My favorite place is the beach. At the beach, I feel joyful and have fun at the same time. I can enjoy the water and the sunset and have lots of fun. It makes my body and mind active. I love playing with the sand and building sandcastles with my friends. I think it is the best place on this planet where we can enjoy ourselves with our friends and family members.

What type of movies do you prefer?

The type of movie depends a lot of the personality of the customer and the offer on the market. In fact, the main offer on the market is American movies .In fact I think some people like movies with a very big budgets (we can have many extraordinary effects ), so American movies are the most exported American product in the world.

According to me, appreciation of a movie depends on your culture, age, mentality and your area. For example, when I was young and African resident, I was passionate by actions movies with many amazing and stressing situations. Today my movies are different, I appreciate funny movies, historical movies and stories of black Americans who were pioneers of their field in America (inspirational movies).

Definitively for me funny movies are the best one. Their permit to us to change my mind and relax after a working day. The smile is very important is our mental health (very important when you want to deliver a high performance ). I appreciate also movies with small budgets (the budget is not the very important point but the quality of the story).

My name is Lucero. I am from Mexico. I came to Canada in 2019.

In Mexico, I studied chemical engineering. I was working in a university like a teacher before moving to Canada. Currently, I am living in Niagara Falls.

I would like in to start a business in the future. Canada is a wonderful country with too much opportunities.

Rockland is a small but beautiful town in Ontario. It is peaceful and friendly, and it is a great place to live in. One thing I like about Rockland is its nature. There are many parks and green spaces where people can walk, play, and relax. The Ottawa River is also very close, offering beautiful views and fun activities like fishing and boating. Another thing I enjoy is the community. People in Rockland are kind and welcoming. There are local events, shops, and restaurants that bring everyone together. Finally, Rockland is close to Ottawa, which is great for work or shopping. You can enjoy the quiet life in Rockland and still visit the big city when needed. I love Rockland because it is safe, beautiful, and has a great community. It is a wonderful place to live.

My name is Chihchien, I been living in Canada for over 10 years. I moved to Canada in 2010, from my country “Taiwan”. I live in north Ontario, in the big town called “Sudbury”.

I started learning how to live in this big town, how to keep my own family, and how to be a good wife. The first thing was to know how to be friends with Canadian people, because in Canada there are so many different cultures from Asian to Canadian culture.

My husband asked me to join LINC classes. but I had kids and family around me, until few years ago, I started to be less busy. I contacted LINC program to learn English. I started to be the student, trying to learn correct English, talk well with my kids, with more people understanding me.

Driving is very different in Canada. When I got my drive license, I found that Canada’s traffic rules are very different than Taiwan. In Canada when there is red light the car can turn right side, but in Asia we cannot, when the school bus stop both side the cars need stop too, In Asia it is not possible! Now I am preparing for Canadian citizenship test every day , the material make me know more about Canada’s history, festival and much more.

The city I live in is Toronto. It's an amazing place to live because of the diversity of the people who live there, the many attractions and tourist places to visit, and also the climate.

In Toronto live the people from different countries, religions and cultures. It’s interesting during feasts and other meetings to discover the culture, and food of people of another country.

In Toronto, there is many attractions and tourist places like the CN Tower, the Toronto Zoo, the museums, and the Aquatic center. Also, Toronto has a climate which is more bearable in the winter than the climate of Montreal or Ottawa. But Toronto has some disadvantages like the cost of living, and of houses which are more expensive than in other cities. But it's a place where I enjoy living. I appreciate so much living in Toronto.

I spent two and a half years calling Vancouver my home, from the moment I stepped off the plane from Iran, I was utterly mesmerized. The greenery and the natural beauty of it completely captivated me. Everywhere I looked, it was so breathtakingly picturesque that I genuinely believed I'd stumbled upon the most stunning city on Earth. Those initial days were bathed in sunshine, and I reveled in every moment. The panoramas of the ocean, the vast jungles, and the majestic mountains were simply intoxicating.

So, the question remains: why did I trade the paradise of Vancouver for the urban life of Toronto?
Well, it's true that Vancouver is tightly intertwined to nature and looks gorgeous when the sun shines. However, what I quickly discovered is that those sunny days in fact were few and far between. The locals even call Vancouver "Raincouver," and for a good reason. Weeks would pass without a single glimpse of blue sky, just continuous rain, rain, and more rain.

And when it pours, that vibrant green landscape transforms into a dark grey color. It's a depressing experience; you truly can't understand the mental impact of constant rain until you've lived it.

Apart from the weather conditions, the cost of living in Vancouver, particularly the rent, is simply astronomical. E.g. finding a studio apartment in downtown Vancouver for less than $2700 is a rare and lucky occurrence.

Another significant factor that compelled us to move was the limited job market in Vancouver. Toronto, on the other hand, from what I was told, offers more job opportunities as the headquarters of many top-notch companies are based in there.

A less critical, but still important reason to move out, was the fact that every online order I made, seemed to be shipped from Toronto and they often took considerably longer to arrive in Vancouver.

