Mexico

    　　　　As I told you before, Hiro, Yumi and I traveled in Cancun Mexico from Sep 27th through Oct 4th. Our package tour was excellent. It has round-trip flight ticket, room for a week, all meal, drink include alcohol, snack, entertainments and activities, and costs less than a thousand backs It was all inclusive and inexpensive, it’s really good deal especially for a poor student like me.
　　　　When we arrived at Cancun Airport it was already night. We dropped by a shop in the Airport and found all stuff were much smaller than us. I felt some sense of superiority because I am usually shorter than any other friends, but in Cancun I am taller than them. Hiro said the Mayan race was a little shorter but tough. She likes this type of Mexican guys. As we got out the building of the Airport, I felt it was much hotter and more humid than summer of Tokyo. However I like that humidity because there is clean air and no pollution, so I felt like being in a nice mist sauna.
　　　　We got on a shuttle bus and headed for our hotel. It was far and there was no light on the roadside. It’s just black outside so we couldn’t see anything. And also we were getting hungry so we just sat in dumb silent.
　　　　When we got to our hotel it was past 10 pm and we were starving so we looked for a restaurant first. Most restaurants were closed around 9 pm but one of them which was buffet style and located on the beach was open until 2 am. We grabbed fries, fruits, chicken and drink. The meal was better than I expected. As well as it was my taste. Because we were so tired by a long flight and such a tense happening, we just went to bed after the meal.
　　　　The second day in Cancun, which is 28th, we explored our huge hotel. The hotel was clean and gorgeous and has beach, 4 restaurants, 2 pubs, a gym, a spa and a stage for entertainment. We also found some animals in the hotel’s garden, rare ones are iguanas and seanas, which is big mouse, even bigger than a kitten. We saw a seana, and he was digging a hole with a nut in his mouse and put the nut in it and then covered it by soil and finally placed a leaf on the trace. It was very cute. If only I shot it. Walking down in the garden, we got to the beach. Talking for Cancun, It’s famous for the Caribbean Sea. It was sparkling sunshine on the beach, the sand was brilliant white and the ocean was bright blue. I heard because the sand was made by tiny peace of coral so it didn’t hold heat. The weather was hot but the beach was not so hot as I couldn’t walk in bare feet.  We just took a rest and drank beers all day long and sometimes swam in the sea. I learnt an important word in Spanish, which is “tres cervezas por favor”, the meaning is three beers please.
　　　　The third day, 29th, we visited to Chichen Itza, which is one of Mayan ruins. We joined an optional tour and a Mexican guide leaded us. We got a bus and headed there in the early morning. It was long way to get to Chichen Itza, but we never got bored because the scenery from the window was so interesting. We took a lot of pictures and were chatting with other tourists. We got there around noon. Our guide gave us explanations about Chichen Itza and Mayan culture in English. In this year, people can’t climb the pyramid because it was under a renovation. We were a little disappointed but still enjoyed walking around the heritage and knowing the Mayan culture. However it’s hard to understand our guide’s English. His pronunciation was weird and sound like Spanish. I can’t pronounce correctly, though. 
　　　　I’m going to tell you the most impressed part of Mayan culture. In the old days, Mayan people used to play some ball game. Two teams played it and if a ball passed through a ring, the team which made it got a point, and the team which gained more points was winner. It’s natural until here, but from now, it’s interesting. They made a sacrifice for god and the leader from the winning team was able to be a sacrifice. I wondered who wanted to win the game. I would struggle to lose it, no matter what. However they were willing to be a sacrifice because it was honorable. There were a lot of carvings of skeletons. They made a sacrifice every time they also made a carving for the sacrifice.
