Postcard from Kakisa Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada

 

Hi Jim!

My friend and I participated Northern Lights tour three nights and we could see northern lights every nights!

Actually, northern lights were not green like a calendar first time. I had seen it white colour. But I could see green colour 2nd day. That is it takes some getting used to see northern lights.

Were going to Seattle via Vancouver tomorrow, then I'm visiting the museum of pop culture! I can't wait!

Best wishes,

Makiko

The Long Road - Terry Fox

Image via WikipediaWhere does Terry's "Marathon of Hope" start?

• Terry's ''Marathon of hope'' started at St.John's in Newfoundland in Canada, on April 12, 1980.

Where does the marathon finish?

• The marathon finishes at Port Renfrew in British Columbia, 5,300 miles away ( 8,530km)

Why does Terry run the marathon?

• He runs the marathon to get money and to stop his pain from the cancer. Now he has an artificial leg.

Why does he stop?

• He stops at Thunder Bay in Ontario because he has a bad pain in his lung.

When is the first Terry Fox Run?

• The first Terry Fox Run is in week three of September, 1981. It brings $3,500,000 to the fight with cancer. Today , there are Terry Fox Runs around the world

Posted for Tomoro (11)

One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

The ridiculous irony of the previous blog posting about a really hopeless learning environment for teens, is that the delightful Sayaka (with some old guy pictured left) was a graduate of the very same school earlier this year. However, the inane reality was that she was obliged to go back to the school for the grad certificate even though she had already graduated high school in Canada.

Sayaka is the (charming) worm that turned. All on her own, she realised there was more to education than the sterile offerings up the road, and applied for a scholarship to escape to BC. I helped her home room teacher write the letter, as I have known her since she was three and applauded her 'get me outta here' chutzpah. And go she did, extending her year into a second. End product, an FCE from Cambridge ESOL and an invitation to study at Waseda from next week. A very well-rounded young lady indeed, and not at all your average uni intake.

(However, this is the second successful FCE candidate we have produced from young learners - Saya took her fisrt YLE Starters exam in 2000 - that has gone on to Waseda. I currently have three more 'on the go'). Anyone in the Matsumoto/Shinshu area want to get a powerful leg up, look no further.

So, anyway, whinge whinge about a derelict school system, and the contradiction which proves the rule.
It also proves that HS kids are not to be underestimated - they can see through "I've been teaching here for 24 years you know" in 10 minutes. And it is about the kids, isn't it?

Personally, I'm really hoping the Tohoku earthquake and the dreadful tsunami will eventually have an effect here in the hills of Nagano too. As they rebuild 'over there', will they be able to do so with a broader vision than just the bricks and mortar (OK, wood & tatami) & inspire the rest of this country to stop dragging its heels - for me, particularly in education?

I'll have to try to remember that each of the 26 victims in the writing class at the HS next Wednesday could be a Sayaka II...which means I have 26 reasons to get bolshy.

Super Saya celebrates

Bad news for all the boys in Matsumoto - one of the most eligible girls in town is off to the bright lights of Tokyo....and how?!

Sayaka will be studying as Waseda University when term starts next spring! How cool is that? I am personally over the moon for her, as a lifelong fan and sometimes her teacher, totally thrilled. Obviously Saya is rather happy with her news too, and deserves a great big hug for all the hard work that she has done to get in.

This is the same girl that:

• hid behind her mum's leg for the first six months of our classes
• cried all the way to New Zealand, on our homestay trip
• escaped high school here & spent two years in Canada
• just took FCE
• is going to be very succesful

xxx well done girl!

Sayaka returns - Canada's loss!

New podcast episode - Sayaka tells us about her Canadian high school & homestay

Sayaka joined my class when she was about three - she has just come back from High School in Canada. She changed a bit! Today, I got a little revenge back, asking her to help out with our current crop of nearly threes in pre-school. Into the bargain I grabbed fifteen minutes to ask about her experience living & studying in British Columbia over the last two years, while Tana held the fort (making bugs!)

I have always had a big soft spot for Saya-chan; I think you can hear the personality and warmth of the girl very easily in this podcast? She obviously enjoyed herself very much in Canada - I am sure ever so much more than she would have done through the drudgery of the local high school she attended her in town (I qualify to have an opinion - taught there!). She might not have been in school so much, but she sure learned an awful lot more about life & relationships, the world she is a citizen of.

 

Please listen to what she has to say* - she answers Patrick's question from Dublin, by the way - and please leave any comments below.

And pre-school? They loved her!