In my humble opinion, British Columbia seems ideally suited for individuals with a passion for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and other adventurous hobbies. However, if you, like myself, lean towards a more sedentary lifestyle, you might want to carefully reconsider moving to Vancouver. The beautiful scenery won't be as amazing as when you first lay your eyes on it, even on those rare sunny days, the magic wouldn't be quite the same.

Another aspect of Vancouver life that I found somewhat disappointing was the lack of nightlife. Every place seemed to close down by 7 PM, even on weekends, which seemed surprisingly early.

To recap, the ideal location to live is a deeply personal choice, and it highly depends on individuals’ preferences and priorities. I truly believe that everyone needs to understand their personal traits and preferences before making such a significant decision.

I sincerely hope that this new city Toronto grows on me and I can enjoy the hustle and bustle of this big city.

Luna New Year is a holiday in Vietnam. Every person comes back to their family. Luna New Year can be known as a gathering holiday. People often decorate their houses with flowers like peach blossoms or kumquat trees during the Lunar New Year. Traditional foods also will be cooked nem ran, and banh chung.

Banh Chung has a long time of history. Banh Chung has a square shape, it presents for the Earth. Our ancestors wish we always have a wealthy and prosperous life. Traditionally, Vietnamese people make Banh Chung. Each ingredient in Banh Chung has a significant meaning. Fatty pork is a symbol for a prosperous and fulfilling life Mung Bean represents for purity and simplicity glutinous rice: conveys the Vietnam’s agriculture is the rice plant and banana leaf string is the symbol for safety.

We walk through the recipe to prepare ingredients. Rinse and soak glutinous rice through the night. Mung beans take 4 hours to soak, marinate pork with salt, black pepper, and shallot. Then wash the banana leaves then blanch into boil water, it makes banana leaves softer.

The first day of the Lunar calendar is the Chinese Lunar New Year. It is also called the Spring Festival. It differs every year (between January 21 to February 21 of the Gregorian calendar). It means spring is back, everything is renewed.

There are a lot of traditional festival ceremonies.

1. We buy New Year's goods before New Year, such as food, clothing, accessories, things to use, things to post (New Year gifts), and gifts to send (New Year greetings).

2. Every household needs to clean the environment and wash various utensils, bedding and curtains. It means to let all bad luck and misfortune be swept away from us.

3. Stick Spring Festival red couplets, door gods, New Year pictures, blessing characters, window decorations, etc. They are always red festive elements.

4. New Year's Eve Dinner. It is a family reunion dinner. It is the most sumptuous and important dinner at the end of the year. The traditional food is dumplings. We like to cook chicken (meaning good luck), fish (meaning abundance every year), dried oysters (meaning good business), bean curd (meaning abundance), lotus root (meaning intelligence), lettuce (meaning making money), and Chinese sausage (meaning longevity).

5. Stay up all night. All houses light up the New Year's Eve, and families gather together. The lights stay on all night on New Year's Eve. It means being rich in the coming year.

6. Lucky Money. After dinner, the elderly will give New Year's money which is put into a red bag and given to the younger generations. In folk culture, lucky money is used to ward off evil spirits and bring peace.

7. Setting off firecrackers. When the New Year comes, the first thing every household does when they open the door is to burn firecrackers, using the sound of firecrackers to get rid of the old and welcome the new.

People are always happy because it is one of the few times of the year when the whole family can get together. In my family, we can do some traditional activities for my sons even though we live in Canada. I want them to know that the Chinese Lunar Year is a very important festival for the Chinese.

Lunar New year or Tet Day is the most important celebration in my home country, Vietnam. Tet is a time for family reunions and honor ancestors. I have a lot of beautiful memories of Tet in my country. Within the month before Lunar New Year, the streets are very crowded, many people go out to do shopping and enjoy the holiday scenery.

My most cherished memories revolve around my mother and me spending time together, searching for decorations and flowers, and taking pictures on Nguyen Hue Street. During Tet, the streets are transformed into a stunning spectacle with green trees, colorful flowers, and dazzling lights. Everywhere, apricot blossoms—the symbol of the New Year—adorn the city.

Children, accompanied by their families, wander through the markets, taken by the array of eye-catching items. The color red is the dominant colour in this celebration because it symbolizes luck and prosperity. The flow of people in the days leading up to Tet creates a bustling and joyous atmosphere. People of all ages—young, middle-aged, elderly, and children— eagerly visit the flower market with their loved ones. The flower market at the end of the year is as bustling as the Tet market. Buyers and sellers are laughing and chatting, some are bidding, some are haggling in the joy of another spring coming. Cars are loaded with pots of kumquats and peach branches weave through the streets. You can see everyone is happy to have chosen pots of peaches and kumquats to make the Tet holiday more meaningful.

Those days when I went to the market with my mother at the end of the year were very meaningful to me. The market visit was the highlight of that celebration. I used to feel the atmosphere of Tet and the joy of the hustle and bustle at the end of the year. Amazing memories that will always remind me of the vibrant energy and unique atmosphere of this celebration.