　　　　I bought an ornament of a sacrifice. It originally cost 15 bucks but I thought it wasn’t worth paying as much as 15 bucks. I negotiated the price down and got it just 3 bucks. Am I bold or rude?
　　　　The fourth day, 30th, we enjoyed spending time at the beach. Also, we did parasailing. I had not tried it yet and I would have wanted to do it before I came to Mexico. We applied parasailing for three of us and an instructor brought us in the offing. During waiting for our parachute was ready, Yumi and I god a sea sick. When Hiro took a picture of us, we managed to make a smile but look weird. We felt terribly bad when we were on the boat. Our parachute was ready and we flied. It was gorgeous view and I could see whole view of the Yucatan Peninsula. I still felt some awkwardness, though.
　　　　The fifth day, Oct 1st, we went another Mayan ruin, named Coba, which have been discovered not a long time ago. We joined an optional tour again. On the tour, we visited not only Coba but also a Mayan local family and the cave. First we visited Mayan family. I don’t think it was authentic village. I think someone made looking real, old, and traditional village for visiting people. However we could know how the old Mayan people lived. They lived in a small house like a tent and hung hammocks for sleeping. They ate tortilla with eggs and spicy sauce. And we tried it and it was good, actually.
　　　　Then, we went to the cave and there was a deep and beautiful pond in the cave. It was dark, but in some part, the sunlight came through the outside of the cave. It looked so mysterious. We jumped into the pond and swam there.
　　　　After visiting the cave, we went to Coba. In the Coba area, the ball game which was same as Chichen Itza, was took place. Old Mayan people used to play the game, but they didn’t make human sacrifice. They made a jaguar be a sacrifice instead of human. I would say it’s better to live than Chichen Itza. We follow a Mexican guide and walked to the Pyramid of Coba. As we got there, the guide explained about the Pyramid and it was 15m higher than Chichen Itza. He suggested us to climb it. Of cause, we were here for climbing the Pyramid. It was so steep and hard to climb, actually a lot harder than I expected. Some people in our tour didn’t or were not able to climb it. When I reached the top, I felt a sense of achievement. The view from the top of Pyramid was so beautiful green ever, and whole tropical rain forest. It was great beyond expression and made me feel how small I was. It is worth visiting if you have a chance.
　　　　The sixth day and seventh day was just relaxing day. On Oct 2nd, we just took a rest for recovering from the tiredness of climbing Coba. I found I got suntan a lot but I was getting to be not care of suntan. I think I would like to get it more. I also noticed Asian was only us, just three in such a huge resort. Most visitors were the Caucasians and from Europe or North America. I know it’s too late to realize it because six days has already passed since I came here. Don’t Asians like Mexico or don’t they know such a nice resort?
　　　　On Oct 3rd, it was spa day. We got a massage at a spa, bubbly bath and sauna. It was exclusive so we had to pay. We shopped for some souvenirs outside of the hotel. By the time, we have already known where and what. We got to be used to the place and felt as comfortable as being in our houses. However we had to leave there in the early morning of the next day. It made us sad. We packed our luggage by the midnight and left there about 2 am on Oct 4th. We went back to Canada by a long flight and bus.
　　　　It was a wonderful time and I got great memories. I would love to come back to Mexico. I also recommend you to visit there. Cancun would give you unforgettable wonderful memory.

