A Special Meeting ( Samar)

Everyone has an embarrassing moment in her/his life. Sometimes we need to remind this moment and tell to your children about it. I believe that moment keep you in a fantastic memory. I would like to tell you about my embarrassing moment, I have never forgotten it. On October 10, 2008 a fantastic thing happened to me. I had a wonder moment, the first time I met my future husband. This meeting happened in my family house with my father. When I waited for my father to ask me to see my future husband in guest room, I was nervous. A moment later, I walked to the guest room. I was afraid because this my first time I saw strange men. A moment, I brought apple juice for him; I didn’t give it to him. I drank it, so my father laughed a lot. A moment later, I sat beside my father, and Mohammad couldn’t see me because I tried to cover my face behind my father. After a moment, Mohammad tried to look at me, but I was shy. After that, my father told my future husband to talk with me. He asked me how are you. At this moment, I was shocked because I forgot how to speak. When I tried to speak, I was embarrassed from him. After that, I whispered to my father to leave. After I left the guest room, I felt at easy with him. May be this is my love. After I talked with my mother, she asked me a lot of question. Therefore, I told my mother, I need to relax in my bedroom I thought about Mohammad. I was glad. I want to keep a first moment, I saw him in my heart forever. Did you have embarrassing moment you like to tell us about?

Renewable energy (Risako)

In Vancouver, we have a lot of kinds of weather. Sometimes it is too hot or too cold. It can be watched in all over the world, not only in Vancouver. One of causes of these violent weather changes is global warming. Global warming is the terrible matter for human. For example, temperature is becoming higher and higher, and snow of the mountain top is melting, because of global warming. CO2 is the one of the biggest factors of global warming, and using a lot of energy causes CO2 that can contain heat easily and make global warming to be worse. People have to save the energy and CO2, and try to solve this problem as soon as possible. There are two good solutions of global warming. First is using renewable energy, and second is thinking how to use some energy. These two solutions could improve temperature condition.

Renewable energy is energy that can be taken many times. It has no limitation, and using it doesn’t exhaust so much CO2 compare with using usual energy. Solar energy, wind energy, and water energy are renewable energy. Some country has already started to use this renewable energy, but not so many amounts. In fact, using renewable energy has a few problems. For example setting a solar panel takes a lot of money, and constructing a dam sometimes causes a flood. However, we can improve the way of taking energy from renewable energy in the future to solve these problems. Some scientists have already started to improve the way of taking renewable energy. Human should do it. In addition to this, people have to think not only how to get, but also how to use some energy. Many productions that surround people cannot existence without energy. Most of them made by robots in a factory and robots use a lot of energy. Bringing these products to markets also use gasoline because of truck. Saving products also means saving energy too. People should not waste products even if that is a very tiny thing.

Now, renewable energy is not so major, and many people waste a lot of products because most of them don’t think so deeply about energy when they throw it away. However, in the near future, people notice how serious the global warming problems are and try to change their way of thinking, try to use renewable energy instead of gasoline, fissile and the other not renewable energy. It may become a key to solve the global warming. Human have to do something for earth as soon as possible.

Cheating at school (Haruka)

Have you ever seen someone who cheated during the test? I think they cheat because they want to be looked better. Many elementary school students cheat during their test and this bad habit will create nothing. I will talk in detail about this opinion.

First, when I was in elementary school, I had to study a lot for the entrance examination of private junior high school. Therefore, I went to cram school every day after school when I was in sixth grade of elementary school. In cram school, many of us wanted to go to the same prestigious junior high school. Some of us cheated on the mock exam to be on the list of a high scorer. However, many of them who cheated during mock exams could not go to the prestigious junior high school. Some of my friends and I,which did not cheat in mock exams, could go to that school. I was so surprised at this results because some of the friends who cheated in mock exams are smarter than us. In this experience, I felt that bad behavior will be punished in some way even if it is not seen by anyone.

In conclusion, cheating create nothing. Therefore, parents should teach their children not to cheat using good examples or stories. Children do not stop cheating just say do not do that.

