Thursday, July 17, 2008
Dinosaurs in Alberta
I am really happy that I study in Alberta because of paleontology, especially dinosaurs. As you know, Alberta is one of the richest dinosaur sites all over the world. Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park produce a large number of fossils. The closest city of these sites is Calgary. Therefore, the University of Calgary is the best place to study paleontology. Can you imagine that more than 65 million years ago, large animals which have strange crests, sharp teeth or armored horns lived here? They are beyond our imagination!! I am so happy that I can walk on this land that dinosaurs have walked once. However, there is a question. Some dinosaurs that discovered in Alberta are named as 'Albertosaurs', 'Albertonykus', 'Edmontosaurs' or 'Edomontonia'. Nevertheless, there is no 'Calgarisaurs' or 'Calgaria'!! Someday we will find a dinosaur skeleton and name it 'Calgarisaurs'. Until then, we explore the badland.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Smallest size me?
Canada is large, everything large. It's very different from Japan. Food, people, malls, or roads are beyond Japanese size. First of all, Canadian fast food such as pizza, sandwitches, or burgers with drink is bigger than Japanese one. Sometimes I am surprized of its size. I don't need to big one, so I want them to make smaller and cheaper one. Second, there are many malls in Calgary. Shopping is fun for me, but malls are too huge. When I find a good shop, I realize there are many large size clothes (L, XL, XXL, XXXXXXXXL...). Roads are also wide. I am tired to walk long street in Canada.
As reading this essay, you may think I don't like Canada. However, I like big Canada!! Canadians have also big hearts. They are gentle. I think bigness makes big heart. I should get big heart like Canadians. So super size me!
As reading this essay, you may think I don't like Canada. However, I like big Canada!! Canadians have also big hearts. They are gentle. I think bigness makes big heart. I should get big heart like Canadians. So super size me!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The worst day in Canada
Canada is good place to live, Canadians are kind, and I like Canada so much. However, I have very very bad memory in Canada. I describe the memory today.
It is the first day I came here. Until then, I had not been in Canada. After 15 hours fright from Tokyo, I arrived Vancouver at 13:00pm in April 25. It was on time. However, there were long long lines in the immigration gates, and I used more than an hour to pass them. Until next fright to Calgary, only two hours were left. It was enough time for me to change the flight. However, I hadn't realized next nightmare at that time.
I went to the baggage claim and waited for my baggages. But my baggages didn't come soon. The other passengers got thier baggages and went through me. More than 30 minutes later, I could get my baggeges at last.
Next, I had to get the student visa at the immigration office. I was surprized that there were long long looong line and very very few officers in the room. I had to wait more than one and half hours. In my turn, the officer spoke English very quickly and I could hardly understand him. When I got my visa, the airplane, which I should get, already left from the Vancouver Airport. I had to call host family who was waiting for me at the Calgary Airport. However, I didn't have canadian coins and could not use public phone. I also tried to phone card, but I couldn't.
Reluctantly, I got next flight and I could arrive Calgary one and half hours late. And finally I could meet host family! They waited for me (but they asked many Asian guys who looked like me, 'Are you Kohei?' until I came ). Everything became good, I thought. However, there was the last nightmare! Unfortunaly, my baggages didn't come to calgary. The airplane stuff mistook. I gave up it, and I went to my new house in Calgary. When I went to my comfortable bedroom, I realized my long long looooooooooooong day ended. Actually, I had this day more than 40 hours. I falled in sleep quickly, and my great Canadian life began from next day.
By the way, my baggages arrived next day, if you concerned me...
It is the first day I came here. Until then, I had not been in Canada. After 15 hours fright from Tokyo, I arrived Vancouver at 13:00pm in April 25. It was on time. However, there were long long lines in the immigration gates, and I used more than an hour to pass them. Until next fright to Calgary, only two hours were left. It was enough time for me to change the flight. However, I hadn't realized next nightmare at that time.
I went to the baggage claim and waited for my baggages. But my baggages didn't come soon. The other passengers got thier baggages and went through me. More than 30 minutes later, I could get my baggeges at last.
Next, I had to get the student visa at the immigration office. I was surprized that there were long long looong line and very very few officers in the room. I had to wait more than one and half hours. In my turn, the officer spoke English very quickly and I could hardly understand him. When I got my visa, the airplane, which I should get, already left from the Vancouver Airport. I had to call host family who was waiting for me at the Calgary Airport. However, I didn't have canadian coins and could not use public phone. I also tried to phone card, but I couldn't.
Reluctantly, I got next flight and I could arrive Calgary one and half hours late. And finally I could meet host family! They waited for me (but they asked many Asian guys who looked like me, 'Are you Kohei?' until I came ). Everything became good, I thought. However, there was the last nightmare! Unfortunaly, my baggages didn't come to calgary. The airplane stuff mistook. I gave up it, and I went to my new house in Calgary. When I went to my comfortable bedroom, I realized my long long looooooooooooong day ended. Actually, I had this day more than 40 hours. I falled in sleep quickly, and my great Canadian life began from next day.
