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About War
In my grandparent’s house, one old framed picture hangs on the wall beside the small Buddhist altar. It is a portrait photograph of one uniformed young soldier, my grandfather’s brother. This is the picture of the “Yasukuni” shrine, which used to be managed by the Japanese government until the end of the Second World War.
From the Meiji Restoration in 1867 until the end of World War II in 1945, Japan went to war four times. First, Japan fought against the Ching dynasty, next against Russia before the revolution, then Japan took part in the First World War. Because Japan had not experienced a lost battle in these three wars, Japan pushed its luck to invade China and the Southeast Asian countries after the First World War. And finally, Japan fought recklessly against the entire world in the Second World War. That time, Japan lost thoroughly. All the dead soldiers in those wars were deified in this Shrine.
Because we can see this same Shrine with different pictures in most of the old Japanese houses, we know that many men died in those wars within about 50 years in Japan.
As you know, during the Second World War, the Japanese army committed atrocities in Asian countries, and took many people’s lives. In Japan, many big cities were burnt by air raids, including two atomic bombs, and a lot of civilians died in these cities and on Okinawa.
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I think that most Japanese people, including myself, believe that losing the war made Japan a better country. After the Second World War the army was demobilized, and we now have no military draft system in Japan. Now in Japan, we, especially the younger generation, are satisfied with peace, and either cannot imagine or do not try to imagine how horrible and miserable wars are, even though many tragic reports and pictures of wars happening now in the world are broadcast every day.
In Japan, people can now spend a relatively long time in a hospital or their homes until they die, except in cases of heart attack or stroke. It is rare in Japan for innocent people to have |
their lives taken abruptly by force in a moment. However, many people are still losing their lives abruptly and unreasonably in wars all over the world.
I feel it is awful that people lose their lives in a moment unreasonably, and I feel it should not be done that people have their lives taken against their will forcefully and abruptly for whatever reasons.
Kenichi Ito
(Former student in Tricia Workman's ESL class at Limestone Community School.)
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EDINA’S BLOOPERS
(1) My First Order in Belleville
It was my first week in Belleville. At noon I was hungry but my husband couldn’t go to the restaurant with me. Although I didn’t know enough English, I decided to go by myself.
At the restaurant, I pointed to a picture of salad on the menu, and the waitress asked me if I would like the same as on the menu. I didn’t understand why she said that, so I answered, “Yes.”
Then she asked something else. My answer was, “Orange juice, please.” She said, “Sorry, we don’t have orange juice as a dressing!” Impatient, she repeated the question, but the only word I could remember was, “Italian, please.”
Then she asked, “And to drink?” Now, I could repeat my order, “Orange juice, please.” She asked, “Anything else?” Of course, I wanted something else, but I was afraid to make more mistakes, so I said, “No, thanks.”
She brought me my orange juice, and a HUGE salad, the same as in the picture on the menu but much bigger than I expected. After that, I learned to say, “Could you repeat slowly, please?”
(2) English Confusion: Super Salad |
At a restaurant, the waitress asked my husband, “Soup or salad?” He wanted both, so he just confirmed, “Soup or salad, please.” She thought he said, “Super salad”.
Can you imagine how huge the salad was? He still remembers the taste of his misunderstanding.
(3) An Embarrassing English Mistake: Message or Massage?
My husband told me a hilarious story about his friend Joau.
When Joau first came to Canada, he stayed in a hotel. One day, the clerk called him and asked, “Would you like a massage?”
He thought that someone had left word for him, so he answered, “Yes, I would like my message.” Then, the clerk turned off the phone and Jaou didn’t understand why.
Some minutes later, somebody knocked on the door. He opened it. There was a man who said, “I’m here to give you a massage.”
By Edina Santos from Brazil,
Sherry Archer's LINC 5 class at Loyola, Belleville
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| Yesterday, the weather was breezy and snowy, so it was very cold. It was the first snow of the winter.After dinner, suddenly the electricity went off. My family and I were very surprised. We found a candle and lit it. My daughter was afraid of the dark. My son made a fire on the hearth.
It was very cold and dark, but our family had a romantic feeling. |
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by Heakyung Kim
Pat Davis’ class at Open Book. |
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A Wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner
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Yesterday was our school’s Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a wonderful day.
We made decorations and centrepieces for the tables and the gymnasium on Tuesday and Wednesday. They were so beautiful. The room was perfect.
On Thursday we went to the church at 9:20. We washed our hands and peeled the carrots and potatoes. Some people decorated the gym.
After we prepared the vegetables and the gym, we went into the women’s room. First, we watched Maura prepare pumpkin pie and cider. Spring helped Maura to make the pies.
Second, Michele demonstrated how to make dressing, gravy and cranberries. She showed us how to prepare and stuff a turkey and how to whip cream. Sherry and Barbara worked in the kitchen. They stirred the cranberries and the gravy. They also cleaned.