Different Culture, Different Thinking (Thanisa)

The word “Culture” means all the knowledge and values shared by a society. People who come from different countries have different knowledge and value. There are three Thai culture which differ from Western culture

First of all, when Thai people greet each other, they hold their hands in relation with face and bow their bodies. It is called “Wai”. When they greet, another person don’t have to answer them. For example, there might be young people who greet their relations. Their relations don’t have to answer them, but Western people have a different greeting. They use handshaking and talk to another person who greet with them. The difference between these cultures makes people have a different thinking. Thai people have to respect and obey other people who are older than them, but young and old Western people are equal. For instance, when Thai people want to do something, they have to ask older people, but Western people can do everything by themselves.

Secondly, Thai people bring up their children from infants to adulthood. Thai parents pay money for their children food, tuition, tutors fee, but Western people bring up their children from infant to grade 10. For example, Thai parents pay the tuition for their children who study at university, but Western parents don’t pay for their children. Their children have to pay for themselves. As a result, Thai families are different from Western families. Thai families are an extended families which have a father, mother, children and grandparents. The children take care of their grandparents until they die, but Western families are a nuclear family, which have father, mother and children. Their grandparents live in a separate house.

Thirdly, Thai people follow Buddhism. They believe in the Buddhist religion, which makes them believe that if something is going to happen then it happens and we can’t change it, but Western people believe they can control their own destinies. For example, Thai poor people believe they are poor because they did something bad in the past and they can’t change their status, but Western people believe that if they are working hard, they will be rich.

Although, some Thai people take care of their children in a western manner, many Thai people try to preserve their culture and want their children to retain their culture forever.

Watching TV is good for us (Mamiko)

Hi! I’m Mamiko.


In my opinion, it is good for us to watch TV. I have 2 reasons about it. One of them is that we can learn many things through watching TV. For example, we can watch cooking program, education for children program, fitness program, news and so on. There are many channels and programs, so we can choose them and watch whenever we like. It is good things for us because if we can know some TV programs affect violence, we can change the channel. Another reason is that it is a good way to keep ourselves occupies. If you have a lot of free time, you can turn on TV and watch movies or drama. It is benefit for us. Also, children can watch TV when you are busy at home working.

However, some programs can affect violence or something else by children; for example, the boy who was 3 years old was watching Superman. He really likes hero programs and he wanted to become a hero, so he wanted to fly the same as a hero. After that, he fell downstairs and he died. There are many opinions about that, but it is fact and this is one of examples that TV program affected the boy. Therefore, the parents should restrict on watching TV for their children. It is important rule when children watch TV.

In my case, I like watching TV. There are a lot of useful programs and entertainments. I like watching drama and comedy shows. It is funny and I can be relaxed. Also, we can acquire many things through TV programs and can catch many information speedily. Most important thing for me is giving some information. In Japan, we can know a tsunami warning, an earthquake and much important information if something happen. Therefore, we can run away speedily if tsunami or earthquake is happened.

Wearing Uniforms ( Abdulwahab )

As we know students must follow the rules of school and I agree that high school students should be required to wear uniforms because of the age and their life style. Also, when someone saw any student direictly, he knows this is a student. Moreover, the uniform mut be clean because the uniform reflect the student's behaviour. I know that sometimes wearing uniforms is not enjoyable because teenagers like to change and wearing uniforms come under the rules of school but for me when I was in high school, I wasn't like to wear a uniform very much.
The second reason for the equality of students. As we know from nature, there are difference between students in physical condition. forexample, students from the high class, and other from middle class, and other students of the estimated on the living. Because of this situation, all the schools want to have a uniform dress in school to show all students look the same and there is no distinction between students. Finally, all school systems in the interest of students.