(*Podcast player now lives on the "Easy Listening" page - see tab at the top)

FAQs - High School & homestay in Canada

What would YOU like to know about living in studying in Canada, as an overseas student? Thinking about sending your kids?

Now is your chance to find out - leave your question(s) as comments to this posting.

One of our ex-students is popping in to Luna on Friday to 'say hello' - she has just come back to Matsumoto after spending two tears in British Colombia, graduating high school last month. I will be interviewing her for a podcast, and will put your questions to her. Podcast will be published over the weekend - subscribe on the Easy Listening page (tab above) so you don't miss it!

I love it when our extended family come back as all grown-up friends!

Big girl now

Sayaka (R) graduated from High School in Canada last week and in the process makes me feel ancient :)
as well as proud!

Saya started studying with me when she was knee-high to a grasshopper - think I've mentioned her before here - and has escaped the clutches of the education system here in Japan. She has blossomed into a fabulous young lady as you can see...and there is a lot more to her than good looks.

Congratulations on your graduation, Sayaka

Terry Fox

Terry's "Marathon of Hope" starts at St. John's, Newfoundland (Canada) on April 12, 1980. His friend, Doug Alward, is his (support) driver. He put his leg into the Atlantic Ocean. If he runs, he can give money to kids who have cancer and help them.

The marathon finishes at Thunder Bay (Ontario), because there is a bad pain in his lungs. The cancer has spread. Now there is a statue of him there (pictured). He is facing west, running towards his home in British Columbia.(Terry died a month before his 23rd birthday)

The first Terry Fox Run was in Canada, in week three of September, 1981. There are lots of Terry Fox Runs all over Canada. Young and old, healthy and sick, two-legged people and people in wheelchairs all take part in it to raise money for cancer research.

He is an amazing person because he ran a very long way with only one good leg, to help people who have cancer. He is a Hero. We did a Terry Fox Run in my old school in Beijing every year.

Posted for Toshiya

Sayaka returns for the Summer

It was so lovely to see Sayaka again. She has grown in confidence so much and her English speaking ability has greatly improved since she left for Canada on an exchange programme a year ago.

Our returnee group had some questions for her. What a brilliant resource she was! We were so lucky to have her come in to the school to talk with us and share her experiences with us.

We had lots of fun making t he video. This is a clip from the feedback session we had. Lots of laughter as you can see!

I hope that our students will be inspired by her independence and her courage. She is a shining example of what can be done, if you only put your heart into it.

Sayaka has gone back for the new term and will be back here again next year having completed her studies abroad. we wish her all the best and know she will continue to learn and grow in the lovely way which is her.

Tana

Canadian homestay - Sayaka defrosts

Hi, Jim!!

This is sayaka. how are you doing? I'm sorry I haven't sent you an email since i came to Canada

Finally, it started getting warmer recently in Salmo. it was soooooooooo cold in Salmo this winter!! And we had way too much snow I was so excited about snow at first, but I dont want it anymore :( You seem to have had soooo cold winter too!!!I'm so happy cuz i love spring!
have cherry trees bloomed already? I really wanna see them!!

my life in Canada is pretty good - all the members of my host family are sooooooo kind and friendly. I think everyone in this village is very friendly. I've got new friends. I'm enjoying talking with them everyday. I experienced a lot of new things here. I'm having so much fun!!

you'll have a party!?!? ohhhhhh i wanna gooooo!!!
if you take pictures, please send them to me!!! xD

my host sister's is turning to 6 next week. my host brother is 4 years old. i have another host brother whose name is corbin. he is only a year old. they are all sooooooooo cute!!!!!! if i take pictures with all the members of my host family, i'll send them to you!!

hows your life?
I wanna know about members of LUNA too - are they doing ok?

xoxoxo sayaka

Sayonara Sayaka

I can`t honestly say I enjoy seeing students leave, but this is a special occasion and I am absolutely certain we`ll be seeing this young lady again in the not too distant future.

I have known Sayaka since she was knee-high to a grass-hopper...which is a long time! She had her last class today at Luna with her lifelong buddies Yumeka & Haruka and we had a party to celebrate. And celebrate we should - because Saya has earned a chance to spend a year in Canada on a homestay.

We also had the chance to present Sayaka with her K.E.T. certificate - a fitting trophy before she leaves on Friday. Can this young lady I have known & taught since she was two and a half actually be leaving on Friday?! Makes me stop & ask myslef how much longer I should be doing this...think I should at least stick around until Sayaka comes back!