Posadas, the posada is a celebration to represent the Journey of Virgin Mary and Joseph trying to reach Belem, as the Bible said they were struggling finding a shelter to deliver Baby Jesus. So now My culture take that as a way to gather with family, friends and neighbors. We come together, we eat, sing and we hit the piñata. The piñata represent all the sins are evil so we put our frustration out by hitting it as a reward we get candies or fruits.

But we have more celebrations as I said We don't need a special event to gather. We are Mexican so we made every single thing special. Let's say as soon as I get my English certificate my family will make a huge deal and will call my parents and we gonna have dinner, I already know.

I would like to write about the importance of volunteering as a newcomer to Canada. When someone arrives in Canada, it is essential to connect with their community to facilitate integration and share experiences. Being part of a community means supporting it and, whenever possible, investing time in it. Volunteering is one of the best ways to contribute to your community, connect with others, gain experience, learn about others and help those in need.

There are skills that you need to be a volunteer. Both hard and soft skills are equally important. For soft skills, punctuality, organizational skills, and strong communication are essential. Good communication demonstrates the ability to express oneself and engage in meaningful conversations with others.

Volunteering is a great way to build a network, understand community needs, and dedicate time to others. Research also suggests that volunteering positively impacts well-being. It provides opportunities to socialize, make new friends, and stay engaged with the community.

When I arrived in Canada in 2020, volunteering with the newcomers' association helped me connect with people, make new friends, and overcome feelings of isolation. This experience played a crucial role in maintaining my mental well-being.

I highly recommend volunteering because it not only supports the community but also enhances personal well-being. Furthermore, you learn about the needs of the community and you also gain valuable “Canadian” experience.

Getting your car ready for winter is essential to ensure safety and reliability during cold, snowy and icy conditions. I will give you some tips to prepare your car. Firstly, replace all-season tires with winter tires for better traction on snow and ice. Secondly, check your battery. You should inspect and refill fluids. Test your car’s heater, defroster, and heated mirrors to ensure they are working properly. Check wipers and lights. Inspect brakes and suspension. Monitor the weather and plan ahead. These steps will help you drive more safely and confidently during winter conditions.

To compare my birth country’s educational system to Canada’s, I can say that I was educated in Serbia, and my kids are being educated in Canada, so I can really compare the educational system in Canada to the Serbian system. The basics are pretty much the same.

The education until the end of high school is for free, but we have to buy all textbooks. In Serbia, there are also kindergartens that prepare children for grade one. Kids start grade one when they are seven years old. Elementary school is from grade 1 to grade 8, then kids can choose which high school they will go to and practically with that choice they make their orientation for the future. After high school, which is 3 or 4 years long, each of the students can work in the trades. Some of them start working and some of them go to the universities or colleges.

The school year in Serbia is from September 1st to June 20th and kids have a break in December and in March. School days start at 8 am and finish around 1 pm. It depends on how many classes they have. Classes are 45 minutes long and after each class there is a break of 5 to 15 minutes long.

As I already said, the educational systems in Canada and Serbia are quite similar but the learning materials and learning methods are very different.

First of all, Japan has a nationally unified curriculum, while in Canada, each province has its own curriculum. Furthermore, even within the same school district, there are differences depending on the region, such as some areas having junior high schools and others not, which confused me when I first moved to Canada. Compulsory education in Japan goes up to the 9th grade, while in Canada, it goes up to the 12th grade. The school year also starts in April in Japan, but in September in Canada, so it took me some time to get used to it. When I observed my daughter's first-grade class, I experienced a culture shock because it felt like a kindergarten. The atmosphere was very relaxed, with students sometimes sitting on the carpet area listening to the teacher's reading. I felt that the pace was slower compared to Japan, especially in subjects like math. Conversely, Japan, even from grade 1, they are so disciplined. The students shouldn't speak with friends. They shouldn't walk around, they should stay on the chairs. That is very much a teacher centered style. And it's so important for them to succeed, with academic success often measured by standardized test performance. On the other hand, Canada is quite the opposite. The teacher lets students discuss and uses more project-based learning. I like this style because the students can learn to speak their own opinions in front of other people. Japanese education tends to emphasize group behavior, discipline, and the establishment of basic academic skills. Canadian education tends to emphasize individual opinions, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Both educational systems have their strengths and weaknesses. So I think which is better depends on individual values and goals.

Education is fundamental aspect of our lives, for improve our knowledge, skills, such as reading, writing, about everything we want to learn. In this century people's like to be educated which is very important. By good knowledge of education we can be a positive person in society with people, family, neighbourhood. Educated person who has spent most time for study and hard work to be proud of him/her. Education will be hard at beginning, once you try day by day you enjoy what you learn daily. Nothing is good but education. Education is the only way we achieve our goals in the life, it's not late to start, we can start from any age, it won't be late until we die.
My opinion is that the education is key of life to open better future.

