Inuit Idol

Two days to go.

Despite the prolonged build up to my departure, and the fact that I'm writing this surrounded by boxes in various states of 'packed-ness', I still don't think it's really sunk in that in two days I'll be on a plane out of here for the very last time. At this stage of proceedings there are so many loose ends to tie up and last minute jobs to be done that there isn't really any time to think much further ahead than today.

James' party on Saturday was fun, and I've been invited next door for supper on Tuesday, so my adventure in Kangiqsujuaq will be ending just as it began. James and Sophie fed me on my very first day here back in August, and I shall miss their kindness and friendship when I leave. I'm also eating out tonight, as Roland is putting on a supper at the residence for the departing students, and it was earlier today that I gave my students their TOEFL results, the results that dictate whether or not they get to go to college.

I always feel like Simon Cowell at this stage of the year, the whole process reminding me of the conclusion to Hollywood Week on American Idol when the contestants are told whether they've made it onto the show or not. The students sit in our classroom and then, one by one, I call them into the room next door (which is fortunately vacant a lot of the time and was again today) to give them their results. Like Simon, I'm not one to sugar coat the truth if it's bad, and whilst I don't gain any personal pleasure out of doing it this way I don't think I'd being doing the students any favours if I did it any differently. If they get praise from Simon then they deserve it, and it's the same in my class.

As it was, my students did pretty well this year so there wasn't much disappointment floating around, but it's only now that their journey really begins. When they head south to college they'll no longer be the big fishes in a small pool, and like the contestants on Idol they're going to have to work hard to stay the course. Whether they manage to stick it out remains to be seen, but at least their fate is in their own hands, with no phone votes and no Ryan Seacrest to deal with.

Dim the lights...

I thought this was a family show?

The hardest working man in show business™, Ryan Seacrest, seems to be making a bid to become 'the most un-PC man in show business' as well. A little while ago I wrote about Ryan's attempt to high five a blind contestant on American Idol - incidentally that contestant, Scott MacIntyre, has since made it through to the final stages of the show - and on tonight's live programme, Ryan took things to the next level.

Tatiana, who has been particularly emotional and theatrical throughout her time on the show, had just sung for the last time and had sunk to her knees in order to implore the judges to put her through to the next round. With judgement summarily passed and Tatiana still on her knees, Ryan takes the stage to interview the contestant and cue the commercials. He approaches Tatiania, and as she starts to rise from her genuflected pose, he pronounces:

'You don't have to get up.'

Unfortunately for Ryan, Tatiana didn't make it through. Probably for the best, you know.

Blind ambition

Following on from yesterday's informational piece, we now go from the sublime to the ridiculous. The new season of American Idol started this week, and on Tuesday night's show the final hopeful to be featured was a young blind man. He sang really well and earned a ticket to Hollywood from the judges, bringing the night's show to a most touching, heartfelt finale.

Well, almost.

If you watch the show regularly you will know that the host, Ryan Seacrest, waits outside the judges' room to either console or congratulate the contestant after their audition. Ryan was duly waiting for our blind chanteur to emerge, and when he saw the golden ticket he silently raised his hand in anticipation of a high five.

Think about this situation for a moment...

...Ryan obviously hadn't.