TRISH'S BLOG

People often ask me why I decided to come to Japan. My answer is simple and to the point, it has always been my dream to come to Japan, not just to visit but to live and teach here. I remember the first time I said out loud,"Someday I'm going to Japan!".  I was an elementary school teacher in Canada and my students were studying people and their culture. Japan was one of the countries that the students studied and compared with Canadian culture. One boy made a presentation about May 5th, Boy's Day. We all made kites and hung them outside our school on the flag pole. Everyone was excited because in Canada there isn't Boy's Day. There is Teacher's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, even Grandparents' Day, but no Boy's or Girl's Day. I set a goal that one day I'd  find a way to live and work in Japan. Teaching and traveling in Japan this past six months has been a great cultural experience for Paul and I. We've enjoyed sushi, gengis kan and yakiniku restaurants, Obihiro fireworks, odori dancing at Lake Toya, Furano lavender icecream, Tokachi fresh potatoes and yams, homemade Japanese pickles, Handa Cheese farm, motorcycle touring to Lake Mashu, Sapporo's Odori Park, an onsen at Lake Akan, Hokodate street festival, butadong, Obihiro Culture Hall, Jazz at the Hokkaido Hotel, JICA drummers and shopping at the Chitose Outlet Mall. Many of our students and Joy staff have taken the time to help us enjoy these events. Thank you everyone. If I've forgotten any, or misspelled some Japanese words, please let me know. In December, we plan to experience the big city culture of Kyoto and Tokyo.  Aren't we lucky!!