Olympic games is an event that is celebrated every four years where almost all countries compete in mostly all sports. When the Olympic Games start it is like a world stop, everyone is watching and wishing that their athletes compete well and win some medals.

I am from Cuba and my country has several athletes with lots of possibilities of winning some medals, for example in boxing and Greco-Roman wrestling. Our best Athlet, is Mijain Lopez; he has already won four gold medals in four different Olympic Games and now qualified to the final in his five Olympic Games, so if he wins, he will become the first athlete in Greco-Roman wrestling to win five gold medals. Finally he won his five gold medals and he become a legend in the Olympic Games and in the Greco Roman wrestling.

This year from January 13th to February 11th, my home country Cote D’Ivoire hosted the 2023 AFCON stands for Africa Cup of Nations Football. AFCON is held every two years, in a different country regarding infrastructures and whether countries meet CAF (the governing body of African football) standards or not.

There are 24 teams now, from east to west passing through the north and the south, which come to play after qualifiers all years long. It has always been a huge festivity because there exists rivalries between countries like Nigeria and Ghana, Morrocco and Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire and Mali. People come from all around Africa to be part of the party and show support for their national team.

Historically Egypt is the nation with most titles, with three titles in a row lately. Cameroon comes second and Ghana comes third. In this competition, people discover new talents that they have never seen before. AFCON is regarded as a mirror for these talents to show off before some recruiters from world’s big clubs in Europe. Some players who were born abroad decline African international call, but when they come, they notice it is a blessing in disguise. They receive offers from big clubs thanks to AFCON.

In summary, AFCON has always been a big tournament and you can’t turn around without seeing a flag during this period.

My favorite game is tennis. Tennis is an outdoor game that is popular worldwide. Several health benefits result from playing tennis, along with mental and social benefits. Tennis is very helpful sport for your mental health and your physical health. Tennis is a very effective way of reducing stress among people. According to various studies, playing tennis reduces stress and increases levels of happiness among people. Tennis is an extremely helpful sport to reduce body weight, along with swimming. Tennis is a sport which can be played by people of different ages. If you want to play tennis you have to have the required equipment, which only includes a ball, a racket, and a net. Tennis players like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic are among the highest-earning sports persons in the world. That’s why I like this game.

There were many great moments at the opening of the Olympic games. It was a rainy day in Paris, but nothing could dampen the spirits of thousands of athletes. The opening ceremony started off with a bang as the French flag exploded in smoke on a bridge. Then, as the parade of nations began with each country’s athletes traveling into the Stadium by boat. Also, a masked torch bearer was running through the city carrying the Olympic flame over rooftops and bridges. Then robotic horses carried the Olympic flag bearer down the river to the stadium where the Olympic flag was officially raised. When the flame was finally lit it was on a gigantic balloon that floated up above the city. Celebrities such as Celine Dion, Nakamura and Lady Gaga took part in the opening ceremony. This opening ceremony was exciting.

Peace by Chocolate is one of my favourite movies. This is a movie based on a true story. This movie is very inspiring to all immigrants and refugees. I think every immigrant or refugee can relate to the story. This is not easy to survive in a new country; it always has a challenging period. Learning a new language, starting a new career, homesickness, loneliness, anxiety, food, different weather, adapting to a new culture, etc..

In this movie, they show how Tareq Hadhad and his family came to Canada after getting attacked in the Syrian civil war and how they struggle to settle in a new country. Tareq wanted to be a doctor, but he had to help his father first to establish their chocolate factory business. It was not easy at all. They had to face many difficulties and problems.

I really like their passion about business and their family bonding. They were really blessed to have such an amazing community and neighbours or friends. For me, community support is important, especially in a new country when you don’t have any idea about the new environment. They can encourage you and offer you ideas. I learned from the movie that nobody should lose hope, just need to push yourself and there is a path for you. Tareq didn’t lose his hope to become a doctor even though he was very busy with their successful chocolate business.

I would like to recommend this movie to everyone, especially to those, who likes realistic and family movies. You must watch this movie at least once!

Crafts have been one of my biggest abilities since childhood. I remember watching my mom sewing and I wanted to copy what she was doing, but they wouldn't allow me to touch the needles because it was dangerous for the kids to be around needles. However, I was making dresses for my dolls, secretly. Gradually I improved my abilities and learned to knit. This was one of my biggest achievements in life. With knitting, I can make clothing and same time earn some money, it also helps me to relax and gain my self-esteem. Currently, I share my knowledge in a foundation as a volunteer. This gives me a lot of satisfaction to see other women happy like me, learning how to knit.

My name is Dilawar. I was born in Lahore Pakistan back in 90’s. I got my primary education near my home school. I have passed my matriculation exam in 2008, and after that I got admission in Government Shalimar C College for higher education. In the college, I have chosen the pre - engineering subject. After completing college education, I have decided to become a lawyer. I got an admission in Quaid -e-Azam l Law College in 2013. It was a three-year degree program so that I have obtained my law degree in 2016 in second division. I became a professional lawyer. I had to do some practice in my home country. In 2019 I married a girl who lives in Canada. In 2021, I came to Canada. Here I have faced many difficulties regarding finding a job, maybe due to a lack of language skills. Here the official language is English. Unfortunately, my English language skills are not so good. I am Asian food lover. My favorite dish is biryani that is an Asian dish. My hobbies are gardening and fishing. I got a driver’s license here and I go fishing twice a month. I am very friendly person, open for everyone. If I meet someone, I will know right away whether the person becomes my friend. I do not like rude and reserved people. I like to learn about new environment other cultures and explore new things. I don’t like crowded places. My biggest weakness is that I trust people very quickly.

