Sadly, this is going to be my last post on this blog. I had a lot of fun writing in Japan but now that I'm back in Canada, I don't really have much to update. And I'm pretty busy studying Japanese and taking care of things like: buying a cellphone, registering for classes, and putting away stuff.
I said that I wanted to discuss the differences between Canadians and Japanese, and here are a few of them:
- Directness: Canadians are in general more direct than Japanese. Especially if it's a more sensitive subject, Japanese will take quite some time to approach the subject. And rather than saying no or contradicting your ideas (which is considered rude), Japanese will use expressions like: "Oh really?" or "I see" and nod in agreement even though they don't agree with what you're saying. On the other hand, some Canadians I know will flat out tell you that you're wrong and argue with you if your opinions differ.
- Reactions to foreigners: Japan is very homogeneous. When I first arrived there, I had quite some difficulty telling people apart because they all have 1) black straight hair 2) slanted dark-colored eyes and fairly small body frames. 6 feet foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes will find it impossible to go anywhere in Japan without being stared at by the Japanese because they are so different, like beings of another planet or galaxy. Here in Canada, which is described as a "vertical mosaic" (a mosaic of different ethnic, language, and religious groups), "foreigners" are the norm rather than the exception.
- Manners: Japanese don't hold the door open for you unlike a lot of Canadians do. In Canada, it's common courtesy to hold the door open for the next person behind you but in Japan, there are so many people that I feel it would almost be counter-productive, slowing down people rather then helping them.
As you see, there are some minor differences, but overall, it doesn't matter where on the globe you are, people are the same. They laugh, they smile, they cry, they're curious, they give you directions when you're lost, they arrive late at meetings, and they are sometimes so tired they can sleep standing up. And sometimes it's seeing those similarities (rather than the differences) which makes traveling so fun. : D
So goodbye everyone! Thank you for reading and commenting. Thank you for nagging me when I didn't update fast enough. : p And don't forget, you can always go back and read old posts whenever you like because the blog will remain online. Sayonara!
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Friday, October 19, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Home, sweet home
I've been back home for about 5 days now. And it feels great : ) I'm still feeling tired, which means I'm still jet-lagged. I've been told it takes about 1 day to recover for each time zone you pass. Between Canada and Japan, there are 14 time zones... so 14 days = 2 weeks. So I'm not completely recovered yet. Plus, I'm probably tired because of all the sleep I missed out on in Japan. But I'm toughing it out. Even when I feel sleepy and don't want to do anything but sleep, I don't sleep because it'll just confuse my body and possibly slow down my recovery time.
It was easy coming back home, even after being gone for a year. Nothing much has changed. I just eased back into my old routines, going to the pool with my mom, helping her with the groceries, etc. I start classes only in January, so I have some time to relax and breathe a bit.
I've lived in Canada for much longer than I have in Japan but it seems I still managed to forget some things while I was in Japan. For example, when I exchanged Japanese yens into Canadian dollars at the airport in Vancouver, I was given lots of 20$ bills. At first I looked at them a bit perplexed. I had completely forgotten we had 20$ bills! And then later, when I came to pay for a magazine and a snack at the airport, it took me so much time just to find the right amount. The currency felt foreign to me, kind of like Japanese yens were when I first arrived in Japan. I had to concentrate quite intensely to give the cashier the $8.48 I owed. And she looked at me a bit weird as I was counting, wondering what was taking so much time.
The weather was also a shock. I left Japan, where it was still around 30°C and arrived in Manitoba, where the ground was covered in snow and the temperature was about 2°C. We just had hail today as well. In the house, I'm dressed in warm clothes and walk around with a blanket draped over my shoulders because my body still isn't used to the cold.
Today, after swimming, my mother and I went to the supermarket to buy groceries. Heaven!!! I filled our cart with many of the food items I wanted to eat in Japan but couldn't find in any grocery stores there: tadziki, feta cheese, milk to go, mars bar, gouda cheese, baby carrots and dip, rye bread, my favorite kind of cereal, frozen yogurt, and much more. But I tried not to go overboard ; )
So that's it for now. For the next three months, even though I don't have classes, I'll be busy studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) I'm taking in December, preparing for my university courses, finishing to unpack and stow away my belongings and enjoying being able to spend time with my family every day.
