My first studying abroad in Canada

By Hisako

(1) The memory of Kelowna

I left Japan on April 10^th and arrived at Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada. Kelowna is a one hour flight from Vancouver and it is a beautiful place near Okanagan Lake. Kelowna is famous for wineries and orchard I stayed there for three and a half month. However there have been many blank spaces in my English education.

For me, studying English is exciting and I was very happy, so every day I studied and studied. I felt as if I was an elementary school or junior high school student again. I enjoyed studying with young students. They were like my son or daughter, sometimes like my grandchildren. They gave me a lot of energy to study and always helped me.

In addition, I met many wonderful teachers. They had not only excellent teaching technique but also warm hearted personalities. They always encouraged us.

I remember the story they always talked to us.” Please Don’t be shy, speak, open your mouth, speak more clearly . Increase your vocabulary, try to read easy book first, soon you will be able to more difficult books” so I borrowed books from the library. I finished thirty five books and now I am challenging “Anne of Green Gables”. Also, I started to write a short English diary every day. Although my vocabulary is very poor, I will enjoy reading English books more and try to write sentences.

Someday, If I can read English books easily, how wonderful it is!

(2) My thoughts about studying English

　Enjoy English: read picture books by myself, I will try to read them loudly and clearly before children or our class.　Enjoy crossword books or word find puzzle books.

(3) Describe a person using adjective. I wrote letters to teacher and stuff.

Kim : Kind Impressive Magnificent teacher

Carol : Challenger Amazing Remarkable Open minded Lively teacher

Kathy : Kind Attractive Talented Hardworking Youthful teacher

Sue : Smiley Unbelievable Easy going lady

Make my own notebooks: to increase vocabulary, I rewrote and made my notebook

Make my own dictionary

Clipping from newspaper and comment about it by short Sentences

Write letters and send E mail in English

Always use English English dictionary as much as I can　

(4) People and animals I met in Kelowna

There is a phrase “a once in a life time chance”. All people and Animals I have met in Canada were important for me. These were miracles to see. We never be able to contact and meet all people. So people I met here were important for me. I will introduce two people one family and one dog.

Yuko Mii : She is a student from Osaka Japan. I met her in English class. She is a person who is always listening to other people with a smile. I felt she was a little different from other young students. Sometimes young people tend to talk with people of the same age only. But she enjoys talking with older people. She is working at the orchard. When she left class, she gave me a letter. I remember her words, “As I don’t have a strong will, I would like to come in contact with other people mildly. You are my second mother.” Every time I read her letter, I remember her smile and gentle face. I am looking forward to seeing her again in Japan.

Hyeon Ae Jung : She is a university student from Korea . She is very gentle and kind. She always helped me in our class, when I did not understand English. She is kind to everybody and doesn’t care about our age difference. I will not forget enjoying a three-legged race with her in the school activity.

A Taiwanese family : This family has a big orchard. They are the first Taiwanese who opened an orchard in Kelowna. There are many kinds of fruits.

My friend Yuko works now. When I went there to see Yuko, they rolled out the red carpet for me. Even though this time was the first time I visited the orchard. They said, “ Please enjoy supper together “ I was a little surprised, but I enjoyed supper. And the noodle for them and took them to their house.

Harley :

The turtle Island Gallery, which exhibited many articles of settler days Arts. At that place, I met a dog named Harley aged 9. He was lying in the Gallery peacefully but surprisingly the owner explained sorrowfully Harley was suffering from cancer and it was spreading throughout his body. The owner said “Harley is a nice dog, he always makes us happy, please take pictures with him, this picture might be his last pictures.”

Three days after, I sent a get-well card to Harley. But, he died on April 19^th only 5 days after I had met him.

There was a picture of a card in the entrance of the Gallery. The card said, “Thank you for being his friend.”

Before I left Kelowna, I took the pictures of Harley to the Gallery. I will never forget Harley.

(5) The older, the more challenging

As we become older, we sometimes feel tired and we tend to lose our goals. Although we are worried about our growing old, now is the youngest days for me, I think. And I am happy now. After going back to Japan, I want to continue to study English. And I will make a fresh start.

It is a study to become a Japanese teacher for foreigners.

My dream is getting bigger and bigger. I will not care about my age and challenge one more language. It will take a long time for me. But I will make an effort step by step every day.

I want to thank my family, friends and all the teachers who have helped me all the time for every thing.

PEI isn’t the only place to study English. Hisako’s first study trip to Canada took her to Kelowna, BC; about as far from Charlotettown as you can get and still be in Canada.

Page 15