My name is Nelia. I’m from Portugal, but I was born in France. My parents emigrated to France in 1972, and after 9 years they returned to Portugal with me. I have a sister, but she was born in Portugal. I’ve been married with my husband for 27 years, and we have two sons.

In my country, my job was a dialysis assistant, but I have a degree in Food Control and Quality, Then I found I love to work in the healthcare environment.

Then in 2013, we decided to come to Canada. A big adventure, it was my first time moving, first time on the airplane only with two luggage and everything left behind: family, friends, our community, house, car and the hardest our pets and the only thing we had here in Canada was my husband’s cousins. But we made it. We are here happy for coming.

Now, at this moment, we can breathe peacefully. We got the most important thing when someone moves to Canada, PR, Permanent Residence. Our PR was something very hard to get but again, we did it. We are working, my husband in construction and me, I have two jobs, one is full- time in healthcare environment as housekeeper and the second one I’m part-time PSW.

Thinking about the future of my life, I would like to still work in the healthcare area but doing a different job and not cleaning. For that I have some steps ahead: learn English better and then college maybe for nursing. These are my goals.

I am Andrea. I was born in Guajira, Colombia. I am 32 years old, and I have been living in Canada for 4 years. My parents are Uriel and Angela. My older brother is Andres. They live in Colombia. I am a dentist. I like to cook and play volleyball.

I miss Colombian food a lot because it is delicious. I like the diverse weather of Colombia, the beaches are beautiful, and the people are very loving.

My daughter’s name is Luciana, and she is 8 years old. She is a beautiful and smart girl. She speaks perfect English and Spanish and a little French. Luciana loves dancing and singing. I am a proud mom. We have lived in Welland, Ontario for 3 years. Our favorite weekend activities are playing in the park and eating sushi.

I have been working in a cannabis company for 3 years but in the future, I would like to change jobs and go back to work as a dentist. This is my big dream. Now I am studying English because I need a high level of proficiency so, I can study odontology again.

I was born in a village of district Moga in the Punjab state of India. I had a good childhood with siblings and cousins. From childhood, I lived in an extended family with mom and dad, grandparents, and uncle’s family. I started schooling at Kot-Ise-Khan (a town close to our village) from a Junior Kindergarten. So many friends I met at school, and it gave me a lot of experiences and knowledge about the universe, social life, and a good base to develop plans for the future. After studying continuously in the same place, I completed 12th grade of schooling, and the time came when I had to choose the path on which I had to make a carrier.

So far everything was good, but it was a tough time to choose a field and I was very confused because most of my friends were choosing engineering and only a few of us were into medical stream. The goal was to become a doctor but unluckily the national entrance exam to get the admission was too difficult for me. I wasted one year in preparation to the exam and a year in pharmacological studies.

Some good suggestions came from my cousin who is a chief medical officer in a hospital, and I heard about physiotherapy. After some studies and discussions on physiotherapy I decided to join the course. It was 4.5 years long course that gave me a good knowledge about the health problems and their treatments. I decided to pursue Master’s in physiotherapy graduating in sports and medicine. It was a brilliant experience of life, while doing that course I worked as a physiotherapist for athletic and for archery teams in my university. The other plan for my life was to obtain Ph.D. but things changed, and I emigrated to Canada.

I like nature, people and the living style in Canada but sometimes I am disappointed because in Canada to work as a physiotherapist I have to pass a special exam. Sometimes, I feel frustrated, but I think it’s a part of life. I hope everything is good in future and things rest in hands of God.

My name is Mona and in Syria I am a doctor. I would like to talk about my life briefly. Firstly, graduating from high school is the culmination of a journey full of challenges, difficulties, and sleeplessness, and the beginning of achieving the goal that you have aspired to since your childhood.

In 2015, I graduated from the University of Medicine under harsh and unsafe conditions. It has been my dream since childhood to become a doctor. Secondly, when I came to Canada, I faced many difficulties to complete my studies, including the language. My English is not bad but needs improvement. Life has been difficult but last year I obtained my clinical assistant certification. This year I am working in a clinic, and I am very happy to get this job because it gives me Canadian experience in the medical field.

What I need to achieve my dream is to set goals. It's the first step on the journey to making it happen. It is easy to set a goal, but difficult to reach it easily. It requires determination, perseverance, patience, skill development and diligence in study. I am working towards achieving my goal and graduating from college. I will achieve my goal, I will become financially independent, participate in community building, and become an active member of my community.

Therefore, setting goals and developing a plan to implement them is one of the first steps to building an effective society capable of keeping pace with rapid development and competition in the labour market. This is done by engaging individuals and benefiting from their experiences. In the end, I have to study and never give up until I reach my goal and forget the days of fatigue

My name is Ines and I was born in Tunisia. I did all my studies in my hometown, but at the age of 25, I moved to another town to start my career as a teacher. I stayed there for just one year because in December 2015, I immigrated to Canada to pursue my PhD studies at Laurentian University in Sudbury. It took me almost five years to finish my PhD. My journey wasn’t that easy. The most difficult time was the Covid period that coincided with the end of my scholarship. First of all, I wasn’t able to go home for almost three years. Second, I had to manage with the little financial resources that I saved to survive and to pay all the fees. Every second day, I had to brave the risk of catching the virus by going to the grocery shop daily because I didn't have a car or enough space to make big grocery purchases. Finally, in October 2020, I did my thesis defense exam and I succeeded. In the same month, I started working in the field of immigration, and I had been working for them for almost four years. In August 2021, the university where I did my studies offered me the opportunity to teach. It was so amazing to be back at the university as a contractual teacher.