Learning English is easier in Canada than in my homeland because English is not the first spoken language in my country, but in Canada, English is one of the official languages, so we get a lot of opportunities to speak in English and learn in English.

Secondly, in Canada, the government supports non-English refugees and newcomers through different platforms like Achev to learn English as soon as possible for free but, in my home country, people have to pay for these kinds of programs.

I’m so happy I have had the opportunity to learn English at Achev for over a year. Having the chance to learn English online has been a blessing. It has allowed me time to spend with my family and time to take care of other responsibilities. I like the flexibility.

In addition to the flexibility of online learning, learning English this year has helped me greatly improve my skills. I feel more confident writing emails, speaking with others, and applying for jobs.

Thank you, Achev, for this opportunity!

The English language is the greatest spoken language, so it is important to learn it. It is the international language of the world and used in important things in our lives like education, work and travel, but people that learn English as a second language have many difficulties learning it.

To learn English, you must determine what you want to use it for, e.g., for study, work, travel, communication, etc.

First, you must develop your listening skills by watching movies and series with subtitles, and by listening to songs and English broadcasts. Second, you must speak English with people or your friends to practice conversation and use the English language in learning applications such as Duolingo and Hello Talk. Third, you must develop your reading skills by reading English learning books for beginners and reading magazines and daily news. Fourth, practice writing by writing your daily routine, chatting with your friends via text messages, studying vocabulary and copying from the dictionary.

You must allocate daily time to practice English for an hour a day. Accept your mistakes and learn from them to build self-confidence. Continuing to train will make your level develop day after day, and do not forget to use tests to evaluate your level once in a while and know your weak points and strengthen them. In the end, patience and perseverance are the basis of success.

I have a large family including six sisters and four brothers in Eritrea. We are a close-knit group, always there for each other through thick and thin. It's often loud, occasionally chaotic, but always full of love. Eleven children means a lot of laundry, a lot of noise, and a lot of love. The memories we've created both big and small are the foundation of who I am today. From boisterous holiday gatherings to quiet moments of shared understanding, each experience contributed to the tapestry of my life. The lessons learned in that crowded, loving environment continue to guide me, shaping my relationships and outlook on the world. The unwavering support and the profound sense of belonging I experienced are gifts I carry with me all the time.

From the moment we learned we were expecting our baby girl, the excitement was amazing. I already had two wonderful boys who gave me joy, but there was something very special about waiting for our little princess. I always wanted a girl to make her my best friend. My husband and I, along with our boys, were so thrilled as we prepared for her arrival by decorating her room and buying her clothes and toys.

On the 4th of April 2023, the day I went to the hospital to give birth, my husband and my parents were by my side, full of joy and anticipation for the little treasure we were going to welcome to this world. They looked at me as a strong and proud woman who I am, knowing our baby girl would soon be with us.

A few hours later, our princess arrived, with her tiny eyes and her pink lips, just as we had imagined. My mother dressed her in the most beautiful outfit, a gift from my sweet grandmother, adding to the special moment. Everyone in the room was filled with happiness and joy.

Once we were home, our baby girl was protected with big love by her two elder brothers, who embraced her with care. Today, all three of them are my angels on this earth, and I feel blessed to be their mother.

The video is about gambling, they start saying that according to conventional economic rules, casinos shouldn’t be able to exist, that’s because they assume humans are rational. But for some strange reason, intelligent people head to the roulette table every day. They explain how the roulette table works, covering numbers, colors and probabilities. They explain that the odds of doubling your money are 47.4%. For every dollar you bet you can expect to lose 5.2 cents. Despite these unfavorable odds, the gambling industry generates worldwide half a trillion dollars per year.

This video also compares gambling to insurance, arguing that insurance shouldn’t work. Insurance operates as the reverse of gambling. The insurance companies are the gamblers and policy holders are the casino. The bet is that policy holders are not going to cost more than the annual fee or premium they pay.

It was quite interesting how the presentation of numbers influences decision-making. People react more strongly to losses than to the equivalent gains. It seems there are a lot of behaviour and psychology studies involved in this industry.

The video examines case studies and statistics to conclude that humans like low-probability risk. We like a small chance of winning big over a certain gain.

Another issue discussed on the video is the low-savings rates, many people failed to save money and a survey shared on the video said that half Americans could not immediately come up with $2,000 if an unexpected expense comes up. That’s because people don’t see the value of putting their money in banks. That’s why economics created prize-linked savings account, where people get chances to win large amount of money for saving.

In my opinion, the comparison between gambling and insurance was particularly eye-opening, as it challenges the idea that people always make rational financial decisions. Also it helped me to see insurance business in a different way.

One of the most interesting takeaways is how emotions influence financial behavior. The fact that people feel losses more intensely than gains explains many of the seemingly irrational choices they make. This principle extends beyond gambling—it affects how people invest, spend, and save money. I personally don’t like to gamble in the casinos, but I like to buy the lottery ticket once in a while hoping for a windfall.