That's it for now. I would like to write about differences that exist between Japanese and Canadians in terms of behaviour, attitude, or way of thinking but since I've been at home since I've arrived, I haven't had the chance to mingle with other Canadians. So I'll wait a bit to be able to write something on that topic. Toot-a-loo!
It was easy coming back home, even after being gone for a year. Nothing much has changed. I just eased back into my old routines, going to the pool with my mom, helping her with the groceries, etc. I start classes only in January, so I have some time to relax and breathe a bit.
I've lived in Canada for much longer than I have in Japan but it seems I still managed to forget some things while I was in Japan. For example, when I exchanged Japanese yens into Canadian dollars at the airport in Vancouver, I was given lots of 20$ bills. At first I looked at them a bit perplexed. I had completely forgotten we had 20$ bills! And then later, when I came to pay for a magazine and a snack at the airport, it took me so much time just to find the right amount. The currency felt foreign to me, kind of like Japanese yens were when I first arrived in Japan. I had to concentrate quite intensely to give the cashier the $8.48 I owed. And she looked at me a bit weird as I was counting, wondering what was taking so much time.
The weather was also a shock. I left Japan, where it was still around 30°C and arrived in Manitoba, where the ground was covered in snow and the temperature was about 2°C. We just had hail today as well. In the house, I'm dressed in warm clothes and walk around with a blanket draped over my shoulders because my body still isn't used to the cold.
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| The first snowfall of the year |
Today, after swimming, my mother and I went to the supermarket to buy groceries. Heaven!!! I filled our cart with many of the food items I wanted to eat in Japan but couldn't find in any grocery stores there: tadziki, feta cheese, milk to go, mars bar, gouda cheese, baby carrots and dip, rye bread, my favorite kind of cereal, frozen yogurt, and much more. But I tried not to go overboard ; )
So that's it for now. For the next three months, even though I don't have classes, I'll be busy studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) I'm taking in December, preparing for my university courses, finishing to unpack and stow away my belongings and enjoying being able to spend time with my family every day.
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| Our cat, trying to help me unpack... |
That's it for now. I would like to write about differences that exist between Japanese and Canadians in terms of behaviour, attitude, or way of thinking but since I've been at home since I've arrived, I haven't had the chance to mingle with other Canadians. So I'll wait a bit to be able to write something on that topic. Toot-a-loo!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Flying back to Canada!
Hello! The day has finally come!!! I'm flying back home!
It has been an eventful year. I've made so many friends, seen so many places, and done so many things during this one year. I'm really glad I wrote it all on my blog because when I look back and read older posts, I realize that I've already started to forget some of the things that happened.
I don't think anything could have been better. Sure, I could have done without having my tooth die and without tearing my MCL, but looking back now, they brought along other experiences, like visiting a dentist and a doctor in Japan.
I am not yet finished with this blog. Technically, my blog's name is "What happens in Japan..." and when I return to Canada, that no longer applies, but after I've safely landed and recovered from jet lag, I intend to write a few posts about my readaptation to Canadian foods, Canadian weather (apparently, it snowed for the first time yesterday), Canadian culture, etc. I think it'll be quite interesting to go back and experience what they call "reverse culture shock".
I am going to have to leave you to go finish packing so this will be it for today. Next time I post, I'll be sitting cozily at home, perhaps sipping hot chocolate and gazing out at the falling snow from the window.
I'm leaving Japan but since I know I'll be going back again (and again), I won't say "Goodbye", but rather "See you later!".
