Canada, My Special Country!!!!!!

by Ami Komo
(Suginami, Tokyo, Japan)

Canada is a mysterious country for almost all Japanese because it rarely appears in the news or in articles of newspaper, I think. Recently I saw Canada in the newspaper because of TPP, but that's it. Canada is the 2nd biggest country following Russia. But we can't feel it's presence.

But!! Canada is a special country for me!! I joined an ESL program last year and went to Hamilton in Canada. It was the supreme experience in my life!!

I went to Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, and a lot of sightseeing places in Toronto. So I got interested in Canada and learned a lot.

Until then, I had studied English only for examination. But since then, I started to study English as a communication tool with people who come from other countries. When I went to Canada, I talked to a lot of native speakers and other countries’ people.

Maybe that was the first time for me to speak English with other countries’ people (except teachers!!). So it was very difficult for me, but it was exciting. I could notice how interesting it was to speak English and share our opinion with other countries’ people.

Canada made me like to speak English!!!

I heard Canada used to be part of France and the United Kingdom. That’s why it has various cultures in one country. Especially in Quebec, their official languages are English and French!!

I heard their official brochure begins from both sides. One side is for English and the other side is for French. Their explanation ends in the middle of the brochure. It must be strange for Japanese because we use only Japanese in usual life.

I will definitely go to Canada again after my job hunting!! I want to see more various cultures that I couldn’t notice before!!!!!