Last year, on July 17th, I became a permanent resident through a provincial immigration program. It was a relief because I can have more advantages and achieve even bigger things in life. I plan to stay in Sudbury for a few more years, but I am looking for another job to get other skills and to improve my financial situation. I have been living in Northern Ontario for 9 years, so I can say that now I am used to the weather, the culture and English as it is the language of the majority. Honestly, the change was a bit uncomfortable for me as I come from Tunisia, a country that is very hot and has a completely different culture. For example, in my country, people are very social and active so I used to go out with my friends and I had help from my parents, but here in Canada, I’m getting used to doing things by myself while focusing on my career. As a result, I can’t hang out with my new friends much. I came to Sudbury as a French speaker, but I discovered that Francophones are a community in a minority situation in Ontario. Also, their French is not the same as what I was taught in my country. It took me a long time to get used to their accent. Well I am still getting used to learning new Franco-Ontarian expressions. As I wasn’t used to speaking English in my country, my integration was a little bit hard even in the Francophone community.

As you can see, life is full of challenges but when you have a goal, willingness to work hard, and people who can support you, success is always possible. I hope my story motivates others to aim for success regardless of life’s challenges.

My husband, my kids, and I recently visited African Lion Safari, and it was a fantastic day. The park is large, and we drove through different areas. We saw lions, giraffes, rhinoceros, elephants, and zebras up close, which was very exciting.

One of the highlights for me was seeing the monkeys. They were so lively and playful, which reminded me of my own kids. Their energy and curiosity made me laugh, as they seemed just as active and curious as my little ones.

My son was very excited by the colourful parrots. They had bright, beautiful feathers in many colours. They flew around in the air, and my son loved watching them move. He thought their colours were amazing like the rainbow and it was the best part of the trip for him. He kept talking about the parrots and how much he enjoyed seeing them.

Overall, the day was filled with fun and wonderful memories. We enjoyed exploring the park and seeing the animals. It was a special experience for the whole family.

I visited West Edmonton Mall recently. It is a shopping mall which covers 5.3 million square feet. This mall is the 6th largest mall in the world and North America’s largest shopping and entertainment complex. This mall is located in North West Edmonton in Alberta. This wonderland has over 800 stores and restaurants, two hotels, and many other stunning things such as including the iconic World Waterpark and Galaxyland. The mall offers something for everyone. I promise you will have an unforgettable experience, so next time you are in Alberta with friends or family, explore the shops, or try a new activity and food from one of 100 restaurants. If you visit the mall, you will have an unforgettable experience.

First of all, I want to say that we are lucky to be in Canada now instead of living in Ukraine in such circumstances. However, our immigration was not planned; that’s why we faced a lot of difficulties connected with our moving. Nevertheless, I will start with pros of Canada.

I think everybody knows that Canada is a dream country for millions of people. It has a strong economy and people’s level of life is higher compared with a lot of even richer countries. Canadian government supports its citizens and I am sure that only the lazy ones will be hungry here.

The next advantage is that this country is safe. It is true not only comparing with Ukraine which is dangerous because of the war. The researches shows that it is safer then the USA for example. For instance, our Mexican neighbors decided to move to Canada because they were afraid of their daughter’s future in their native country.

The other benefit is that Canada has a big territory and opportunities for the development. The last but not the least, Canadian nature is amazing. We live in a small but picturesque town where there are a lot of tourists in the summer. The lakes attract people, the air is so fresh that it looks like we live in a wild forest but not in a town with a not so small population.

Talking about disadvantages of living in Canada I want to pay attention that my reasons are connected with our situation. We were not ready to move at all, we didn’t dream about this country like other people who spent so much time, money and made a great effort to come here. So, I can start with documents and processes that are connected with appointments and receiving services. It takes ages to solve a problem or even to get an answer for your simple question. For example, we prefer talking with live people instead of calling somewhere. It is easier because of our poor English. A month ago, we decided to get information from our bank on how could we send money from Ukraine to Canada. The closest appointment was in two weeks. The funniest was that the bank specialist we had an appointment with didn’t help us at all.

The next problem is connected with the previous one. We don’t have enough family doctors in the town, we don’t have a walking clinic as well. The only way to see a doctor is in an emergency. Probably, that’s not a problem for the biggest part of citizens, but it was a disaster for my family this winter. My daughter was sick 15 times or even more, I stopped counting one day. One visit to the emergency took approximately 5-6 hours and as a result we didn’t get any advice or prescriptions from the doctors. At the same time, you can visit a hospital in a big city, but the distances are so great that you have to skip a working day to get somewhere and back. In addition, the public transport is not so popular or developed in such areas as ours and it is a disadvantage for me.

The last minus I want to mention is that too many professions are regulated by the government. It causes a lot of problems for the newcomers and Canadians too.

In spite of everything I mentioned, I am sure that each year the list of disadvantages would be shorter for me and more advantages would appear in our lives. We must be thankful for this opportunity to be in Canada, work and stay alive.

July 19, 2019, will forever be etched in my memory as the day I embarked on a life-changing journey to Ottawa. The day began at noon, filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension as I prepared to leave home at 6 p.m. for N'djili International Airport. The atmosphere at home was heavy with sadness as the reality of our impending separation set in. My family and I shared poignant moments, knowing that this departure marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

Before leaving, I had the chance to reunite with my friends for one last bittersweet gathering. We reminisced about our shared experiences and promised to stay in touch. These final moments together were a poignant reminder of the bonds I was leaving behind.