Mexico (when we were leaving Victoria)

　　　　Before I came to Canada, I was not interested in Mexico, and other tourist attractions like Rocky Mountain or Niagara were more attractive to me. However, these days, Mexico was getting to be much more attractive than any other place. I have a lot of Mexican friends and they showed me some pictures of their hometown. I think they made me interested in Mexico, and the country became one of my dream destinations. I was always wishing for visiting to Mexico.
　　　　A friend of mine Hiro, who is Japanese and 10 years older than me, went to Mexico in this June. She loves Mexico and wanted to go there again, but she didn’t have any travel partner, so she asked another friend Yumi and me if we wanted to go there. Of course, we answered “why not?” Three of us were supposed to travel to Mexico from Sep 27th through Oct 4th. We made a plan and were supposed to meet at the bus depot in early morning 6am of 27th.
　　　　The day before departure, that is to say 26th, Yumi phoned me and said “I can’t go to Mexico.” Her voice was shaking. I couldn’t understand what she meant or I thought she was joking but I asked “What??” She said that she left her passport at a copy shop Staplers when she took a copy of it. She realized it just before calling me. It was past 10 pm. It meant she realized it after Staplers had closed. First I was lost for words. She continually said that she phoned Staplers but nobody answered. The only way to pick it up was waiting until 9 am, when Staplers opened. “Dear.” I could barely say only this word. She apologized a lot but I was just sorry for her because I wouldn’t put it past everybody to do like her. I wished it had been nightmare. She said she won’t go to Mexico with us but she was going to manage to get there. She was going to find a flight ticket which bound for Cancun and meet us there. However, she said, she couldn’t find any good ticket and most tickets were leaving Oct 4th. I told her we couldn’t find any and it’s better to depend on our travel agency. I thought they could make her flight postpone and she didn’t have to buy another ticket again; she was going to charge only for postpone. She said she was going to call Hiro and call me later. We hung up. She phoned me again an hour later and said she was going to the bus depot with me because she wanted to get a copy of e-ticket which only Hiro had. Therefore, we were supposed to meet at fairway market near our house at a quarter to 6 am, and get a cab and go there. I didn’t know the detail, what they were going to do yet.
　　　　When we were heading to the bus depot by a cab, Yumi told me what she was going to do. She was going to get the copy, go to Vancouver Airport with it after getting back her passport, and she was going to tell a staff of Aero Mexico that she had been late for her flight and wanted them to make her another flight. However, she said, she couldn’t find any shops which had a copy machine and opened such an early morning. She was going to ask a staff of bus depot to get a copy for her and it was the last chance for her but we were not sure if they had a copy machine. When we arrived at the bus depot, Hiro had already been there. We asked a staff of the bus depot about the copy and he said “No problem!” with smile. How nice he was. We did appreciate him and Yumi said he was as nice as she wanted to get marry with him. We reconsidered our plan. Hiro said if Yumi came to Vancouver Airport by domestic airline from Victoria Airport, she could have arrived before Aero Mexico leaving. Our flight, Aero Mexico was leaving at 12:15 and our boarding time should be 45 min before. The time when Staplers opens is 9 am. If Yumi left downtown at 9, she would have arrived at Victoria Airport around 10, so she could get a plane of 11 am. It takes 30 min by flight from Victoria to Vancouver, so she would arrive around 11:30 and could meet us at Vancouver Airport if everything went well. But it was actually so risky. We also thought Stapler might not have her passport, the domestic line might be late, the distance between domestic and international counters was far and Aero Mexico might not allow her boarding late. If she got just only a little trouble, she wouldn’t go to Mexico with us. We just crossed our fingers.
　　　　After making a strategy, Yumi went back her house once and Hiro and I got PCL bus bound for Vancouver Airport. I’m going to tell you about transportations between Vancouver and Victoria. The cheapest way is PCL bus. It cost $45 but takes about 2 hours. If you use a plane, I don’t know how much it is but I guess it’s freaking expensive though it takes just 30 min.  When we got to Vancouver Airport around 10, Yumi phoned Hiro. She said she got her passport and was at Victoria Airport. She also asked Hiro to speak with her host mother. Her host mother asked Hiro to take a note and show it at Aero Mexico counter. Hiro started taking a not and it said “I would like to get three seats of flight. One of my friends, whose name is Yumi, is not here but supposed to come here from Victoria by the domestic line departing at 11 am. She might be late for boarding time but she must come before the plane departing. Could you make three tickets of seats and keep one here for Yumi?” We showed the memo to staffs at Aero Mexico counter and one of staffs said we were going to wait for her until 11:45 but if she was late for this time, she could not get it and the plane would depart. Hiro called her with tensed up and told her what they said. Yumi said her host mother phoned Air Canada and she order a golf-cart for Yumi to make the transfer shorten. If only the domestic line was on time or even in time, she could make it. We were impressed her host mother. We went to the domestic counter to make sure if the flight had started rightly and they prepared a golf-cart as well. They said everything is fine so far and they were going to give a ride for her. We felt relief at the notice and were heading to the boarding. We got some drink and look around shops. When we got to the boarding, a golf-cart was there. We were expected it’s Yumi, and it’s true! Yumi was there, at boarding counter. As we found her, we hugged and cried. We made it! We can go to Cancun together!!
　　　　Yumi said that staff of Air Canada gave her the first front seat. In addition, as the flight arrived at Vancouver, another staff picked her up, ran to the exit with her and gave her a ride. We really appreciate Air Canada, staff of bus depot, her host mother, Aero Mexico, Staplers and our fortune. I will never forget their help, kindness, and how I was tensed with the trouble as well. Now, I could say it became one of my good, funny and unforgettable memories. I’m going to tell you my trip in Cancun later.