A holiday report in Canada

I　have　ａ　friend　who　is　staying　to　study　English　in　Canada　now．Her　name　is　Michiko．Ｉ went　to　Canada to　see　her last　November　with　my　two　friends，Yuka　and　Naomi．We　flew to　Canada with Air　Canada．　

We stayed　for　6 days，2 days　of　them　in　Vancouver，another　2 days　in　Banff，and　the　other　days　in　the　plane．We stayed　in　two　kinds　of　　hotels　in　Vancouver，and　Banff．Both　hotels　were　on the　main　streets．They　were　cheap　and　classical，but　very　clean　and　nice．　

The　first　day，We　arrived　at　Vancouver　in　the　afternoon．　Then　we　walked　around　the　downtown　of　Vancouver．We　took　ａ　lot　of　photos．

At　night，Michiko　came　to　our　hotel　after　working．　She　took　us　to　　ａ　very　good　restaurant．We　had　beer　and　wine　with　many　kinds　of　fatty　foods．The　second　day，we　walked　around　the　city，and　went　shopping．　We　love　shopping　anytime　anyway．I　bought some　very　beautiful　pierced　earrings　made　of　silver　and　amber　in　ａ　jewelry　shop．Naomi　and　Yuka bought　very　nice　rings．We　often　said　“We　sometime　have to reward　ourselves　better， don’t　we？”．We　had　a　good　time．

In　the　afternoon，we　went　for　ａ　walk　to　ａ　small　island　called　Granville　Island．We　heard　that　it　was　near downtown，but　it　took　over　ａn　hour．We　got　lost　 in　spite　of　having a map！ When　we　walked　all　over　the　same　place，ａ　man　asked　us “Can　I　help　you？”　The　man　taught　us　the　way　to　Granville　Island．As　he　spoke　slowly　and　kindly　with　our　map，we　could　understand　him．　When　we　arrived　at　Granville　Island，It　was　about　３o’clock．There　were　many　kinds　of　shops　such　as　clothes，foods，jewelry，beer．As　each　shop　had　ａ　pretty　exterior，the　whole　of　the　island　was　like　ａ　toy　town．　

We　had　lunch，and　enjoyed　shopping．I　bought　ａ　postcard　for　Jim．　　　

I　gave　myself　ａ　reward　again．　I　bought　ａ　pair　of　pretty　gloves．　On　our　way　from　there　to　downtown，　we　got　ａ　public　bus．We　were　anxious　to　get　the　bus　because maybe　we　couldn’t　understand　the　information　in　English　and　arrive in　ａn　unknown　place．But　we　tried．　As　ａ　result，　we　could arrive　without　problems．It　was　a　very　good　experience　for　us. That　night , we saw　Michiko　again，and　went　to　ａ　good　Korean　restaurant．

The　third　day，we　went　to　Vancouver　airport　to　arrive　at　Banff．As we had　checked　in　foreign　domestic　airlines　for　the　first　time，we　were　very　tense．

About　an hour and a half later，we landed at Calgary airport without incident．Then　we　went　to　Banff　by　bus．It　took　us　two hours　from　Calgary　to　Banff．We　arrived　at　the　hotel　in　Banff　at noon，then　went　around　the　town　of　Banff．It　was　ａ　beautiful　 small　town．We　enjoyed　taking　photos　and　shopping．I　bought　some　pretty　pins　for　my　family　and　friends，and　ａnother　postcard　for　Jim．

That　night，we　went　to　ａ　restaurant　and　had　steaks,　which　were　famous　Alberta　beef．They　were　very　good，but　expensive．Then　we　got　to the　hotel．We　enjoyed　talking over a few 　beers．The　fourth　day，we　went　to　Lake　Louise　by　bus．It　was　the　coldest day　of　the trip　in　Canada，maybe　–15℃ or lower．

We　saw　the Canadian　Rocky Mountains from　the　bus．We　wanted　to　climb，but　couldn’t　climb　because　of too much　snow．We　saw　some　rivers，lakes　and　wild animals　too．They　were　very　beautiful．We　returned　to　the　town，then　we　got　a　Gondola．Ｗe　saw　the　mountains　and　whole　town　of　Banff　from　the　top．At　night，we　went　to　ａ　Thai restaurant　for dinner．On the　last　day，we　got　up　early　in　the　morning，and　prepared　to　return　to　our　country．We　transferred at Vancouver airport, and went home．

We　had a great time．Canada had a very good view. Many people were very kind．We had a good time for studying English．When they　understood　my　broken　English，I　was　so　glad．We had some problems： we couldn’t see Michiko easily　in Vancouver, because　we were having a hard time getting through on the phone．We lost the way in Vancouver．It was so cold that we caught colds after getting home．　

Posted for Kaori

Poster project - Canada