We ate at about 12:00 p.m. We sat at round tables. The tables were beautiful. We spoke English together. We ate delicious food. We had a great time. |
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After dinner, we picked the winning tickets for the centrepieces and the leftover food. In our class Vlananka won a centrepiece. Gladis won a leftover turkey dinner. Sahar won cranberry sauce. The rest of us didn’t win anything.
Everyone helped to clean up the mess. We finished about 1:30. Yu Chan missed the dinner because she went to driving practice. She feels sad.
We are so happy because we learned a lot and enjoyed being together. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner. We hope we will have many more activities together. Thank you, God, |
for everything.
This story was dictated by the members of the Beginners LINC 1/2 class at Loyola Belleville, and transcribed by their ESL teacher, Michele Dean. |
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My New Country
I’m glad I came to Canada with my husband. It’s a new experience for me to work in an other country.
The work in Canada is not so hard as in Germany.
We get more money for the same work.
And we are too old to find a good job in Germany.
I like the people here. The Canadians are friendly and very helpful.
The nature is so beautiful and I like to watch (observe) the animals.
The livelihood will go up in Germany. Life is expensive.
We have a dream. We will buy a little house in 2 or 3 years for the retirement. It’s not practicable in Germany.
Manuela Kluge
Pat Davis' class at Open Book
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My First Impression of Kingston
Kingston is a very similar city to where I lived in Korea, in which there are many universities and highly educated people. Also the size of the city is alike too. So my first impression of Kingston was very familiar to me.
Kingston is a good city to live in with my family. It’s near the big cities like Toronto and Ottawa. We can go anywhere within a day, and the fantastic scenery makes me happy and peaceful. However, sometimes I miss my country’s hustle and bustle.
Jinmoon Kim
Pat Davis’ class at Open Book
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The Driving Test
I have a Canadian driver's license now, but it took me two road tests. On the first road test, I was so nervous and afraid I wouldn't understand the officer that when she said to turn right, I turned left. Later she said to turn left but I turned right. I noticed my mistakes, but couldn't fix them. I was too nervous.
Edina from Brazil
Sherry Archer's LINC 5 class at Loyola Belleville
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An Embarrassing Situation |
I remember our first time when we went to Mississauga to visit my cousin. Of course, we lost our way because we had only been in Canada for three months. So, we found a gas station and parked. My husband left the car to ask for directions. My oldest daughter asked me to go to the washroom, so I left my two other kids in the car. They were three years and eight years. After we finished, we came back to the car and we saw a police car beside ours. When the policewoman saw me she started to speak with me and I didn’t understand. Then my husband came just in time and he was wondering why the police were there. What did we do? What happened?
The policewoman explained to him that she got a call from someone who told her there are two young kids alone in the car and this is against the law in Canada. She said she would have to charge us. So my husband apologized to her and explained to her that we were newcomers and that no one had told us about this rule because in Iraq we used to leave our kids in car alone. So, she understood and forgave us this time and she told us don’t do it again.
Lubna Israeil, Iraq,
Sherry Archer's LINC 5 class at Loyola, Belleville
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About one month ago, when I got in English school, I saw a note, “We have a party tomorrow. Bring a dish please.” on the blackboard.
At that time, I thought very curiously and I didn’t understand why they wanted us to bring dishes.
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The next day, in the morning, when I got in English school, one of my classmates asked me, “Did you bring a dish?” At the moment, I answered, “I forgot. I didn’t bring a dish. Can’t we use plastic dishes?” Then suddenly the other meaning of “a dish” came to my mind. It was food.
At that moment I felt very embarrassed and ashamed. The classmate said, “Don’t worry. Other people brought a lot. You can join us.” In the end, I ended up being absent from the party.
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In fact, in my country, when most people throw a party, usually the host treats and provides all the food. The guests only bring some gift such as flowers or a small plant. Even though I knew a dish have a meaning of food I never thought that it meant a dish was food.
Young Sook Kwon, Korea,
Sherry Archer's
LINC 5 class, Loyola, Belleville |
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English First
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After three months coming to Canada, we went out for dinner to a Canadian restaurant. We didn’t speak and listen to English very well. But we attempted to order food in English. First of all, we started to order hot water to drink. I had to use body language. I picked up the glass and put a lighter under it to show that I wanted hot water. I said “give me this”. So, a waitress came to me with a glass of hot water. Now, we had confidence! Next, we ordered from the main menu. We ordered “rib steak” but the waitress said, “We don’t have lip steak. Do you really want lip steak?” My pronunciation was wrong. So I began body language again. I pointed to my rib and said “rib steak”. Then she understood and asked what kind of sauce I wanted.
I didn’t know what kind of sauce is good for steak. I looked at the menu and found many sauces. But I didn’t know the taste of each sauce. “What is the best choice?” I wondered. I thought, “All right, I have heard barbecue many times.” So, I ordered with confidence.