By the way, my baggages arrived next day, if you concerned me...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The memory of China
I would like to describe about my trips in China. I went there twice last year to study dinosaurs, and it is amazing memory for me. In the first trip, I went to the Guandong Province, which is Kinki's hometown, to investigate fossil eggs of dinosaurs housed in the museum. This area was hot, and I could find a lot of tropical fruit and great Chinese food. They were fun for me. I enjoyed good Chinese dinner, and drunk, drunk and drunk with Chinese guys. Because I went to there alone, I needed to use Chinese-Japanese books, but it made it possible to communicate with Chinese people. Chinese guys told me many their cultures and language. In return, I told Japanese cultures such as origami. In the second trip, I went to Henan Province, which is famous in the Yellow River, to collect dinosaur eggshells. This trip was very very amazing because I went to the rural villages in China. I could see alive China there. Everything was perfectly new for me. For example, I stayed only one public building in the village with Chinese guys, visited famer's houses, and communicated with kids who had not met foreigners. These experiences made me broaden my views. Thus, I totally enjoyed these trips! I want to go back again.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
How To Use Weekend
Since I have came in Calgary, almost two months have passed. Because I don't accustom to live here yet, I go around Calgary every weekend. This is my use of weekend. So far I went downtown, the China town, some museums, some restaurants and some malls. It is fun to find my favorite places. For example, the Glenbow Museum is amazing place for me. There are many Indian arts, historical exhibitions and Calgary cultures. I am studing science, but I also like art. When I am tired, arts give me new power. Therefore, the museum attracts me. The Market Mall is also fun place for me. I walk to go there from the university. I can find many Canadian culture here. I often try to do and explore something what I haven't experienced. So the mall is amazing. However, I have many other places that I want to go. So where will I go this weekend?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Sushi as American food
Hello everyone. I will talk about one of the most famous Japanese food, sushi.
I was surprized that sushi is popular in Calgary and many people have eaten it. We can find many sushi restaurants around Calgary. I am glad many people like sushi. However, sushi in Calgary is sometimes different from Japanese one and it is amazing! Until came here, I have heardly eaten Califolnia rolls or Vancouver rolls. They are Japanese-American food and we rarely find them in Japan. But now I rearized they are great! In addition, fast food sushi restaurant is interesting. Like McDonards or Subways, we can find sushi shops in Calgary, even on campus! Fast sushi shop is rare in Japan. Fast food is American culture. In North America, even sushi become fast food! Although there are many americanized shops in Japan, sushi is japanized food in North America. This is closs-culture of food. Finally, although many Japanese restaurants in Calgary surve mainly sushi, there are many another Japanese food. Sushi is good but expensive both Japan and Canada. Japanese do not eat sushi so often. So why don't you try another Japanese food?
I was surprized that sushi is popular in Calgary and many people have eaten it. We can find many sushi restaurants around Calgary. I am glad many people like sushi. However, sushi in Calgary is sometimes different from Japanese one and it is amazing! Until came here, I have heardly eaten Califolnia rolls or Vancouver rolls. They are Japanese-American food and we rarely find them in Japan. But now I rearized they are great! In addition, fast food sushi restaurant is interesting. Like McDonards or Subways, we can find sushi shops in Calgary, even on campus! Fast sushi shop is rare in Japan. Fast food is American culture. In North America, even sushi become fast food! Although there are many americanized shops in Japan, sushi is japanized food in North America. This is closs-culture of food. Finally, although many Japanese restaurants in Calgary surve mainly sushi, there are many another Japanese food. Sushi is good but expensive both Japan and Canada. Japanese do not eat sushi so often. So why don't you try another Japanese food?
Monday, June 2, 2008
Five communication issues
I recognized ‘communication issues’ mean a problem or worry about communication. I will give five issues below according to the direction.
1-Hear wrong
Some couples of words are difficult to listen for me in order to similar pronunciations. For example, ‘to’ and ‘two’, or ‘walk’ and ‘work’. I may misunderstand by hearing wrong. The solution of this problem is to adjust English and learn many similar words.
2-Difficulty of conveying what I want to say
It is difficult for me to use the best explanation in English. In presentation, I have to talk efficiently in limited time. Therefore, giving good explanation is big problem. To solve this problem, I usually prepare scripts before presentations. For example, I learned a script by heart last presentation. However, there were still points that should be improved. Next time, I will check my script with Canadians.
3-Scattering attention
Sometimes I do not focus on speakers in order to difficult or boring concepts. For example, in my Japanese university, I was bored some presentations that were not organized well. Although I should pay attention to speakers, speakers also would rather speak simply. I think this is the most difficult problem. I have to think what way of talking is the best for audience.
4-Small voice
I am subject to cause this problem. Although I am willing to speak in a loud voice, sometimes audiences are hard to listen to me. In contrast, I feel difficulty to understand what speaker says in order to small voice. The solution of this problem is only to speak up. If I am audience, I should listen with attention.
5-Fast pace of talking
I do not get used to English yet, sometimes I cannot follow rapid English. The more speakers excite to talk, the faster pace they are subject to talk. The solution of this problem is to keep attention to the speakers.
1-Hear wrong
Some couples of words are difficult to listen for me in order to similar pronunciations. For example, ‘to’ and ‘two’, or ‘walk’ and ‘work’. I may misunderstand by hearing wrong. The solution of this problem is to adjust English and learn many similar words.
2-Difficulty of conveying what I want to say
It is difficult for me to use the best explanation in English. In presentation, I have to talk efficiently in limited time. Therefore, giving good explanation is big problem. To solve this problem, I usually prepare scripts before presentations. For example, I learned a script by heart last presentation. However, there were still points that should be improved. Next time, I will check my script with Canadians.
3-Scattering attention
Sometimes I do not focus on speakers in order to difficult or boring concepts. For example, in my Japanese university, I was bored some presentations that were not organized well. Although I should pay attention to speakers, speakers also would rather speak simply. I think this is the most difficult problem. I have to think what way of talking is the best for audience.
4-Small voice
I am subject to cause this problem. Although I am willing to speak in a loud voice, sometimes audiences are hard to listen to me. In contrast, I feel difficulty to understand what speaker says in order to small voice. The solution of this problem is only to speak up. If I am audience, I should listen with attention.
5-Fast pace of talking
I do not get used to English yet, sometimes I cannot follow rapid English. The more speakers excite to talk, the faster pace they are subject to talk. The solution of this problem is to keep attention to the speakers.
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