My life in Winnipeg

Hello everyone. I am an IEP (Intensive English Program) student. I am from Sagamihara city in Japan. I am a university student in Japan and my major is English.
 I arrived last April the 3^rd. So I have been staying in Winnipeg for more than 10 months. I am spending a valuable time in Winnipeg. Today I would like to write about my life and some experiences in Winnipeg.

First I would like to write about my daily routine.  My class starts around 9 o’clock. I always wake up around 7 o’ clock , I get ready to go to school. I leave my home around 8:30. It takes about 50 minutes to get to school.
I usually arrive at my classroom 10munites before my lesson starts. I have 2 or 3 lessons before lunch after lunch I have 2 or 3 lessons.  I have 5 lessons from Monday to Thursday and I have 4 lessons on Friday.School is finished around 3;30
 After class, I spend time with my classmates, talking or going STARBUCKS and doing my homework together.
I arrive home around 6:30 and I relax in my room. I eat dinner around 7 o’ clock with my host mother. During dinner my host mother and I talk about what I did at school. I eat Japanese food, Italian food and Canadian food because my host mother is Italian and my host father is Japanese. I love her dishes because her dishes are very delicious. I am happy to eat Japanese food. After I eat dinner, I prepare my lunch, do my homework and then I go to bed.

On weekend I wake up late and I spend time with my friends, for example, going shopping and eating dinner. Or I relax at home, text very long message for my family, and spend time with my host family.

Second I would like to write about IEP classes. It is fun and attractive!! I always enjoy because I can express my opinion during class and the teachers talk to each students in class.
 In Japan, students are just sitting and listening to teachers. It is a little boring.
 And I changed my mind because before coming to Canada I was thinking that I would not be taking teaching classes because I think that teaching is a very hard job and I did not have enough confidence to be able to teach English. But recently I changed my mind, I will take teaching classes because as a teacher I want to have fun class like IEP classes!!
 IEP classes are very attractive and enjoyable!!!
And I can make a lot of foreign country friends!! They are very important for me because I can practice speaking English. When I am talk with my Japanese friends, I use Japanese. But when I talk with my foreign country friends, I must use English!! It is an good oppotunity for me because I can learn English from my Friends!!

Third I would like write about my residence.
 I lived at residence in the university from April to September. The rooms in the residence were more comfortable than I thought.  My image of a residence was dirty and small but it was good.
But I could not use much English because there were a lot of Japanese students in the residence so I switched to homestay. My host mother is very good because I can eat delicious food and she is very kind. She helps me very much and she corrects my English when I make mistakes. And  host family is also very kind to me. I can practice speaking English a lot!! It is very good for improving my English. I love my host family.

Fourth, I would like write about IEP activity. In IEP activity, I can experience and learn about Canadian and Winnipeg culture.
My most memorable activity is Coming of Age party.
Coming of Age is a Japanese event.
In Japan,  people who become 20 years old are recognized as adults and they are blessed and coming of age ceremony is held. I wanted to join the ceremony however, I could not attend the ceremony because I am in Winnipeg and I regretted coming to Canada a little.   But activity leaders and some students planed to hold the coming of age ceremony!! I was very surprised and happy because I gave up to attend the ceremony in Canada!!  I will tell about the ceremony after I come back Japan!! The event was most memorable activity.

Fifth, I would like to write about what I have noticed in Winnipeg.
 I have noticed that people in Winnipeg are very kind and friendly.
For example, when I wait for the bus, sometimes people who are my neighborhood talk to me very friendly and they continue to talk to me in the bus.
I was very surprised because this is not usual in Japan.
I have a very good time when people talk to me.
 I thought that “friendly” is very good point for Winnipeg.

I wrote about some my experiences in Winnipeg. I really enjoy life in Winnipeg.
I thank my friends, my teachers host family and people around me to help me and make me happy.
I  thank my parents and my grand parents in Japan to allowed me going to Canada and to support me.
 I love Winnipeg very much❤
But I leave Winnipeg at the end of March….
So I want to enjoy my life and improve my English a lot!!

Thank you for reading!!


Haruka