Here I come Canada!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Coming back to Canada Countdown
Some of you might have already noticed the new addition to my blog: a countdown timer. If you look at the right side of the screen, under the heading "Countdown", you should see a black rectangle with numbers on it. That's the amount of time left before I take the plane at 17:40 on October 5th. The number of days/hours/minutes/seconds may vary depending on what time zone your computer is set at. You can also place your cursor on the rectangle and a different message will pop up. Pretty neat, right? : )
Now, it wasn't easy to install it on my blog. It took me 1h30 just to figure it out. I tried many different websites that create a countdown widget that can be used in blogs. I just got error messages telling me that the html was incorrect. But I was taking the html codes right from the websites. I've played a bit with HTML coding and website design so I understand a few things but I didn't know what was wrong with the codes. So I tried another website. And another. And searched countless times on Google: "how to add a countdown widget to Blogger", "countdown widget that works on Blogger", etc. And finally, after trying many different things, I succeeded!
For those who want to know how I did it (and for the other people like me searching the web to find an answer to their problem), here it is:
1) First, you need to create your widget. There are a lot of websites out there that will make them for you or have better designs but the one that worked for me was http://mycountdown.org
2) Select a countdown from the left-hand menu. They're all pretty much the same. Once you select one, you can customize it: choose the background color, font color, time and date, text, etc.
3) Then, you copy the code.
4) In Blogger, go to "Layout", then select "Add a Gadget". Under the tablet "Basics", you should find "HTML/JavaScript". Select it.
5) Paste the text you just copied into the text box. Make sure that "Rich text" is written on the top right side of the text box. If you click on it, it changes to "Edit HTML". If you think like me, you would think that that's where the code should go. But no, for some reason, it alters the code completely if you place it under "Edit HTML".
6) Then save your changes and hopefully, you should see the countdown widget appear on your page. If it didn't, go over the steps and just keep trying. There is a way. It just might take you an 1h30 to find it ; )
Now, it wasn't easy to install it on my blog. It took me 1h30 just to figure it out. I tried many different websites that create a countdown widget that can be used in blogs. I just got error messages telling me that the html was incorrect. But I was taking the html codes right from the websites. I've played a bit with HTML coding and website design so I understand a few things but I didn't know what was wrong with the codes. So I tried another website. And another. And searched countless times on Google: "how to add a countdown widget to Blogger", "countdown widget that works on Blogger", etc. And finally, after trying many different things, I succeeded!
For those who want to know how I did it (and for the other people like me searching the web to find an answer to their problem), here it is:
1) First, you need to create your widget. There are a lot of websites out there that will make them for you or have better designs but the one that worked for me was http://mycountdown.org
2) Select a countdown from the left-hand menu. They're all pretty much the same. Once you select one, you can customize it: choose the background color, font color, time and date, text, etc.
3) Then, you copy the code.
4) In Blogger, go to "Layout", then select "Add a Gadget". Under the tablet "Basics", you should find "HTML/JavaScript". Select it.
5) Paste the text you just copied into the text box. Make sure that "Rich text" is written on the top right side of the text box. If you click on it, it changes to "Edit HTML". If you think like me, you would think that that's where the code should go. But no, for some reason, it alters the code completely if you place it under "Edit HTML".
6) Then save your changes and hopefully, you should see the countdown widget appear on your page. If it didn't, go over the steps and just keep trying. There is a way. It just might take you an 1h30 to find it ; )
Friday, July 27, 2012
Only two months left
It's finally been decided, I'll be flying back home at the beginning of October. That's still two months away but I've already started to put my things in order. Since I came (in Sept 2011), I've bought a lot of books, some new clothes, shoes, pots and pans, etc. So there's a lot to take care of before I leave. Things like pots and pans, dishes, etc., I'll be leaving at the dorm for the new students who are arriving. I'll be giving my bike to my roommate who has coincidentally just lost hers a few weeks ago. I'll try to sell my rice cooker because it's still in pretty good condition and I've barely used it. Right now, I'm going through all my papers and homework to see what I should take back with me to Canada. I'm only allowed two luggages on the plane so I have to plan carefully so that everything fits.
Today, I also sent a box to Canada by boat. In the box are some judo gis, some books and some homework. It takes about 2-3 months to arrive so I'll probably get home before the box does.