At around 5 p.m., we set off for the airport, our eyes reddened by emotion. The drive was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts. Upon arriving at the airport, we went through the check-in formalities, a process that felt both routine and surreal given the circumstances. After saying our final goodbyes, I boarded the plane, my heart felt heavy yet hopeful.

The journey included a layover in Addis Ababa, providing a brief respite before continuing on to Canada. We arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport around 4 p.m. The moment I stepped off the plane, I was greeted by an unexpected wave of heat. That contrasted the cooler climate I had anticipated. This initial impression of Canada was surprising, but it was only the beginning of my adjustment to a new environment.

By November, the reality of the Canadian climate became apparent. The cold was intense, far beyond anything I had experienced before. There were moments when the harsh weather made me question my decision and consider returning to Africa. However, over time, I began to adapt to my new surroundings. I learned to navigate the cold, find comfort in layers of warm clothing, and appreciate the beauty of a snowy landscape.

Settling into Canadian life took a few months, but gradually, I found my rhythm. I embraced the challenges and opportunities that came with living in my home-to-be country. Despite the harsh winters, I discovered a vibrant, diverse community in Ottawa that welcomed me and helped me feel at home.

Looking back, that day in July marked the start of an incredible journey of growth and adaptation. My experiences since then have shaped me in profound ways, and while the transition was not always easy, it was undoubtedly worthwhile. Each step of the way, from the tearful goodbyes to the initial culture shock, has contributed to my resilience and appreciation for the life I am building in Canada.

For me Canada mean a lot of thinks as fear, loneliness and sadness, but it also means resilience, hope, achievements and joys. It was in this country that I built my family, my daughter was born here. And here we are three! We really miss the people we left in our country, but here we can do more for our daughter's future, good schools and safe country.

There are lot of things I like about Canada. In Canada I can spend my weekends happily going out, meeting friends and having lot of fun. And I like to visit Niagara Falls. The Flow of water in that falls is so amazing. Then in Canada when I entered onto the TTC buses or subways, all the passengers are ready to give their seats to me, because I have a toddler with a stroller. This is the main thing I like in Canada. And in Canada while talking to all of the people, they give respect to each other even if we are younger, an elder or a kid. Even if I met some strangers outside, they will talk politely and if I ask them for help they are ready to do it. And whenever I see someone in our apartment elevator all of them will say good morning, good evening, have a nice day, or have a wonderful day. I like to hear those words. And it gives some good vibes to me.

What does Canada mean to me? Interesting question, well, it could mean so many things depending on how you have felt at each stage of your life in this country: sadness and happiness, stressfulness and quietness, being loved or hated, healthy or unhealthy, among others. On the other hand, this question is a kind of tricky one because it could have so many answers like the nine lives of thousands of cats, so I am going to tell you about one of those lives: my positive one.

My name is Oscar, I was born in Venezuela, the son of a couple of recently landed Portuguese immigrants, including myself with six months inside my mother’s belly waiting to be born in that beautiful country.

Why have I decided to come to Canada? Well, I was in Venezuela, I wanted to meet a new country because the conditions in my home town weren’t good enough, so to visit any country abroad with affordable prices, Venezuelan people had an annual quota in US Dollars for travelling abroad due to the foreign currency exchange control installed by the government in that time.

This annual quota in US$ was going to finish in 2013 so I decided to travel somewhere around the world to use my quota, in addition, my nephew who lives in Canada was visiting Venezuela at that time and offered to come to his place in Toronto for two or three weeks meanwhile he was outside Canada. After those wonderful days in this Country, I loved what I had seen in Canada in that travel.

After coming back to Venezuela, I decided to come back again for a longer time, and after about two years, I came back to Canada as a visitor for six months and during that time, I decided to apply to be a Permanent Resident in Canada.

How did I come? I came with a small bag with my regular clothes and basic stuff. When I travelled here, I couldn't travel directly to Canada from Caracas, because the international airline companies blocked out the country due to a huge debt in US Dollars from the government with these airline companies.

Because of this government issue, I had to travel by plane from Caracas to Bogotá, Colombia to a Colombian Airline Company without any Account receivable from the Venezuelan government. From Bogotá, I took another airplane to Toronto, Canada on December 28th, 2015 with a stopover the same day in New York, United States.

One of the first things I learned when I arrived was about the rules and behaviour of people, especially outdoors, people have different behaviour than people in my country, because, people follow the rules, especially transit rules, crossing in the corner, being polite to say hi, sorry, being very friendly with strangers, doesn’t matter how they look, poor or rich, people are polite with everybody, including homelessness.

Indoors I noticed that there are some kinds of rules and behaviours, for example, leaving or putting off the shoes outside the door or at the entrance because floors in Canada are made of wood and with the snow in winter and rains along the year could damage the inside floor of homes.

The friendship culture also has a different behaviour from my country. Usually, when we meet somebody, and introduce ourselves we do it very close to the other person, and when we say goodbye, we hug and kiss each other.

I noticed that in some cultures, like the Chinese, it’s not mean that they don’t like, but they grew up without these manners or traditions including some kinds of Canadian people., but in some areas, Canadian people like to hug and kiss; they like to talk and say “Hi!”, but inviting you to their place is in a different way.

You cannot appear in their place, like we do in my country, knocking on the door and saying “Hi I was passing through the neighbourhood, and I decided to visit you”. This is not possible in Canada, it is very unpolite. You have to let people know in advance that you want to come to their place.

