Chapter 5

Hello Everyone,

It is August and the summer is in full swing. I have so many things to convey to you. With all of my excitement it is hard to find the time to write. But here I am now on a Monday morning writing just as all of you are enjoying your Obon holidays.

I have four main things to share with you. My trip to Lake Erie (one of the Five Great Lakes) to re-visit my childhood summers at the lake, my newly-found employment, tubing down the Grand River, and my recent trip by train to Canada's capital City, Ottawa.

First of all, a few weeks ago, I travelled by car to Port Dover. This is a small beach town on the shores of Lake Erie. During my childhood years my mother and father packed all five kids up in the family station wagon to head off to the cottage for the two long summer months, July and August. My father would return for work during the week but my mother would stay with us for the summer. There was even one week in there, every year, where my mother would allow each of us to bring one friend to stay for seven days. What was she thinking? She must have been insane agreeing to host ten kids at the small cottage for an entire week!? I guess a lot of the responsibilities were passed onto my older sister much to her dismay. Anyway flash to the future, now, and hear about our overnight trip. My sister and I drove there, parked, and walked down the old cottage lane. A man came walking out of the front door of our old cottage, and before he had a chance to tell us that we were trespassing on private property (because we actually were) I blurted out the words that the cottage used to be our family's. He immediately said that he has long wanted to meet the Murphy girls (my Maiden name), and invited us into the cottage. We met his wife, heard tales of how they bought the cottage from my father without having ever met him, and how they have been the sole owners ever since. That was such a great moment down Memory Lane. After that we had a coffee at the water's edge, went to the summer theatre to see an afternoon play, ate lake caught fish out on a patio overlooking the lake, and stayed overnight in a cozy B.& B. I even had one of my on-line lessons sitting outside in the evening in the garden of the B.& B. What a wonderful job, happy that it is my work. And by the way we drove along in my sister's shiny red convertible😉.

Next up is to tell you about my newly found employment. Yes, after just two months back in Canada I have found some very satisfying work with Japanese students once again. I have transposed my Japanese life back here in Canada. I am working for a language company teaching Japanese high school students who are visiting Canada on Home Stay Programs. I had my first stint over the last two weeks. I got to know sixteen students from Josho Gakuen Senoir High School in Osaka, eleven boys and five girls. We had so much fun learning and experiencing things together. I cycled to and from the school, one hour each way. I thoroughly and utterly loved every minute, from watching the sunrise on my way to school to fighting the traffic homeward bound and everything in between. The next stint is this week starting onTuesday, tomorrow. I do not yet know what city the students are coming from in Japan. But I can't wait to start.

Oh this brings me to "Tubing Down The Grand". The Grand River is west of Toronto and we floated down the river from Paris to Brantford, two small towns in Southern Ontario. Rachel asked me to join her and her friends, seven of us in all. For six hours we each sat in a rugged little canvas boat with a paddle going down the river. There were white water rapids here and there, yet never scary, only exciting to rush through that section a little faster. I could get lost in thought, paddle when needed, and talk to any one of her friends as I meandered along. We pulled over to a stone shoal at one point, all seven little boats, and got out and had some lunch and snacks and discussed our adventure. I was thankful that Rachel invited me to go on this outing, replacing her boyfriend on that day as he had a prior commitment.

Lastly, I went to Ottawa last week on Canada's train service, VIA Rail. Of course the trains here are not high speed trains like in Japan, going the 500 km distance in four hours. You might all think that as slow, and rightfully slow given the Japanese trains. But I could sit back and relax and enjoy the ride. In Ottawa, I saw the Parliament Buildings from a distance, went to the Nature museum, walked to a niche breakfast spot that served only oatmeal dishes, and visited a famous market area called the Byward Market. And of course I swam in the hotel pool. The language I heard spoken all around me was not English, but French. Ottawa is just over the river from Quebec Province, so this might be one reason. Also Ottawa is our Capital City as you know and Canada has two official languages, so another reason for the French language being prevalent. I didn't see enough of the city and would like to go back again to visit.

Those are the main events over the last little while. The weather is great, mostly sunny, with Canadian summer temperatures, and some humidity. I know that all of you are sweltering in the Hot Japanese summer weather. I can honestly say that I don't miss that one bit. I remember last summer in Nagoya, I felt like I was in Hell because it was the hottest weather I had ever experienced. Consequently and constantly I was trying to escape the heat for the coolness of a swimming pool. But here in Canada we have another problem, people are worried that any day now the cooler temperatures of Autumn will arrive. And once that happens, our very short Canadian summer comes to an abrupt end. Though Fall is beautiful, you know what comes after that season. For most Canadians winter is way too long.

I will finish this off now as I do have some preparations to do for welcoming my new students tomorrow. After this group finishes their adventure in two weeks, my very first Home-Stay student will arrive. The itinerary is all in place, we are going to have so much fun. As all of you enjoy your Obon holidays and see family and friends, think of your long lost friend and teacher back in Canada. I miss so much about Japan, but am having many happy adventures back in my own country of Canada too.

Happy Obon,

Take care, Rosemary🌹