In general people should have access to better financial literacy training. This is something we usually don’t learn at home or school and once we are adults, it will be easier to struggle with decision-making, saving and handling expenses.

Andrea and Riccardo went on vacation last winter at the Mountain View Resort Hotel. They had been waiting a long time to visit this beautiful place and celebrate Andrea’s birthday.

The room was very amazing and the most comfortable they had ever stayed in. The view was the most beautiful they had ever seen. They had breakfast and watched the most scenic mountain views. They breathed the fresh mountain air. They wanted to do different activities at the hotel. They were very excited to go skiing because they had never done it before. When they finished skiing, they rested a couple of hours in the room. After that they went skating on a big skating rink because they knew it was the biggest skating rink they had ever skated on. This is how their first day ended.

The next day Andrea and Riccardo had breakfast early. The food was the most delicious they had ever eaten. After the breakfast they wanted to go to an indoor pool and relax because in the mountain it was very cold. The indoor pool was the most beautiful they had ever swum in because it had a view of a big mountain. The water was the clearest and the warmest they had ever swum in. At night the couple went out to drink beer and dance at the discotheque. They listened to the most amazing classical music. They had a wonderful night. It was the most special moment to celebrate Andrea’s birthday.

Andrea and Riccardo enjoyed their vacations, and they would like to return next winter.

In my opinion, the cons of DST don't offset the pros and its still beneficial to change the clock back in the spring. I think, the disadvantages of Daylight-Saving Time do not cancel out the benefits on below given grounds:
• It is helpful to save the energy.
• It gives extra time to stay outside.
• The roads are brighter during the rush-hour in the afternoon.

In fact, its a myth that DST was intended for farmers. Farmers always go with the daylight instead of clock but anyhow farmers get extra time to spend in the farms to get more benefits from the daylight. In my point of view, DST does not affect the Muslims during the month of Ramadan, because Muslims go with the sunrise and sunset regarding fasting. Sunrise and sunset does not affect the fasting durations, indeed.

I think global economy will weaken if every country quit using DST. Because of DST countries can conserve energy otherwise it will become a huge amount of power will go into waste. The world travelers will spend more money in the visiting countries and which will help to support the economy of the country. The tourist will have more time to have fun during their vacations.

As a newcomer to Canada originally from Jordan and recently living in Dubai, I’ve observed that the Canadian healthcare system has its pros and cons. One of its major advantages is free access to medical services, though this doesn’t include medications. However, a notable drawback is the longer waiting times at nearly every stage of the medical process, which can be frustrating for patients.

In Jordan, the healthcare system offers a balance between public and private options. Public hospitals and clinics charge nominal fees, and there’s compulsory insurance for individuals over 60 and children under seven, provided by the Ministry of Health. Additionally, cancer patients receive free treatment funded by the government. For those who can afford it, private hospitals deliver faster and more luxurious care. That said, public hospitals in Jordan work hard to meet the needs of the population, and their efforts are generally appreciated by the community.

In Canada, I believe improvements can be made by prioritizing the immigration of doctors and nursing staff for a set period, such as one year, to address the long patient queues and delays. As for my family, my children aspire to complete their studies at medical colleges here and contribute to Ontario’s healthcare system by serving our community.

Sports in my native country, Eritrea, are primarily soccer, cycling, and long-distance running. Soccer is popular in Eritrea; however, Eritrea is best known on the international stage for cycling. Cycling has a long tradition in Eritrea. The Tour Eritrea, a multi-stage cycling event, is held annually. The national cycling team of both men and women is ranked first on the African continent. Eritrean cyclists became the first African riders to compete in the Tour de France. Eventually, history was made. At the 2024 Tour de France, a young Eritrean boy won three medals and became the first African green jersey winner.

Between the 5th century BC and the 13th century AD present day, Jaffna District was part of various Kingdoms such as Pandya, Chola, Pallava, Kalinga, and Rajarata. Jaffna District was thereafter part of the pre-colonial Jaffna Kingdom. The district then came under Portuguese, Dutch and British control. In 1815 the British gained control of the entire island of Ceylon. They divided the island into three ethnic- based administrative structures: Low Country Sinhalese and Tamil. Jaffna District was part of the Tamil administration.

In 1833, in accordance with the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission, the ethnic based administrative structures were unified into a single administration divided into five geographic Provinces. Jaffna District, together with the Mannar District and Vanni District, formed the new Northern Province. At the time that Ceylon gained independence, Jaffna was one of the three Districts that were transferred to newly created Mullaitivu District in September 1978. Kilinochchi District was Carved out of the southern part of Jaffna District in February 1984. This is not the complete history of my birthplace, this is just a simple introduction I wanted to share about my birth place, which I would love forever.

My name is Chloe. I have two children now. My eldest son is almost 7 years old now. My youngest son is already 5 years old. I want to share my experience. My life was boring before I was 33 years old. One day in the spring of that year, I felt very tired. I couldn't figure out why? I was so tired! Could I be sick?