How to Be a Good Learner? (Samar)

Choosing the right way to study can be stressful, but you can reduce your stress by following these steps. First of all, is scheduling study time and schedule breaks. This means after you finish your school you should organize your time. For instance, after I finish school, I take a break for around one hour. Then I start to do my homework and review. Next, you should choose the right place to study and consider the atmosphere, so you must have a quiet place, well-lit with enough space for books and comfortable but not too comfortable room.
The third step is important. Choose the person who you want to study with. I mean if you like to stud with your friends, this can help you to understand and catch the new information. On the other hand, it isn’t good idea to study in a romantic place.
Brief suggestion on studying a foreign language is learning a skill and practice. Studying with loud voice this way makes your mouth or your hand do what your mind is learning. There are three types learning styles. The first is visual learning means learning by listening. Secondly, is tactile or kinaesthetic learning means learning by touch and using your hands. Finally, is auditory learning means learning by seeing.
In my opinion I think the best learning style for me is kinaesthetic learning style. Therefore, I use this style to improve my English skills. I hope everyone know his/her style to help them to be a good learner.

The Drought in Northern Parts of China (Kenny)

In recent years, drought has prevailed in northern parts of our country. There is no or only little rain in spring and summer in the noth and northeast of China.
The same is true of snow in winter. Consequently, big cities such as Beijing and Tianjin are short of water every year, which affects the life of the urban people and the production of factories. And the drought is most felt by crops in rural areas, of course. It is said the drought has much to do with the "green house effect" and the "greenhouse effect" is caused by the pollution of the atmosphere. In the final analysis, it is brought about by ourselves. Faced with the terrible drought, we should stop polluting the air right away.
We should try all means to decrease the amount of poisonous gases which our factories and cars give off. Besides, we should take measures to protect the forests and plant as many trees as possible.

school uniform (Phoebe Chang)

When I was in high school, I need to follow school regulation.I was really disagree and also I was annoyed with them, but now I changed my mind with some of rules.
School uniform made a deep impression on me, because when I was in high school,I had to wear school uniform everyday. It looks so sloppy and unpleasant. I thought it was a stupit rule. However, when I graduate from high school, I realized when other people wear a beautiful dress, I'll want to buy it. We always want to wear the most beautiful clothes and take the most expensive bag. In the other hand, if I have a poor classmate, when other students wear everything expensive and flashy. How does the poor classmate feel?
When we were children, we usually think there are many things wrong in our school, home, we side it's stupit. But when we grow up, weknow a lot of knowlage, we know more about this world. So we know teachers and panents did a lot of things for us , even though we couldn't understand at that time.

Footprints of Memories (Yayoi)

In my case, writing means leaving footprints of my mind such as feeling, opinion, and experience. As time goes on, records which I wrote become memories. I have written various kinds of records. For example, there were lyrics, diaries, letters, notes, poems, reports, thesis, and studies. I keep most of them in my closet. I write in order to leave a message to someone or future me.

When I was an elementary school student, writing was enjoyment for me. I especially liked to write poems. I often competed with my classmates in composing poems. One day my teacher chose one of my poems, and it appeared in local newspaper with a photograph of my face. When I look at the newspaper clipping, I feel proud, and also it warms my heart. That’s why the poem was about my father, and I remember I loved him very much at that time. It is one of my favourite memories about writing.

Before I came here, writing was my duty because of my job. Every time I had to write each patient’s medical records for medical insurances. It was important to put patients’ condition on records but just a routine work. I didn’t have enough time to focus on my impression or thinking in daily life after work. Unfortunately, I don’t have any records while working. Memories in my brain will fade out in the future and I won’t be able to look back on my years of working.

Luckily, I have a lot of opportunities to write now. I try to write anything in English, but it’s not easy. Writing is my discipline for two reasons. The first reason is that I don’t get used to writing in English. I had never learned how to write a journal or an essay in English in Japan, so writing class is interesting for me. The second reason is that I am not good at expressing my ideas. I think writing has an advantage that we can revise mistakes before we make my writing known. However, it takes a long time for me to write and revise my ideas. Therefore, I need much more practices in order to enjoy writing in English more than now. I want to become getting my ideas in order quickly and accurately. I wish it won’t be long that this discipline of writing will change into a good memory.

Learning English in Vancouver is the best! (Mamiko)

Hi! This is Mamiko, and this is the first time to write journal.