My first friendships in Canada were made in the church. after a few months of living in Canada, I received the news that my mother had died in Venezuela, so with no possibility of going to the funeral I decided to pay for a Mass for my mother in a Portuguese church which I found after I searched online for the closest one to my place.

On the next Thursday morning, I arrived at the Portuguese church trying to set up the Mass for my mother, but there was nobody able to attend me, so after waiting for a while, I decided to go to the Spanish church crossing the street. Yes, you can see a church in front of another one in Canada!

I was very welcome at the Spanish church because in that moment it was present the Priest José David, and a small group of parishioners who usually help to clean the church on Thursdays. I was lucky that I had decided to go to the church that Thursday.

After my mother’s Mass on the next Sunday, I decided to go to the Mass every Sunday and join the parishioner's helpers to clean the church on Thursdays. Usually after the Mass, there was a lunchtime in the basement, which had a stage, a large floor with more that a dozen of tables and a complete kitchen among other amenities.

Usually, we had lunchtime in the basement after Mass, but sometimes we had special events or parties, celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day among others, so we had celebrations with food, dance and performances on the stage.

I made a lot of friends in the church, and one day, after the Mass, a Canadian guy from Newfoundland who used to go to the Spanish mass, asked me if I was interested in helping him to improve his English because he used to travel to Peru and he already knew some Spanish words and sentences but he wanted to practice and improve it.

My encounter with this guy, named Gerald, from Newfoundland, was lucky because I wanted to learn how to speak properly in English and besides improving my English speaking, this was the beginning of one of the best friendships I have had in Canada.

By the way, a few weeks ago when I went to Toronto to renew my Portuguese passport, I called Gerald and he invited me to visit him and then go to a restaurant to have a brunch and chat about our lives and families.

Meanwhile, another church member, Virgilio, from Cuba, invited me to join a gym where he was a Membership Plus in a “gym” called YMCA, but I didn’t know what kind of gym the YMCA was, so I delay the invitation for a while until I finally decided to go with Virgilio to join the “gym” YMCA.

I discovered that the YMCA was not a regular “gym”, it is a center with so many interesting activities at the YMCA, so I joined also the Membership Plus which includes a special area with a sauna, jacuzzi steamer, showers, lockers and living room with TV among others facilities and services.

For a while, when I was going to the YMCA I went directly to the Membership Plus area, but with along time, I started noticing that there were other amenities, like a pool, ping pong tables, basketball court, squash courts, and last but not least, a huge room, where usually there was a schedule for doing activities, like yoga, body fit, Zumba and learning Latin dance among others.

One day I approached the dancing classroom and asked a guy what I needed to start the dancing classes, and the guy told me “Only a pair of dancing shoes” for dancing, and that was it, I went to the next class.

This was the beginning of my dance adventure, I met so many friends, and I practiced my English, because, believe it or not, the majority of people learning Latin dance, Ballroom dance, and Line dance are Canadian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Iranian and Polish among others but no too many Spanish speakers wanted to learn Latin dance, this was the beginning of encounters with my new English speaker's friends.

One day in a Latin dance class that Thursday evening of April 19, 2018, -Yes, I remember that special day- I met Elzbieta, a Polish blondie blue eyes woman after our teacher David asked the students to switch, so this way each student could increase their skills dancing with different partners. This was the beginning of our friendship on the dancing floor.

Instead of introducing myself to her, the first thing I did was ask her for her name, she understood my lack of etiquette and she answered me kindly, and from that moment we gradually began a close friendship.

We started to get along together in class and one class, on Thursday, May 17, 2018 -Yes, it was Thursday too, Elzbieta invited me to dance the next day at the Harmony Club and she asked me to go to a table near to the dance floor, but instead, I decided to wait for her at the entrance as a gentleman usually does, and she was laughing because she told me “You could wait inside” but it is okay.

Since then, Elzbieta and I have met on numerous occasions, such as dancing parties, social events and going to the cinema until we started to live together in Toronto. Eventually, she introduced me to his son Greg and his family in February 2019 and one month later, Elzbieta introduced me to her daughter Agnieszka and her family.

With the time passing through, we moved on January 18 2022 to Barrie because Elzbieta's son Greg wanted to have her living nearby, because he lives with his family in Minesing, so here we are living in a wonderful and peaceful City.

We started continuing our dancing classes here with a new dance class place, meeting new people, very good ones, so different from Toronto, we made a very close friendship with our teachers, this never happened with our teachers in Toronto.

We have made some dance classmates friends and started playing pickleball with some of them. Elzbieta and I enjoy playing poker at home and with her son's family place, and we both enjoyed the Lakeshore path including Centennial Beach, and the quality of life here is so plenty, so good.

I love dancing, my Elzbieta loves dancing too -Salsa, Bachata, Merengue- no Ballroom dance, loving so much each other, growing and making stronger friendships here in Barrie and practicing English. This is my reflection on the 15-minute of tape so please forgive me for any misspeaking in my speaking.

I am happy to talk in English also when I have talked with my daughters in Australia in front of my wife Elzbieta I usually talk in English with my daughters doesn’t matter if they are Spanish speakers, so we all can understand each other properly.

I am so proud to have decided to come to Canada as an immigrant and as a new Permanent Resident, I have started to do new and attractive activities, including learning English, first with my teacher Diane and now with my teacher Sayuri.

Finally, after I have joined this life journey since that first day I visited Canada for the first time, I can answer in my way, what does Canada Mean to Me? Well, In a few words, it means the start of my new life in this awesome country, which I want to keep for the rest of my life.

Recently, we had an opportunity to visit the capital of Canada. Ottawa is a beautiful city. We live 8 hours away from the capital. So, I can say that we spent 2 days on the road, but we had a fantastic 1 day in Ottawa.