Tofino

　　　　 One of my friends will go back to Taiwan soon, and we wanted to spend a lot of time, have wonderful experience and memories with her, so we went to Tofino where she had wanted to visit. Tofino is famous for the long beach and a national park. However, I don’t do surfing or swimming, and even don’t have swimming suits. It has nothing attractive to me. I just wanted to hang around with my friends all the time, so I decided on going to Tofino.
　　　　The group of four includes me, planed to go to Tofino, so we booked an accommodation, rented a car, got brochures and searched what we could do. We saw a lot of pictures of the beach and trails. It made us excited about our destination Tofino.
I drove all the way to Tofino because nobody else had driver licenses, actually my Taiwanese friend did but she hadn’t driven for a long time. It took 6 hours to get to Tofino. On the way to Tofino, I lost many times and also I faced some difficulties; there were a lot of curve and narrow way. When we arrived at our hotel, you know, I was exhausted.
We got a short break and went to the long beach. It was gorgeous beach I had ever seen. The ocean was blue and shinny, sky was blue, the sand was white. Everything was bright. I couldn’t even open my eyes. As we saw the beach, we ran to the ocean. We played a long while on the beach. Everyone carried me and walked into the ocean. I was scared of what they were about to do. They threw me into the water, which I had expected, and said “Happy birthday” to me, which I had not expected. I knew it was my birthday but I didn’t think they remembered my birthday. I was so happy and almost cried even though they threw me into the cold water.
We had a dinner at quite nice restaurant. They treated me as a birthday present. After dinner we went back to the hotel. They also secretly prepared a birthday cake for me. My Taiwanese friend, who is a paper driver, said that she wanted to do practice in driving. I was first scared but I let her drive because there was little traffic. We rode her car and I found her drove was better than mine except screaming a lot. Her starting the car, turning left and brake was better than me. She stopped the car at a park and we got off the car. She brought fireworks and we set off them in the park. It was wonderful. I didn’t know that they prepared the fireworks for my birthday as well. Everyone asked me making a wish for my birthday. I said “ Well…I wanna be stronger”. They said “ You are already strong enough. You can do push-up!!” I said again “No, I mean, I wanna be courageous”. They asked “Do you wanna be college? Do you wanna be university? It’s weird” They continuously said “ Even though your wish is weird, we are friend forever. I will never forget such a weird wish but I hope your wish come true.”
I hope my wish come true, too, and I also never forget this birthday, the time I spent with my precious friends. They gave me a lot, a lot of precious gift and memories. I was happy that I was with them on my birthday and they celebrated for me.

TKT exam

   I finished TKT class, which means TESOL for teaching knowledge test, and I took the exam the other day.

I think TKT class is the best class I have ever had. I met wonderful teachers and classmates. Everyone is unique, funny and considerate, and respects each other. We graduated the teaching course last month but we still hung out with everyone and go no trips, movie, shopping, eat out and have a lot of parties. Most teachers said we were the closest friendship they had ever had. I’m very glad to have good friends.

I took TKT exam. It was much more difficult than practice test. I worry about my score. Everyone felt the exam was too difficult and tricky. I am waiting for the result but I don’t want to see it though.

