Yes now I can't imagine the wide open space and how big Canada is!!

For the first time I came here I didn't felt uneasy and tense at all.

The fact that I would tllk on the plane hasn't hit me yet at that time.

BUT when I saw the wonderfyl mountains here through the plane window, suddenly I felt I was very joyful to see the scenery.

"How wonderful!!" I was very impressed and thought

" I will forget about the night-side country JAPAN"

I really like Canadian Mountains!!

So what is the "Cree"?

I checked my dictionary but does it mean INDIAN!??

INDIAN means........!?

Is that like a scenery of thw western couboy movie!?

Does it come into view in the wilderness?? Some peopleride horses!?

WOW!! ----------- No!?

Nao

So in Japan I shouldn't go out with my students and have a few drinks. Strange.

I was only drinks and talking. Oh well, you probably know Janan better than I do.

I'll take your advice.

Brandon is not a big town. It is very small.

If you go by bus you will brobably see it.

The bus normally stops in Brandon for a few hours. Not much to see really.

Not everyone speaks Frendh infact most perople speak English and maybe Cree.

I would visit Winnipeg it has more to see and more to do.

And there is a lot to see between here and the east.

YOu can't imagine the wide open space. It is incredible.

I think if you go by bus or bettter yet train you will be amazed by the scenery and how big Canada is.

The map just doesn't show you how big it is.

Wai-Wai (lucky, lucky?)

Well take cae,

Dan

I'mglad to hear that you also spent the good time on last Thursday.

Because I'm wondering that was good for you or not...

"If i were you---"

I didn't want to mix up public and private matters when I was in Japan.

Especially if i ware a teacher like you, that's very hard to express...

But anyway you came with us! I was really happy at that time!!

We also had a great time with you! Thanks Dan!!

So now I want to know about your hometown.

Brandon is getting bigger now!? YOu said small town!?

Everybody speaks Erench in there? you said many people lived in Winnipeg speak French!?

FOrm the middkle of this month, I will leave here to the Ewastern Canada.

I'm going to traverse this country by bus.

On the way to the East I will stop at many places.

Everybody said there is nothing special to see on the way to the Eastern side of Canada.

You'd better to take a plane! --- BUT i want to see!!

FOr the first time, I thought I wil stop at Regina and Winnipeg, because one of my friends used to live in there. BUt now I think I want to stop at your hometown too!!

How do you think!?

PS Now my hostmother had gone with her fiance and two dogs to Kelona.

They wiill spend there to the end of this weekend. Nice!!

My friend will come here this afternoon!! Wa-i Wa-i!!

Nao

Yes, my hometown is Brandon. It is in Manitoba.

I am doing fine. I had a great weekend.

Friday I slept really early. Saturday I met some friends and we went to go out but decided to party at my place instead. (cheaper)

We all fell asleep at around 5:00 in the morning.

It was a great night.

You are right I am plannning to fo see my new niece at the end of the month.

I can hardly wait. It will be great.

I am glad you invited Matt and I out Thursday. I had a good time.

Well keep in touch

Dan

Good morning!

How are you!?

uhn... It makes me sad to think I can't hear your voice.....

How are you Nao!?

For the firsttime, I thought the school was just the place to make friends.

But through your class, I could learn a lots of my unknown things.

How to express myself, the way of thinking depends on individuals and the ideas come from different nathionalities etc.

Since I've met you, I became to think if I could speak English more fluently "How wonderful!!"

Not only daily conversation but also express myself in English.

It was really short time but I could spend lovely days.

I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to you.

Thanks a mil, teacher!

Nao

How was your weekend!?

As for me, I had a party last Friday with my classmates. Almost 15 students were there!

And I went to mu friend's house on Saturday.

Her job in Japan was nurse, so now she works as a voruntreer nanny here.

NOw she takes care of 3weeks baby!! He's so adorable!! I could hold him in my arms then! Too tiny!!

That was my first experience to meet such an infantile baby!!

Mayve you read this, you want to meet your niece!!

Then yesterday was my french homemate's birthday!

So we went out for lunch and after that we hold a birthday party at our place!!

There are 5 students hare including me! (from French, mexico, korea, taiwan and Japan)

It looks like a smal dormitory but really confortable to live for me!!

You said " Everyday is an adventure!!"

I like your wording and I really think so too!!

Thanks for your reply!

Keep in touch,

Nao

PS Your hometown is Brandon, right!?.

So how are you Nao?

It's the closest I can get. sorry.

Yes, I am sad to see you leave. The class will not ve the same without you.

I hope you have a good time in Montreal and on your trip east.

I think it will be an excellent adventure. Good luck.

And of course you can email again. I have no problem with that.

I am glad to help you improve your English but you should really thank yourself you did all the hard work.

I just incouraged you to do your best.

Andyou are right you really improved over the time you spent in my class.