Dishes were brought to us. We ate the dinner happily. At last when we paid the bill for the
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food, I didn’t know how much tip to leave. We kept back all our small change for a tip. From the beginning to the end of the meal, we were sweating. It was live study!
Hyun Sook Park and Nam Won Lee, Korea
Sherry Archer's LINC 5 class, Loyola, Belleville |
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English Firsts
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Volunteering at church is my first experience in my life here. I think Canadian people are very kind and merciful, especially people living here. When I came here, I had no friends other that my husband and his family. My parents-in-law took me to a church to volunteer and meet people.
In Japan some people are keen to do volunteer work and some are religious but the majority doesn't think about volunteering in their ordinary life because they are busy and stressed every day. As well as them, I had never experienced to volunteer for anybody. When I visited a church with my in-laws, I was nervous because that was a first time and I was not confident in my English. There were many volunteer workers. I felt uncomfortable and I couldn’t talk to anybody.
Then the coordinator introduced me to the workers. All of them gave me a smile and talked to me, taught me what to do for preparing lunch, asked me about Japan, and told me things relating to Japan. It made me comfortable. Though my English was not good enough for communicating with them, everybody listened to me carefully. It was helpful and I appreciated their kindness.
I started going there once a week. It became one of my routines and I enjoyed meeting them every week. Chatting with them was also good practice English for me and gave me a chance to know how kind Canadians were. Now I quit going there but I would like to do some volunteering again if I have the chance.
Miho, Japan,
Sherry Archer's LINC 5 class, Loyola. Belleville
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My First Christmas in Canada
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I came to Canada in the last part of the year. I was excited to have my first Christmas. I went to the stores and I was fascinated with all the Christmas decorations. One month before Christmas I wanted to buy everything and fill the house with all of them. But the decorations were too expensive and at the end I decorated my home with the things my mother-in-law gave to me.
I was excited to see all the snow on Christmas Day. In my country, we don’t have snow
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and for many years I lived in a tropical place where winter is warm. For this reason, I wanted to see snow and live a Christmas day as I saw many times in movies.
I was disappointed because it did not snow for Christmas. It rained. I felt so sad because I had imagined the perfect Christmas. I tried to make a Canadian Christmas supper, but I am not a good cook. The result was not what I expected.
My first Christmas was not as I thought, but at the end, it was fun and very pleasant. The best thing was I got a lot of presents!
Yazmin Ramirez, Mexico,
Sherry Archer's LINC 5 class at Loyola, Belleville
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My Favourite Restaurant in Kingston
Every weekend, I go to a restaurant with my family. We came here and we have changed all of the lifestyle, especially language and eating changed the most.
We changed from eating rice to bread. We visit famous restaurants in Kingston. I hear from my friend and I look in the newspaper, there are many kinds of restaruant. In Kingston, I am able to taste many country’s food. |
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My favorite restaurant is “Red Lobster”. When I want to have some fish, I go there. While I am eating I am happy because it is delicious and I can have a good time. This place is one of the best restaurants for my family.
Misung
Tiffany Myers' class at Limestone Community Education |
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When I came to Canada the first strange experience that I had was when I went to a restaurant. The servers always gave me ice water even in the winter. All Canadians are used to drinking cold water in the winter. If you want to drink hot water you need to find a restaurant that offers hot tea then you can get hot water.
Another strange fact is the shopping malls are closed early on the weekends, especially on Sunday. It is the opposite in China. Canadian people usually go shopping on Saturday and go to church or stay home with family on Sunday.
When I came to Canada I felt comfortable with the local people. They always spoke nice to me even though I couldn’t speak very clearly. I find Canada’s scenery very enjoyable. I’ll be very happy when I get to do more travelling in Canada.
Jian
Tiffany Myers' class at Limestone Community Education
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Canadians Are Crazy, Eh?
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I’ve been in Canada for 3 months now and I am really having a wonderful time. But there are also some strange and humorous situations that I have encountered. For example, There are some grocery stores here that I have to deposit a coin to use the grocery cart.
Another thing I’ve encountered when I’m paying for my groceries is the cashier charged me for the grocery bag to put my groceries in. When I asked the cashier she explained to, me that if I have my own bag I will not be charged.
Finally, if at a Canadian family gathering or birthday party, I’ve noticed that most of the guests bring their own alcohol. Nevertheless, Canadians are very nice and friendly people and I enjoy being with them.
Marizor
Tiffany Myers' class at Limestone Community Education
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My grandfather is a very important person in my life. Even now, long
after he passed away, he still lives in my heart and I can see him in my dreams.
I spent my childhood with him, because my parents had to work in
different cities, and had no time to look after me. My grandpa took care of me as good as a mommy. I always said, “I want my grandpa.” I remember everything he did for me.