Later I went to see the doctor and found out that "I was pregnant!" After more than a month of pregnancy. The doctor could hear the baby's heartbeat with an instrument. It was amazing! This sound was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in the world. Then I had various examinations, morning sickness, high blood sugar, and it was hard to sleep as my belly got bigger. I couldn't turn left or right and I wasn't in a good mood. Finally it's January 6! My first baby was born. He was so small and soft. A little more than a year later, I was pregnant with my youngest son and the pregnancy process was repeated. It was hard but enjoyable. Everyday was busy and tiring but feel grateful for all.

I believe that having pets is good as long as we are responsible and take care of pets. Pets are friendly and loving. Let me explain my points of view. I believe that here in Toronto, Pets can be good friends. Especially in old age, when our children go away from home to study, we feel lonely, so we can keep a pet. Pets could keep us busy and lessen the feeling of loneliness. We can spend most of our time with pets, like feeding them and taking them a walk; pets are healthy to keep if they can take our minds off of the troubles of the day. But on the other hand, if we worry unnecessarily about items such as food, clothes, etc. and the behaviour of the pets, then it’s not healthy for us.

Some animals, like cats, parrots, and rabbits, are very loving. We can easily love these animals. However, emotional involvement with animals is not very good. Some people treats pets like family and let them sleep in their bed, a seat on the couch or take them in the lap. I do not think all this is very healthy for us. We should have separate utensils and space for pets. Some people teach their pets to use spoons and forks and are happy when they learn. But expecting pets to act like humans may not be good for them. Many stores sell pet supplies like food, clothes, toys, and homes.

Many stores sell pet supplies like food, clothes, toys, and shelters. Buying nutritious food and separate homes for pets is necessary. We should even buy a few toys for our pets' entertainment. Nowadays, pet owners spend hundreds of dollars on special types of pet food, costly toys, and expensive pet homes. They try to get luxurious things for their pets. I think these people should donate some of that money to students since many in our county do not have enough money to continue their education. I believe spending extra money on pets is a waste of money of money. In my opinion, pets can be friendly, and feeling close to them can be healthy. If we do not worry much about them.

My family has a dog. His name is Rossi. Rossi is a Malecon, which is a mix breed, and he has so much energy. Every day, he's wakes up early and he starts to whine because he wants to go outside for walk. One time when I was out walking Rossi at a local park, he saw a squirrel that he was determined to chase. He yanked on his leash with so much force that I lost my grip. He took off at 50 kilometers per hours, but still couldn't keep up with the sneaky squirrel. It was so funny to watch because the squirrel was so much faster, but Rossi didn't want to give up.

Another thing about Rossi is he loves to eat. He always tries to steal food from the table when nobody is watching. One day, he actually managed to grab a whole chicken off the counter. We found him hiding under the table vigorously chewing away. Although, we were angry that he ate our dinner, we were more worried about him choking on the bones. In the end we couldn't help but laugh.

If you are thinking about getting a dog, here's my advice: Always make sure you have enough time to take care of it. They need a lot attention and love just like people do. Also, be prepared for the unexpected because pets can be full of surprises. And most importantly, give them a healthy diet and make sure they get plenty of exercise. It keeps them happy and healthy for a long time.

Yam Flour (Amala) Jute Leaves (Ewedu) and Bean Soup (Gbegiri) with stew Recipe
This recipe is a staple from the western part of Nigeria. This is especially common to the people of Ibadan and Oyo. But, particularly for people in Oyo town.
Amala is a by-product of yam while Ewedu (jute) leaves is boiled and slimy. Gbegiri a by-product of beans and Stew could be accompanied with any type of well-seasoned and spiced protein.

Yam Flour (Elubo)

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Yam flour (Elubo) per serving
• 3 – 4 cups of clean water

Cooking Instructions

1. Bring water to boil at a temperature of 100°C or 212°F in a pot
2. Scoop out 1 cup of water and set aside for later
3. Pour yam flour into boiling water and stir with a wooden spatula
4. Stir in a circular direction for consistency and smoothness to avoid lumps
5. If too thick, add from the boiling water earlier set aside
6. Cover pot to let steam for 2-3minutes, stir and bind together till you achieve your desired consistency
7. Serve flipping hot

Ewedu (Jute Leaves)

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Ewedu (Jute leaves plucked from the stem)
• 1½ cup clean water
• 1 tablespoon grounded powder crayfish
• A pinch of salt
• ½ cube of seasoning powder
• Meat stock (optional)
• Potash (Kaun) optional
• Locust Beans (Iru) optional

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse your jute leave into a pot
2. Rinse locust beans and set aside
3. Add a pinch of Potash and 1 cup of water
4. Cook jute on medium heat until it comes to a boil.
5. Add your seasoning to taste and locust beans
6. After 5-6 minutes add crayfish powder and meat stock to taste, add water as needed if too thick
7. Allow to boil for another 1 minute and check for taste if salt is needed, add as needed
8. Once the jute leave is mildly hot, pour in blender and blend for 30 seconds