The First Practical

　　　　I haven’t written my blog for a long time. I was so busy for a couple of months. I am studying teaching English now. Before coming to Canada, I hadn’t expected to take a teaching course, but a couple of months ago I changed my course from general English to TKT, which means teaching knowledge test, kind of TESOL course. I wanted to have some different experience and also I wanted to learn a subject in English so I decided to change the course, even though I was not sure to be a teacher in my future. I thought this knowledge or experience could work for me someday.
　　　　There are only six students in my class. At the beginning there were four students who hoped to be a teacher but two students, include me, took this course just for experience. The first month of TKT course, we learned about teaching theory. We read a lot of article, discussed about them and had a lot of homework. It was hard and busy for me but I was interested in teaching theory so I enjoyed them. The second month we learned how to make the classes interesting, make students motivated and autonomous, teaching style and learning style. We practiced teaching in front of peers, created teaching materials and presented them. It was fun and I enjoyed that. We were always together not only in the class but also after school or holiday; we often hung out with each other and have a lot of party. We are very close friends. I like all of them.
　　　　This is the third month of TKT and last session for me. In this month, we will observe many classes and teach real students who are in elementary class, as a practical. We had the first practical yesterday. We planed our lectures and created activities and materials. Before my practical, as you know, I was nervous because I worried that I could not control and manage my students or answer their questions. Besides I didn’t have enough time to practice for my practical but the time was coming and I had to do the class. Eight students came to my class, which was more than I had expected. Most of them were new and seemed nervous, same as me! The bell went and my class was started. I introduced myself loudly, and then my tension was lessened naturally. I became an actor and played the role of teacher. Thankfully, my students actively participate for me and they seemed to enjoy my class. I think I did well and enjoyed my first practical.
　　　　Before coming to Canada, I didn’t expect to be an English teacher, but now, teaching language is much attractive to me. I like creating activities to change the class from boring to interesting. I like considering about how to make the class fun and interacting with learners. I think teaching something for somebody is wonderful as well as learning something for me. I think being a language teacher is not bad I could help people who have a problem with studying English because I know their trouble of studying English and their worry to communicating; I had a same problem before.

Open Mic Night

I went to an Open Mic Night yesterday. Open Mic Night means that the microphone is open to anyone who wants to use it. It is usually in a coffee shop where people take turns singing and playing music at a microphone. Last night was hosted by one of my school teacher (called as R-teacher), so several students, especially girls, were there. Another teacher (called as M-teacher), who is kind of my friend, invited me, and I called some friends, and then went there.
That coffee shop was quite nice and fashionable. We arrived there a little earlier to start music, so I chatted with them. M-teacher went to Japan a couple weeks ago and we heard about his trip. He went to Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Tokyo in 1 week. He often said Japan was crazy. I’m curious about what he saw in Japan. He said that he saw a lot of strange people in Akihabara. It could make his image of Japan change. I like Japan because of crazy. I like crazy cultures and crazy people. Crazy is praise enough. I asked him to perform on the stage but he didn’t. He said he was shy, but he had played the guitar and sung a song in my final class. I wanted him to perform there.
R-teacher’s performance wad started. It was awesome but we were still chatting during his performance. I’m sorry to R-teacher but it was fun for me. Many people had performances but most songs were the first time I had heard. All songs were not too hard or slow, I enjoyed music. We left there about 10 pm.
It was the first time I had been the Open Mic Night. I often hear that small concerts are taken place at a coffee shop or a pub. It might be common. It was great time for me: I enjoyed the Open Mic Night and talking with Canadian people as well.

Daylight Saving Time

Daylight saving time has begun from today. I set my clock 1 hour forward. This time, we lost 1 hour, so we have only 23 hours a day. I usually get up at 7, but from today, I need to get up 1 hour earlier, which is 7 o’clock in former time. I will eat lunch 1 hour earlier than before and bedtime too. Even though it is only 1 hour for forward, I feel strange like a jet lag. The purposes of daylight saving time are saving the electric energy and taking advantage of day time. I might not be able to do them, especially the latter one.

I found a little interesting difference again about changing time. If Japanese people had daylight saving time, they would have a lot of announcement by using TV, newspaper, internet and there would be a lot of signs anywhere, before changing time. However in Canada, they have a little announcement, and I heard it once or twice from my present teacher and TV news. One of my Canadian friends, who is my school’s teacher, forgot it until I told him. The other Canadian friend said that Summer-time began from April. He is a liar. I thought only Asian worried about when the daylight saving time began but most Canadian didn’t care about time. Even 1 hour is important for me! I wonder time is not so important for Canadian.