I also won't have much time to pack. These two last months are crammed with trips and projects. Sunday, I'm going to visit Nikko with my grandmother, my uncle and his family. Then I'll go spend a bit of time in Yaita where my grandmother lives. Then, back to Tokyo where I'll stay at my dad's aunt's place. She's found a place where I can try on a kimono and get my picture taken. We'll probably also go visit the Ueno Zoo again to try to see the pandas (we weren't able last time). Then, I'm off to a one-week training camp in Tsumagoi, in the Gunmaken Prefecture.
At the end of August, I'm going to climb Mt. Fuji with my roommate. The next day, we're taking the night bus to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Museum. We'll also go visit the famous floating gate in Miyajima. I'm also planning to visit Hokkaido (the north island) at the end of September. I really want to make the most of these last two months.
I'll be uploading some nice pictures in the next weeks to come. However, there might be long periods of time between my posts because I'll be away and unable to use my laptop. But don't forget to come back and check for new updates! : D
Today, I also sent a box to Canada by boat. In the box are some judo gis, some books and some homework. It takes about 2-3 months to arrive so I'll probably get home before the box does.
 |
| Homeward Bound |
I also won't have much time to pack. These two last months are crammed with trips and projects. Sunday, I'm going to visit Nikko with my grandmother, my uncle and his family. Then I'll go spend a bit of time in Yaita where my grandmother lives. Then, back to Tokyo where I'll stay at my dad's aunt's place. She's found a place where I can try on a kimono and get my picture taken. We'll probably also go visit the Ueno Zoo again to try to see the pandas (we weren't able last time). Then, I'm off to a one-week training camp in Tsumagoi, in the Gunmaken Prefecture.
At the end of August, I'm going to climb Mt. Fuji with my roommate. The next day, we're taking the night bus to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Museum. We'll also go visit the famous floating gate in Miyajima. I'm also planning to visit Hokkaido (the north island) at the end of September. I really want to make the most of these last two months.
I'll be uploading some nice pictures in the next weeks to come. However, there might be long periods of time between my posts because I'll be away and unable to use my laptop. But don't forget to come back and check for new updates! : D
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The scoop on Canada : The Tokai girls' impressions and thoughts
The girls who fought in Canada just came back yesterday and they were at practice today. They had lots of stories about what they did in Canada. It was great to know what they thought of Canada and Canadians. Are you ready to hear what they think? Don't worry, they had nothing but good things to say. Here are some of the things they told me:
- "Canadians are so nice" : the girls were helped by the cashiers when they didn't know how to pay with Canadian money, people held doors open for them, and Canadians were just overall very nice.
- "Everything is so cheap!" : they were shocked to find 1$ melons at the supermarket. In Japan, they cost only about 20$. Clothes were cheap, foods at the supermarket were cheap... I agree with them. Compared with Japan, pretty much everything in Canada is cheaper.
- "Everything is so big!" : They were amazed to see the size of food products in the supermarket. Big ice cream jars, 4L apple juice containers, and huge pieces of meat. They even asked me how one person eats all that lol. I assume people make use of their freezer and refrigerator. : P
They also had their first encounter with a skunk... or rather smelling one. And seeing rabbits jumping around. And it's not as cold in Vancouver as it is in Japan now. Canada is a lot colder than Japan, but the Canada's west coast is a lot warmer. If they went a bit more east, they would experience the true Canadian cold.
They also met my brother at the tournament. Everyone said we look a lot alike. They knew right away it was him because of the resemblance. They found him well-dressed, cool-looking, and they're positive he's going to find himself a girlfriend when he comes to study in Japan in a few years. I'm afraid of that too ; )
The girls all loved their experience so much that they want to visit Canada again. Usually after graduating, students go on a trip together so they're already thinking of using that opportunity to go back to Canada. I felt very proud of my country today as they told me their stories. Way to go Canadians!
- "Canadians are so nice" : the girls were helped by the cashiers when they didn't know how to pay with Canadian money, people held doors open for them, and Canadians were just overall very nice.
- "Everything is so cheap!" : they were shocked to find 1$ melons at the supermarket. In Japan, they cost only about 20$. Clothes were cheap, foods at the supermarket were cheap... I agree with them. Compared with Japan, pretty much everything in Canada is cheaper.
