
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This weekend Sisimiut hosted a UNESCO World Heritage Festival. For two days, researchers doing work related to the new Aapasait-Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage site shared their work in Taseralik, the city’s cultural center. Here is a quick recap of some weekend highlights.
Last night, the Northern Lights graced us with their presence as our boat flew through the icy fjord connecting Sarfannguit with Sisimiut, Greenland. We stood on the back of the boat, idling just so its passengers could get a good glimpse of the lights. I managed to capture this natural beauty on my iphone. Alice, digital guru extraordinaire, did not. I rubbed it in the rest of the night. Tonight, the Northern Lights reappeared and while I retreated to my hotel room, Alice snuck back outside and sought her revenge.
Yesterday was a rather special day. We had the opportunity to see a part of Greenland that not many visitors have been to yet. Sarfannguit is a town accessible only by boat ride through a choppy fjord cutting inland from Sisimiut. As a part of Greenland Science Week, we joined a small group of other professionals to share projects about Greenlandic heritage with the citizens of Sarfannguit.
I awoke this morning and the view out my window was magnificent. Powdery snow had fallen everywhere. As the rain clouds cleared and the snow came, a quiet calm morning followed by a surreal sunset in the afternoon made for a perfect day. Now this is what I expected of November in the Arctic Circle.
Some of my students expressed curiosity in the everyday lives of Greenlanders. So when I can, I would like to introduce you to some of them. First, meet Barse Lyberth Svendsen, Artist ('Kusanartuliortoq') here in Sisimiut, Greenland.
It rained yesterday and its raining again today. Greenlanders keep telling me this is abnormal. Usually by now, Sisimiut and many other Greenlandic cities would see only snow for precipitation. But instead, a cold rain has descended. It's covering the small amount of snow sitting on the ground and turning it to ice. Still, like Nuuk, even drizzle cannot mask the colorful beauty of this place.
Last night I arrived to Sisimiut, a city inside the Arctic Circle. After a clear day in Nuuk that provided a better glimpse of the beautiful capital, a small Air Greenland plane took Hans, Alice, and I (Team post) north.
I woke up this morning to rain and wind still howling. Last night's stormy weather has yet to pass. Today was also the end of Daylight Savings Time in Greenland. Yesterday I was two hours a head of my home (EST). Today I am only one. But I was starting to get used to Icelandic time (four hours ahead). My internal clock is officially confused. Luckily its Sunday, so there were no big plans to attend to.
My first morning in Greenland coincides with another important first day in the world: the start of COP26. For the next two weeks, the world's leaders gather in Glasgow, Scotland for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Their goal: design a global front against climate change. The outcomes of this meeting will affect the entire world, least not Greenland.
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About me:
I am an anthropology professor, writer, researcher and global traveler. In fall of 2021, I led an experiential eLearning project connecting US students (and public) with the people, places, and industries of Greenland. I redesigned a research trip into a virtual field trip for my students who didn't have any Study Abroad options. All of the videos, photos, interviews, and storytelling are still here to enjoy! Categories
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