LOCKED OUT!!

These days public libraries are everyday “LOCKED OUT!!” There is a brunch of library near my house but we have not used it for a long time. I am really frustrated. I often use coffee shops for studying instead of the libraries but I can’t concentrate very well. A lot of Canadian would often ask me “What is this. Is this computer?” “No, it’s just an electric dictionary.” I’d answer. I repeatedly have this short conversation. It bothers me. I wander electric dictionaries are rare in Canada.

I went to Swan Lake, which is near my house. I wanted to relieve some of my stress. It was the first time I had gone there. I had heard the lake was famous before I visited there, but there was nothing, no people or no swan. It was almost wasteland. I tried to sing songs loudly because nobody’s there. Besides, I walked through the tree tunnels. It made me fun. I enjoyed them and felt my stress gone. I was not to find any swan in the park but I saw a lot of ducks. I thought ducks were usually on the lake but the ducks living there were not on the lake but on the bridge or ground. They were very cute and I took pictures.

Cultural Difference

Last month I moved to shared house. It means that people live in 1 big house and share the house, furniture, kitchen, living room and bathroom with them. Of cause, they have one room for each person. In Canada it is common to live with the person who is not a family, friend or acquaintance. I found this house through the internet. It looked nice and cheap so I decided on moving to this house. I think the way of living like shared house is convenient but it is possible only here. Most people who live here have high moral, and they trust each other. I think the society in Canada is based on reciprocal help. They don’t require their own profit so much. I like Canadian people and culture.

I live in big shared house with 5 Chinese 1 Canadian and 1 Korean. Everyone is girl. Some people are students, some people are workers. Before I moved to here, I had not known them, but these days we are good friend, we often go out for dinner or have party in our house. I enjoy this life.

When I lived in homestay, I never shopped for grocery because you know host mother prepared for our meal. Nowadays I almost always go to grocery store and often discover cultural difference. How big Canadian milk is!! I never saw 4L milk in Japan. How long life Canadian egg is!! We might be able to eat the egg until 1 month later, really??? What a big cart! I can’t control it. What a colorful cake and sweets! It must have a poison I think. How much Canadian like butter and sugar! That’s why they are fatso. What huge underwear! I can’ find my size… It’s kind of sad story.

Few days ago I bought a toothbrush. It was so big and hard for me. I couldn’t use it very well and I injured my gum. Finally I asked my mother to send me a Japanese toothbrush. In addition the person who always have handkerchief and pocket tissue is only Japanese. I always have them wherever I go. Then many people ask me why I have them. You know it’s common and normal in Japan; I have no reason to have them. When they wipe their hands, they use the paper furnished in bathroom.

I am volunteering now. My work is animal care, which is just walking with dog and playing with cat. It’s easy and fun. I enjoy the work and puppies and kittens make me relax. I remember rental pet company in Japan, which is popular these days. What I do is similar to the company but I don’t pay money. Maybe nobody accept such a business in Victoria because society in Canada is based on reciprocal help and the government pays money to animal shelter. Besides I think the person who uses rental pet would be only person living alone in small house like Japan. Rental pet company might not be success in Victoria but it's interesting to thinking about some differences of business, culture or people

Potluck Party

We had a potluck party at school yesterday. I made two big cheese cakes and brought them. Before I came to Canada, I had never made cheese cake, but these days I often make some sweets. Because most cakes, ice creams and candies sold at store in Canada are too sweet to eat. They are almost sugar and butter. I want to eat sweet sometimes but I can’t eat Canadian sweets, and then I learn to bake cookies, cakes and some of sweets.
Everyone brought 1 food for 1 person. I ate Lasagna, Toppobgi, Okonomiyaki, Purukogi and so on. Everything is nice and I enjoyed international foods. What I was the most impressed was that all of the cakes I made were finished up. It made me happy.
There is a teacher I am friendly with. I wanted to give my cheese cake because he asked me for my cheese cake the other days but I couldn’t find him after school. I gave up giving it and gave it another friend. I should have told him to give it.