Thank you for your effort in class.

Write soon,

Dan

ワーキングホリデービザをつかって１年でカナダを拠点に２０カ国を巡る旅

一体いくらかかったんだろう

私も記憶がおぼろげだけど、メモが残っていたから参考までにかいてみよう

予算　150万 / 1年間

　内　渡航前準備費用

　　　ノートパソコンと備品　　 20万

　　　防寒着（AGLE にて）　　 5万

　　　航空費　　　　　　　　　　 　7万

　　　ESL School　　　　　　　　25万

　--------------------------------

　　　　　　　計　　　　　　　約　 60万

　内　渡航後生活費

　　　生活費　　　　　　　　　　　50万

　　　旅行費　　　　　　　　　　　30万

　　　予備費　　　　　　　　　　　10万

　--------------------------------

　　　　　　　計　　　　　　　　　　90万

　　　　 合計　　　　　　　　　 150万

ははは。笑いが出るほど簡単すぎるメモ書きだね。

実際 150万で大丈夫だったんだろうか・・・！？

さあて まったく記憶がない

いい機会だから メモを頼りに すこしずつ書き出してみよう　　

　　Froｍ Hiroshima to Tokyo \15,800

　　From Tokyo to Vancouver \50,800

　　From Vancouer to Seatle C$ 58

　　From Seatle to Fairbanks \26,000

　　rate US$ = \130 / C$ = \80

国内のチケットは、もちろんすべて格安チケットで購入しました。

Vancouver to Seatle はダウンタウンから出ているシャトルバスを利用しました。

■■■　School

Tuition Fee \106,000 ( part-time 私の場合 勉強するのが目的ではなかったのでパートタイムで！）

　　私の場合、基本的に友達作りが目的だったんですが、入る時期によっては日本・韓国などアジア人ばかりです。学校のスタートが9月の南米などの生徒が多いのはその前の夏休みなどの時期です。

私の入った3月頃は、日本人と韓国人がとても多かったように記憶しています。

　　～ ここで裏技！

　　学校への申込みを業者に頼むとそれだけで 手数料として10万くらい高くなります。

　　もし安く上げようと思うなら、直接ネットで学校へ申請をすれば10万は安くいけます！実際私がそうでした！

　　手続きは簡単です！必要事項を申請フォームに入力して送信するだけ。学校によっては日本人のコンサルの方がいらっしゃるところもありますよ！ステイ先の手配も希望を出せば学校からしてくれます。

■■■　Stay

　Home stay　　￥150,000 （C$650 * 2months = C$1300 )

私はいろんな友達をつくりたいとおもっていたので、学校への申請の際、ドミトリー（寮）を選んでいたのですが、コンサルの方からドミトリーではネイティブ英語は聞くことができないからと、要望に近いようにホームステイでも フランス・メキシコ・韓国・台湾の子たちが一つ屋根の下に暮らすステイ先を手配していただきました。

■■■　Others

　保険（Insurance）　　　￥45,000 / 年　（こちらも出国前にネットで購入！ネットが安い！！）

　　　歯医者さんでは使えないけど、一人旅をしようとしている人は保険は必ず入っておいたほうがいいですよ！！あとから出てくるとおもいますが、私は結構トラブルにあってるほうかな！？結構利用させてもらいました！！

　国民年金　　　　　　　　￥153,000 / 年 （前年に収入があったので・・・）

　国際免許　　　　　　　　￥2,600　（海外で車に乗るために必要。ちょっと大きめサイズのものです。）

　YH会員証　　　　　　　 ￥2,500　（これもバックパッカーで安く旅をあげたいならかなりおすすめ！！）

こちらに来てまだ2ヶ月しか経ってないというのに もう随分と長くここにいるような気がします。

それだけ時の流れ方が違うということなのでしょう。

毎日は緩やかに流れて、そちらでの日々がどれだけ早く流れていたかを物語っているかのようです。

あと1ヶ月もすれば、私はこのバンクーバーの地を去って 東へと向かっていることでしょう

こことの生活と比べれば はるかに異国らしい生活をすることができるとおもうけど 初めてここへきたときのように いままだすべてがまるで 夢物語の続きのよう

いまだ実感もわかないけど 楽しみは楽しみ♪

これからもまだまだ続くよ～～～

27歳になって髪を切って ますます子供らしくなったNAOでした♪

ここで今も連絡を取り合っている当時私の ESL School の先生をしていたカナディアンの ダルシーとのメールのやり取りが残っていたので、残しておこうかな。もう古い日記にはせてあったからかなり色褪せてる思い出だけどね。カナダという国の大きさが解るメールで、なんだか読み返したら面白かったよ。

考えてみれば今私が子供達に英語を教えているのも彼と会ったからというもの少しあるとおもう。

ちょっとはずかしいけど当時の私のつたない英語もあわせてね