We walked through the lovely downtown, enjoying the beauty of modern and historical buildings, which nicely complement each other. We visited the most famous place among tourists - The Parliament Hill. Canada’s Federal Government is located there. I can say without doubt that I fell in love with this city. It is so bright and alive. And I plan to visit it a lot of times in the future.

We made many stops on the way. The kids liked the most that we stopped by some rivers and lakes, and they could swim a little because it was so hot outside. So, we tried to make our trip nice and interesting for children.

And it was funny, when we stopped by Tim Hortons or McDonald's, every time my son said that he was so starved, and we needed to buy something for him. I should say that we had a lot of food and snacks in the car.

I had a long-term desire to see the cities on the Eastern side of Canada with my family members, but I never got an opportunity to fulfill this dream. Finally, On August 19 of this year, my dream came true when our Sri Lankan senior association arranged a trip for us to the East Coast of Canada by a luxurious coach.

On the 19th of August at 7 am, we started our trip with 56 passengers. One of our friends gave us breakfast with bananas which we enjoyed very much. The tour began from the McDonald-Cartier Freeway to Kingston, our first stop. This was the former capital of Canada. We saw Canada’s first president, Sir John A McDonald’s house, the limestone wall of the city and Queen’s University. Our next stop was Ottawa, where we visited the Canadian Museum and learned about Canadian history. After that, we had a lovely dinner at a Sri- Lankan restaurant. The first night of the trip was at Montreal’s five star hotel.

On the Second day, we headed to New Brunswick and went to see maple syrup farms and had a traditional lunch, which was prepared from local maple syrup farms. We also saw the oldest settlements in Fredericton and the Saint John River.

On the third day, we stayed at Hotel Delta in Fredericton. The next day early morning, we moved to Nova Scotia and reached one of the most important seaside cities on the east coast, Halifax. There we took an hour’s cruise to the Atlantic seaside port and saw the historical lighthouse. Then we went to see Peggy’s Cove, where we spent the afternoon exploring the best view of nature.

On the fourth day, we stayed in the same hotel and were taken to the Confederation Bridge, the world’s longest bridge to cross the ice-covered water. It stretches for 12.9 kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean, connecting two provinces, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. I was mesmerized to see that bridge and was proud of Canada for building it. We also took a cruise to see Prince Edward Island and had a nice time with our friends. Here we also visited PEI National Park and the Anne of Green Gables house and museum.

On the fifth day, we stayed at the Hilton Hotel in Moncton. We visited New Brunswick’s Fundy Bay in the morning. This is one of the marine wonders of the world. After that, we were taken to see the Magical Magnetic Hill and the Reversing Falls. I couldn’t believe my eyes to see this natural phenomenon in Saint John River.

On the sixth day, we left New Brunswick and traveled to Quebec City. Finally, we went on a spectacular cable car journey to the top of Montmorency Falls to see the 272 feet-high waterfalls. This is 100 feet taller than the Niagara Falls. We also went to the old Quebec City and the St Lawrence River. At night we stayed in Quebec City.

Finally, on the last day of our trip, we took a cruise to see the Thousand Islands and took many pictures of their natural beauty. Most of the time, our friends sang songs and danced inside the bus to keep themselves active. Finally, we reached home town Brampton at 8:00pm.

We had a great time and thanked the organizers for arranging such a wonderful and educational trip. We are hoping to go on another similar trip very soon.

I recently visited Ottawa, the capital of Canada, and was captivated by the harmonious blend of history, culture, and natural beauty it offers. From strolling through the iconic Parliament Hill to admiring the stunning architecture of the National Gallery of Canada and the Museum of Canadian History, every moment was filled with wonder. I also enjoyed a leisurely walk along the picturesque Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, I attended the vibrant Tulip Festival, surrounded by an assortment of colorful flowers. A highlight of my trip was taking an Amphibus tour, which offered a unique perspective on the city's landmarks while being guided by a bilingual expert. The delightful cuisine, peaceful neighborhoods, and warm locals left a lasting impression on me, and I eagerly look forward to returning to Ottawa to discover even more of its beauty & charms.

Fall in Nanaimo is a combination of colorful leaves, local events, and just the right amount of coziness. The weather cools down, but it’s still perfect for getting outside. Places like Westwood Lake or Newcastle Island offer trails where you can enjoy the bright red and orange colors of the changing trees.

A unique fall attraction in Nanaimo is the salmon run in the local rivers, such as the Nanaimo River. Watching how the salmon fight their way upstream is like observing nature’s version of a marathon. It’s also a great time to watch eagles, who are enjoying a salmon buffet. And when you are ready to warm up, Nanaimo has a lot of cozy fall activities. The Nanaimo Bar Trail, for example, is a sweet way to explore the city while indulging in its most famous treat. Fall fairs and farmers' markets are also popular, offering everything from local produce to pumpkin-spiced everything.

In Nanaimo, fall is all about enjoying nature, the outdoors, local flavors, and embracing the season’s quirks. Whether you’re exploring trails, watching the salmon run, or just enjoying a slice of Nanaimo Bar, at this time of year, you will always find something to make you smile.

My family and I went to Vancouver in July for our vacation and saw The Rolling Stones in concert. We stayed at my daughter’s uncle’s house for 6 days.

His apartment is located very close to the subway, bus station and train. This helped a lot, because we didn’t rent a car during these days.

The concert was on July 5th. I was so excited, happy and when the band entered the Stadium; my tears rolled down my face.

Have you ever imagined that the guys are in their 80s???