Scene I: Hair on Your Chin
He was tall and had no hair on his head, but he had a beard on his chin.
‘Grandpa, why do you have hair on your chin and not on your head?” I asked as I sat on his lap, braiding his beard.
“Because I am old.”
“When I’m old, will I grow hair on my chin?”
“No, you will not. You are a girl. You will have your pretty hair forever,”
Grandpa said.
He picked me up, carried me to the bedroom, and put me in bed. “Have a good sleep, sweetheart,” he said, and sat bedside me until I was sound asleep.
I was four years old.
Scene II: The Water Vat
I ran to my yard and pulled the cover from the big water vat. I wanted
to get some water, but the water vat wasn’t full of water. I had my whole body almost into the water vat. Splash! I dropped into the big water vat.
My grandpa heard the sound and ran as fast as he could from the house. He rescued me and saved my life.
I was five years old.
Scene III: First Day at School
He brushed my hair and braided it.
“Grandpa, I don’t want to go to school.”
“Why?”
“I want to stay with you.”
“Do you know how to write my name?” he asked.
“No.”
“Go to school and ask your teacher. If you know how to write my name, you will make me very happy.”
I was six years old.
Scene IV: Grandpa Cuts His Finger
I came back from school. I saw my grandpa’s finger was bound with a
band-aid.
“What is wrong with your finger?” I asked.
“Oh, when I cut an eggplant, I wasn’t very careful. I cut my finger,”
Grandpa said.
“Why didn’t you wait for me? I could have cut the eggplant when I came back.”
“Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt much.”
“Please, Grandpa, let me help you. I am a big girl now.” I held my
Grandpa’s finger and I cried.
I was twelve years old.
When I was seventeen my grandpa passed away, but I will never forget him. I remember his stories he told me. I remember everything he taught me. I remember his face, eyes, big ears and amazing chin. He is in my heart.
Li Zhao
(A former student in Tricia Workman's ESL class at Limestone Community School)
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From Thinking about My Nationality
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Since I came here, I have been surprised to see a lot of people of Asian appearance living in Kingston. They could be classified into many groups: second or third generation of the immigrants from the Asian countries, or new immigrants and transient residents like me. The nations from which they or their ancestors came are various.
During the first several weeks after I came here, when I saw Asian-
looking persons, I considered some of them to be Japanese from their
appearance. But after listening to their conversation carefully, I found that most of them were not Japanese. Finally, I realized that not many Japanese people live in Kingston. So you see, even for me it is difficult to distinguish Japanese people from other Asian people without hearing their language. Most Caucasian people could never tell the nationality of each Asian-appearing person or his ancestor.
Most Caucasian people do not need to distinguish among Asian-looking people. But whenever I am asked questions like, “Are you from China?” “Are you Chinese or Korean?”, I tend to reply bluntly in spite of myself, “No, I’m from Japan.”
Now that we can get information on foreign countries more easily and
quickly, Canadians have gotten to know about Japan more correctly. Maybe no Canadian person would think that people in Japan wear a “kimono” everyday or still put a “chonmage,” a topknot hair style like a sumo wrestler, on their head. But even now, when I watch some Canadian TV programs about Japan, I always notice some strange things. For example, the background music may be like Chinese music, or the style of the costume in a cartoon may be some strange Oriental mixture. Whenever I see these strange things, I feel a little bit disappointed.
Perhaps the foreigners in Japan feel the same things when they see or read information about their home countries.
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o understand a foreign country correctly may be more difficult than we imagine.
When I lived in Japan, whenever I watched or read the news about wars or disputes arising from racial conflict in other parts of the world, I used to ask why people had to hate those of other races. Why couldn’t people live together in peace, like in John Lennon’s song? And I used to think I was an unprejudiced person about race or nationality.
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In Japan, foreigners often experience racial prejudice in a community. For example, the Canadian government has given my family a few rights, like health insurance. The Japanese government, in contrast, does not easily grant such rights to a foreigner. It is also more difficult for a foreigner to become a Japanese citizen.
Recently I read a short comment by a Japanese person who had worked in the United Nations. The gist of his comment was that Japan is always thought to be a well organized, good and safe country. But these qualities are easier to achieve in a homogeneous country. Japan is unusual in that its more than one hundred million people speak the same language and receive their education under the same system. Japanese people have to understand their special situation.
Since I came here, I have felt that the idea, “I am a Japanese”, arose in my mind instinctively, although I used to think that I was unprejudiced against race or nation and indifferent to them. Maybe I did not realize the situation of a society in which many races live together, because I lived in a uniquely homogeneous society. Since I came to Canada, I have experienced life in a multiracial society for real. Now, I want to be a genuinely unprejudiced person who can understand others only from their personalities.
Kenichi Ito
(Former student in Tricia Workman's ESL class at Limestone Community School.)
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