Learning English in Vancouver is better than in Japan because we have many chances to speak English. In my opinion, this is the most important thing to learn English because most of Japanese have writing skills and reading skills. However, they cannot speak English because they learn mainly English to write and read, not to speak. Moreover, most of English teachers in Japan cannot speak English with correct pronunciation.

Almost Japanese study English only for entrance examinations. Therefore, they think that English is one of subjects that they need to study like math, and they do not think English as one of the communication tools. However, they realize that English is not kind of subjects. Nowadays, Japanese think English as a communication tool; and we have to study English. Therefore, a lot of parents spend money for their children studying abroad.

I think the best place to learn English is Canada. Canadian is kindly, honestly and friendly. Moreover, Canada has been receptive to immigrants, so it does not have any racial discrimination. I think only English policy is also good because we have to speak English in the building, so I can acquire many English words, idioms and so on. I am happy to learn English in Canada and ELI!!!!

Study English in their own countries or study abroad (Thanisa)

Someone said knowledge is knowledge by itself that means knowledge has its own value. The only different is how we learn from the knowledge and make use of it. In a way to learn English, some people want to study in their countries, but some people want to study abroad. In my opinion, I want to study abroad. There are three reasons, which support my idea

The first reason is speaking English all the time. If students study English in their own countries, they speak English only in their school, but if they study abroad, they have a chance to speak English all the time, and their English skill will improve significantly. For example, there might be some students who have an opportunity to study abroad for a year. His or her English skills are better than his or her friends who study in their own country.

The second reason is having a chance to speak English with native speakers. If students study English in their own countries, they speak English with teachers who come from their countries, and their teacher have the same accent as them, but if they study oversea, they study with native speaking teachers who have good accents. Also their teachers teach them to spell English words correctly

The third reason is considering about western people’s thinking and their culture that helps you to understand essays or paragraphs in the English language. Students can gain extensive knowledge about social studies in other subject though learning about English and writing essays and paragraphs

These are three reasons I want to study abroad. If students have a chance to study oversea, they should use this opportunity. Studying aboard give a lot of knowledge and experience which they can’t find in their own country

Difference of Coulture (Risako)

Have you ever tried to eat sushi? Even if you have never tried to eat sushi, maybe you know this food. I arrived at Vancouver only 10 days ago, and this is my first visiting to another country. So when my host mother took me the sushi restaurant on the first day, it is also my first eating sushi which made by another country. When I took the sushi, I was very surprised.

Row and thin fish meat is on the rice. It is most typical Japanese sushi. Rice is rolled by seaweed. It is typical Japanese roll. In Vancouver, however, almost all of sushi is roll, and that roll is a little different from Japanese one. Seaweed and ingredients are rolled by rice! I was very surprised to see this roll, and touched by its taste. Its taste is a little bit different from Japanese one, but very good.

Through this experience, I can find the good difference of culture. There are a lot of cultures in Vancouver. However, they don’t resist each other, and they melt into the Canadian culture.

Different types of people I met since I began to study here

Haruka Morita

Have you ever experienced culture shock? I have been experiencing a lot of culture shock since I came to Canada in a good way. I am going to talk especially about different types of students I have met in UBC ; humorous people and active people.

First, I met humorous people a lot in UBC. I found out that many people in the world say jokes. However, Japanese do not often say jokes and we communicate from empathy with each other. This happens because Japan is geographically limited but have huge population. In the past, Japanese people had to live in a house which is really close to others and we lived permanently the same home. This means that we cannot make conflict. Therefore, we do not say something bad to others and we speak in a neutral, harmless and inoffensive way. We use a lot of energy in this way, so we do not often say jokes or something.

Second, I met many active people. I was surprised to see people participate in class so actively. In Japan, many students sit politely and listen to what the teacher say. Furthermore, we do not say anything in the class, this means if teacher ask something to students, sometimes we do not answer to it. However, teachers feel nothing by that behavior because they know this often happens in Japan. Therefore, they are different from Japanese.

In conclusion, I found out two different types of people in UBC and I feel that I should change my way of thinking and attitudes.