Gbegiri (Bean Soup)

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Beans
• 8 -12 cups of water
• 1 Seasoning cube
• ¼ cup of Palm oil
• ¼ cup of Crayfish
• 3 pinch of salt to taste
• ¼ Cup Meat stock (optional)
• 1 Big Whole Red Bell Pepper
• 2 small or medium-sized Scotch Bonnet pepper
• 1 medium size onions
• 1 small onions
• Locust beans (Iru) Optional

Cooking Instructions

1. Pour beans in cold or warm water and allow to soak for 10 minutes
2. Peel beans by scrubbing against hands or in a blender
3. Pour 6 cups of water in pot and 1 large onions
4. Boil for 45 mins, once boiled, set aside and let cool, blend to a smooth pasty consistency
5. Blend Bell pepper and scotch bonnet pepper and 1 small onion
6. Pour palm oil in a pot set to medium heat, add pepper mix once hot
7. Allow to cook for 10 mins, add locust beans, seasoning cubes and meat stock and cook for another 7 mins
8. Add blended beans and powdered crayfish, if too thick add water
9. Allow to cook for another 5 mins or to your likeness.

Stew

Ingredients

• 4 Red Bell Peppers (Tatashe)
• 2 Pepper (Sombo)
• 6 Big Tomatoes (or whole can tomatoes)
• 2 small Scotch Bonnet Peppers (Also known as Habanero pepper) – Add according to your tolerance for pepper
• 1 Large Onions (or ginger powder)
• 3 Garlic cloves
• 1 table spoon of grated ginger
• 1 Cup of Meat Stock (Optional)
• Well-seasoned protein of choice pre-cooked
• ¼ cup Cooking oil (of your choice)
• 1-2 pinch Italian seasoning or thyme
• 1-2 pinch Curry powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Blend peppers, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and onions together till totally blended together
2. Add some olive oil in your hot pot on medium heat
3. Once hot, add the pepper mix
4. Allow to boil for 20 minutes then add seasoning powder, curry and thyme and meat stock
5. Allow to boil for 10 minutes, and taste for additional ingredients needed
6. Add the pre-cooked protein of your choice and salt to taste.
7. Cover and allow to simmer for another 7-10 minutes

Your food is ready, serve and enjoy.

N.B:

• Jute leaves (Frozen green leafy vegetable) is available in Superstore and Walmart.
• In Canada, you can get Beans for the bean soup (Gbegiri) from regular stores, black-eyed beans can also be used for this soup.
• Yam Flour (Elubo) can be gotten in Africa or Asian store.

My name is Muthumeenal (Meena), and I was born in India. I grew up speaking Tamil, and my early life was filled with rich cultural experiences. I have finished Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology. After getting married, I worked as a software testing Engineer for a year. Following my pregnancy, I decided to leave my job to focus on my family.

Moving to Canada was a significant change, and now I am adapting to the life here. I have two children, and we all came to Canada in December 2020. Adjusting to a new country has been a big journey, but it’s been rewarding to see how our family has settled in.

After moving to Canada, I spent the first two years focusing on settling in and supporting my family. Recently, I started working as a lunchtime assistant at my kids’ school, which has been a great way to stay involved and connected with the community.

My goal is to secure a full-time job, either in IT field as a Testing Engineer or possibly in an early childhood educator field.

The first car was created in 1885 turning the way we move around. The automobile was born from the desire to transport materials or passengers and thus be able to reduce distances. The invention of automobiles has drastically changed our lives by reducing time, bringing convenience to travel and providing jobs.

First of all, the invention of cars has dramatically changed our lives because it reduces time. This means that long distances are easier to travel with the car since it allows us greater mobility in less time.

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In the past, I went to El Salvador. It was a trip with friends, we were very young but we didn't have a lot of money. We stayed in an apartment that was very well located, however, it had no comfort or structure. There were only a fridge and a stove. Consequently, we brought our sleeping bags and we spent as little time as possible in the apartment. In addition, it was really hot and there was no air conditioning. Even though the city was amazing, this trip was stamped with chaos. In other words, I wish we had stayed in a hotel, to be able to enjoy the city and the stay, because we were too stressed and tired to have fun.

In June last year, my wife and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary. We decided to choose a special place to celebrate, and this place would be outside of Canada. My wife knows the US better than me, therefore, I left the decision to her. She picked Chicago because she loves the scenery in Winnetka (the city in which ‘Home Alone’ took place) and, as I did not know the city, I started my research to find a good restaurant for a special dinner, a place to stay, and a map with places to visit, 2 weeks before our trip.

We started our trip early on Friday, June 7th and spent 8 hours driving to the house we rented. Our sightseeing started the next day. We visited all the ‘Home Alone’ scenery including the house and church, which we took a lot of pictures of. At night, we went to a place called ‘Terrace 16,’ located at Trump Tower in downtown Chicago. It was a wonderful night with a magnificent view of Chicago and fireworks from the pier. It was remarkable. I hope to visit Chicago again; there are a lot of places to visit there and explore further.