We saw them dance, play, and the best part was they were still singing magnificently. They played for 2 hours, and I loved every minute there.

In the following days, we visited Stanley Park, which is a large park very close to the beach. There, we had an opportunity to watch the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra play an open air concert.

They played songs from movies, such as: ET, Star Trek, Pirates of the Caribbean, and others.

We visited the Botanic Garden, where the guide explained to us everything about in-numerous plants and trees. We went to Chinatown, downtown and the Bird Observatory in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Vancouver is a beautiful and busy city and because the population is growing fast.

We also saw many homeless people and people using drugs on the streets. It was a sad experience we had there.

I would go back there if I had another opportunity, but not to live, just to visit our friends. I still prefer to live in our countryside.

Nanaimo is a city and ferry port on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a beautiful, quiet, and pleasant city. There are many parks in Nanaimo, such as Englishman River Falls Park, Bowen Park, Saysutshun Provincial Park, and more. There are many schools, colleges, and one university. When children finish high school, they can go to college or university. They don’t have to go anywhere else to study. Many national and international students come here for education.

There are hotels and motels in Nanaimo where visitors can stay. There are many restaurants, including Chinese, Indian, and others. There are many things to do, like visiting the museum, going to WildPlay, riding in a seaplane, or cycling on trails. People enjoy everything here. There are two malls in this city where people can find everything they need. Nanaimo is cheaper than Vancouver; housing prices are lower than in Vancouver. Now, many couples are moving here because Nanaimo is developing more, and people are starting their businesses. Many older people like it because it is quiet and overall, a good city. There are pubs and clubs where people enjoy themselves.

Nanaimo has a healthcare center, an old-age care center, and a hospital, providing essential services to the community. Many older people find it appealing because it is quiet and offers good healthcare facilities.

For those looking for adventure and activities, Nanaimo has plenty to offer. People can go bungee jumping, paddling, and hiking in various scenic spots. There is also an annual event called the Bathtub Weekend, which features a unique bathtub race. With its mix of natural beauty, recreational activities, and a vibrant community, Nanaimo is a beautiful city; you should visit it.

This is the story of the century. When the town was settled in 1905, many difficulties were faced. A lot of bushes had to be removed. It was difficult. They also caught fire. But the people did not give up. Today Tisdale is a beautiful town with all the development.

A hundred-year-old railway line also passes through here. When the train passes through the fields it presents a wonderful scene. Whenever I cross the railway line, I think of a railway track built a hundred years ago without science and technology. This railway line was built by the Chinese and Canadians together. The People of China sacrificed and lost their lives, they also faced immigration problems. Their historic achievements will always be remembered.

There are canola fields spread over millions of hectares. A lot of honey is also produced. That is why Tisdale is known as the land of ’Rape and Honey.’

Saskatchewan's motto is the ‘Land of the Living Skies’. I found out how it happened. I was happy to read that the woman who won this slogan, Becky Pritchard, is from my town. As everyone knows the Land of the Living Skies has been Saskatchewan's slogan on its license plates since December 1997. Becky Pritchard of Tisdale submitted the grand prize-winning entry in a license plate. The contest was organized by Tourism Saskatchewan and SGI.

There is also a Newcomer Center to guide new immigrants. There are many parks, a big hospital, a children's school, a college, and a museum. There are two big hotels, shopping malls, and Canada's traditional Tim Horton. I remember in 2023 when Tim Horton opened in Lahore, Pakistan. There were also reports that Tim Hortons broke the world record for the highest one-day sales in its 60-year history.

The Mackay Tower is the tallest building in Tisdale. It can be seen from a far distance. It has sixty units. It was built in 1977. It was built for senior citizens. Now this condition has been removed due to increasing housing problems. There is also a small airport that provides Airbus facilities to the citizens. Small planes also fly from here.

Tisdale is a good place to visit. There are also various lakes and canals where people go fishing. Greenery is everywhere. The climate is very clean. There is a normal temperature in the summer like 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Due to lots of snow in the winter, the temperature is going to be more than minus 50 degrees Celsius.

People prefer to stay at home in winter. So you won't see many people on the roads and streets. During the long snowfall, they remain isolated in their homes and then get used to it. They just go out in the market or for a job. In summer, people decorate their gardens beautifully, which is good to see. I noticed that everyone smiles when making eye contact. I think this Town will become a city soon due to rapid development and growing population. If you want to visit Tisdale, you will be impressed by its beauty. Newcomers are always warmly welcome.

On July 24th, I went to Tofino. At the same time, we visited some of the small towns on our way to Tofino. The distance from Nanaimo to Tofino was three hours. Before we started our journey, we had made a plan to manage the time, foods and find out the directions. Also, we divided the responsibility among us. First of all, my cousin Erfan,booked a place for camping. I went to Walmart with Erfan and I bought the tent, and my cousin Nazish decided to buy all the foods.

Finally, we drove from Nanaimo to Tofino by following the map. After we were on our way, our drivers needed short breaks to drink or relax so we were taking breaks every 30 minutes. In the same way, the weather was changing. Sometimes it was sunny and in turn it became rainy. Also, we saw a bear, we swam, bought snacks from Tim Horton’s and took some pictures.

After three hours we arrived at our destination. We pitched our tent and at the same time we met new people who were our neighbors at the campground. In short, we did not stay at our campsite for long because we drove to different places, like the beach to swim,and see the sunset, and we went to a motorcycle show. In fact we enjoyed it a lot. I never went for camping before. So, I had an amazing time with my cousins. In conclusion, we might make a plan for next year to visit Victoria for our next trip.