- "Everything is so big!" : They were amazed to see the size of food products in the supermarket. Big ice cream jars, 4L apple juice containers, and huge pieces of meat. They even asked me how one person eats all that lol. I assume people make use of their freezer and refrigerator. : P
They also had their first encounter with a skunk... or rather smelling one. And seeing rabbits jumping around. And it's not as cold in Vancouver as it is in Japan now. Canada is a lot colder than Japan, but the Canada's west coast is a lot warmer. If they went a bit more east, they would experience the true Canadian cold.
They also met my brother at the tournament. Everyone said we look a lot alike. They knew right away it was him because of the resemblance. They found him well-dressed, cool-looking, and they're positive he's going to find himself a girlfriend when he comes to study in Japan in a few years. I'm afraid of that too ; )
The girls all loved their experience so much that they want to visit Canada again. Usually after graduating, students go on a trip together so they're already thinking of using that opportunity to go back to Canada. I felt very proud of my country today as they told me their stories. Way to go Canadians!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Why is everyone but me going to Canada...?
It seems that Canada is the place to be now. My previous roommate, Moe, is currently in Canada studying English. And tomorrow, the third-year students at Tokai Judo are going to Vancouver, B.C. to take part in the Pacific International Invitational tournament. I really wish I could go with them... but I'm afraid that if I did go to Canada, and got to see my brother (who will be fighting in the same tournament) and other teammates, I wouldn't want to come back : P. If I were in Canada right now, instead of studying in Japan, I would be fighting the girls from Tokai. I'm kind of curious to know what would have happened. I fight with them at practice but a tournament is completely different.
Before leaving, a lot of the girls asked me what kind of souvenirs they should bring back from Canada. And even though I am Canadian, I found it hard to answer. Aside from maple products, what is Canada known for? I checked Wikipedia, and listed under Canadian cuisine, you can find butter tarts and poutine. Butter tarts are good but poutine? I have never eaten a poutine in my life and I don't have the intention to either. And it's not really something you can bring back with you on a plane anyways. So I called upon the great power of Facebook... (do not underestimate the power of social networking websites) and wrote as my status:
Before leaving, a lot of the girls asked me what kind of souvenirs they should bring back from Canada. And even though I am Canadian, I found it hard to answer. Aside from maple products, what is Canada known for? I checked Wikipedia, and listed under Canadian cuisine, you can find butter tarts and poutine. Butter tarts are good but poutine? I have never eaten a poutine in my life and I don't have the intention to either. And it's not really something you can bring back with you on a plane anyways. So I called upon the great power of Facebook... (do not underestimate the power of social networking websites) and wrote as my status:
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
10 things I miss from Canada
1. My family
2. The friends and people I'm used to having in my daily life (teammates, classmates, trainers, coaches, etc)
3. Certain food products which I can't find in Japan (for example, oatmeal, sour cream, chocolate milk)
4. My mom's delicious cooking
5. My piano (the piano here is not tuned...)
6. Being able to take the car to go somewhere instead of having to bike or take crowded trains
7. Having everything handy in the pantry or fridge whenever I want to cook something
8. The space
9. Handpaper (about 99% of the time, there is no handpaper in washrooms in Japan)
10. Some free time (I used to think I didn't have any free time back in Canada but compared to now, I actually had plenty of spare time to draw, read, etc.)
2. The friends and people I'm used to having in my daily life (teammates, classmates, trainers, coaches, etc)
3. Certain food products which I can't find in Japan (for example, oatmeal, sour cream, chocolate milk)
4. My mom's delicious cooking
5. My piano (the piano here is not tuned...)
6. Being able to take the car to go somewhere instead of having to bike or take crowded trains
7. Having everything handy in the pantry or fridge whenever I want to cook something
8. The space
9. Handpaper (about 99% of the time, there is no handpaper in washrooms in Japan)
10. Some free time (I used to think I didn't have any free time back in Canada but compared to now, I actually had plenty of spare time to draw, read, etc.)
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