I returned to my hometown, Hai Phong, in Vietnam in 2020, which was about 5 years ago. My vacation lasted a month and I visited family and friends there. I had the opportunity to try every type of Vietnamese food. We ate Pho, which is a noodle soup, and Banh Mi, which is a sandwich. They’re very popular in my country and maybe in the world. I took a week to go to another city in Vietnam, called Ha Noi. That city has many beautiful attractions like old buildings and streets. We also went to a famous beach called Ha Long. It was very hot but fun. I really loved being in Vietnam but, sadly, I had to return to Canada at the end of the trip. Overall, it was an amazing experience.

When late fall or early winter comes to Toronto, I really want some sun and warmth. The decision to go to Thailand was a good idea.

We bought the tickets and booked a hotel. I took a vacation from work and flew there. It was a long flight. The flight from Toronto to Shanghai took 14 hours and after Shanghai another 4 hours to Bangkok.

Thailand is a kingdom, located in Southeast Asia on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand. Like Canada, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy.

The proximity to the equator makes the climate in Thailand very warm all year round.

I booked an apartment in Pattaya, it was a nice apartment next to the beach on the first line. From the balcony on the 25 floor there was a wonderful view.

I really liked Thailand. Weather is good every day Thailand. It offers warm sea, tasty and cheap cuisine and fresh exotic fruits. There are many interesting places, paradise islands, monasteries and temples. Friendly atmosphere everywhere.

I really liked the zoo in Pattaya. There are many exotic animals that I have never seen. This is a huge zoo located in the jungle. There we saw giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, lemurs, parrots and many other rare and interesting animals. There were wild monkeys everywhere that were hunting for our lunch boxes.

I really liked Thai cuisine, dishes like Tom Yam or Pad Thai are very tasty. Even here in Toronto I now go to Thai cafes very often.

It was an unforgettable vocation. I lived in Thailand for about 1 month, but I didn't have time to visit many interesting places. I hope to go to Thailand again.

This year my family and I went to Cancun, Mexico because we were invited to my cousin’s wedding. The wedding was on February 19th and it took place on the beach. There were 98 people who attended the wedding. After the beautiful ceremony on the beach, we all went to the hotel restaurant to eat. After dinner, there was dancing, everybody had a great time.

We stayed in Mexico for seven days. We did many different activities, such as zip lining, river swimming, and visiting night markets. It was very fun.

It was an all-inclusive vacation, so there was a lot of food to eat. There was a nice swimming pool to swim and play water games in.

We all had a great time and the weather was very warm. I love Mexico.

My first trip to Cancun turned out to be a real adventure. It was our first family vacation at the resort, and the four of us went there — me, my wife, and our two children. Everyone was looking forward to sunny days, a warm sea, and a long-awaited vacation.

Cancun immediately made a huge impression on us. The snow—white sand of the beaches, the endless turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea - all looked like a postcard. Our hotel was excellent: spacious rooms, well-kept grounds, and a huge swimming pool, which immediately attracted children's attention.

We spent a lot of time by the water. The children enthusiastically splashed in the water, rode down the slides, and participated in water aerobics, which was organized by a team of animators. My wife and I enjoyed our free time, read books, and even organized small swimming competitions.

Every evening, the whole family gathered on the terrace of our room to discuss the day. These moments were especially important to us — we laughed, shared our impressions, and made plans for the future.

Our trip to Cancun was unforgettable for us. It was a vacation that filled us with new experiences, brought our family closer together, and gave us many fond memories.

Very excited to go back with my 8 months old son to visit his grandma and grandpa in Hungary. I bought toys for him to make sure he can have entertainment on the plane because we had a long airplane ride, the first 10 hours and then 2.5 hours. I thought will be hard with him but when the plane took off he went to sleep right away and because this was his bedtime almost he luckily slept through to the 10 hours flight time. I was very proud of him.

I can give you this little tip, if you can, go when the little one has almost a bedtime and go on a long airplane ride that is the best to do. And, try not to worry too much because they can feel the energy and take the feeling out of you and they become nervous as well. Everything will work out if we believe it they can adjust very quickly too. We just have to trust them also.

We arrived to my parents’ place and they were so happy to see my son. My mom she was here in Canada when he was born and she saw him but my father has never been to Canada. He saw him for the first time. My little son learned to walk in Hungary, which was so precious. We went to the zoo with him and he liked every animal there. All summer time he was lot of times in the pool at my parents' house. They had a big backyard and we had a lot of fun with my boy. He was helping my father to fix motorcycles, enjoyed to go to his shop and looking at all the fun tools there. He enjoyed it there because lots of real loving people were around him.

Sadly came the time when we had to say goodbye to my parents and come back to Canada and start our routine again. Because he learnt to walk in Hungary now back on the plane was little bit challenging but he still was such a good boy who adjusted everything so quickly. I had to walk with him a lot and he was just exploring around.

Overall it was a memorable experience!!

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