Canada for me it's new history my life. This is safety place for me and my family. It is new experience, new people, new friends. Canada is country where does mater what is your race or ethnic group, religion. Canada is great country with beautiful nature and friendly people. Canada is very different from other countries example: rules and lows, mentality, education, medical.

In Canada I like attitude to elderly people, and attitude policemans for kids. Doesn't mater who are you, you can be employee or employer....

I thanks Canada for safety place for my family.

I will tell you about a national holiday, which has existed for more than one thousand years. This holiday is called Sabantuy. It is celebrated by Tatars, Kazakhs, Bashkirs and some other peoples. It is also called the festival of the plough, because it is celebrated before sowing. Previously it was celebrated in villages but now it is also celebrated in cities.

In Tatarstan Sabantuy is celebrated in the second half of June. Usually on Sunday.

You can see a lot of interesting things at the festival. Such as horse racing, wrestling and other competitions. You can also try national Tatar cuisine. Tatar national cuisine is very tasty and has a lot of variety. At Sabantuy you hear Tatar national music and songs. Many people wear national clothes on this holiday.

Currently, Sabantuy is celebrated not only in Tatarstan but also in many cities around the world, including in Toronto. At Sabantuy in Toronto you don't see horse racing, but you can always try Tatar cuisine, listen to Tatar music and see the national clothes of the Tatars.

Would you like to watch the events in June, come to Sabantuy it will be fun.

I have known my husband for 14 years, and we got married in October 2020. My husband and I come from Cameroon, our native country. In our country, for our wedding anniversary, we always visited one city called Kribi located in Douala-Cameroon. This city is recognized by its beautiful places like hotels, beaches and restaurants. We loved trying new foods because it was our favourite time on the trip. With beautiful beaches and incredible weather, we loved enjoying ourselves by the sea with its beautiful and constant waves. At night, we went to the restaurant trying local meals, and then listened to amazing musicians playing their musical instruments and some young people doing Karaoke all night. As I love classical dance, my husband surprised me by inviting a classical dance group to practise Salsa, Karaoke, Rock and Roll just for me. I got up and danced all night long saying thank you to my sweet husband.

This year for our 4th wedding anniversary, we are planning to visit Cuba because it is one dream that we would like to realize. Also, we would like to go to one of the provinces in Canada called Alberta. We have friends who are going to show us the beautiful places to discover in this province. If time and financial means allow us, we plan to visit both Cuba and Alberta.

I'll tell you about my 20-th birthday.

Honestly it was a lonely but awesome day and I'll tell you why. This day I usually spend time with my family, preparing some food, cooking for a big table, discussing what we will do in the evening, who is coming over and when. It's usually a busy but comfortable day. But on my 20-th birthday, I was alone because I was in Poland and couldn't go home. I went to my lectures as usual, and my friends greeted me for my birthday there. When I got home, I bought a small cake on the way. I decided to eat it with tea while talking to my parents. During that conversation there was a knock on my door. I lived in an apartment, as it turned out my friends had arranged a surprise for me. They looked so excited and we spent the whole day together.

We played board games, watched movies, and talked about this and that. It was one of my most memorable days, even though I celebrated without my family.

Onam is the national festival of Kerala, India, symbolizing joy, prosperity, and cultural richness. Onam usually falls in the month of Chingam (August-September) on the Malayalam calendar and lasts for ten days, with the most important day being Thiruvonam. The festival is associated with the legend of King Mahabali, whose rule is believed to be a golden day in Kerala. It is said that the spirit of Mahabali visits Kerala during Onam to see his people living happily.

During Onam, homes are decorated with Pookalam, vibrant floral designs on the floor, and families gather to enjoy the Onam Sadhya, a traditional vegetarian feast served on banana leaves. The festival also features thrilling Vallamkali (boat races), lively Pulikali (tiger dance), and graceful Thiruvathira dances performed by women. Onam is a time when Keralites across the world come together to celebrate their rich heritage, values of unity and harmony.

When I moved to Canada, I began to miss the vibrant Onam Celebrations. My childhood is filled with wonderful memories of this ten-day festival. During Onam school would close for the holidays, but before that, we celebrated Onam at school. We dressed in traditional Kerala attire. Each class participated in a Pookalam competition, where we created beautiful flower designs. We also had fun events like tug-of-war and musical chairs. It was always so much fun!

Once school closed my cousins would come to my house and we would wake up early in the morning to collect flowers in different colors for our Pookalam. One of the most important flowers for Onam is Thumba (Leucas aspera), which I feel has become rarer nowadays. We even went into nearby forests to find flowers, making the experience even more exciting. Every day, we added a new color or type of flower to the Pookalam, starting with just one on the first day and building up until Uthradam and Thiruvonam, the main days of the festival.

On Uthradam and Thiruvonam, we would visit temples to pray and then visit our cousins to celebrate together. The main highlight was the grand Onam Sadhya, a delicious feast served on banana leaves, along with our favourite payasam. We would also get new clothes, which was something I always looked forward to.

When Thiruvonam ended, I felt a bit sad knowing the celebrations were over, and I’d already started counting the days until the next Onam. Those days, filled with family, food, flowers, and fun, are some of my golden childhood memories. Now that I live in Canada, I often feel that my kids are missing out on these vibrant celebrations and experiences. But I always try to create good memories for my kids by making Onam Sadhya, creating Pookalam, and participating in Onam celebrations here in Canada.

I would like to share a special event that was held in the North Bay downtown. The idea is to support the community and local businesses while people share with family and friends. The weather this year was perfect with no rain but cloudy and the temperature was close to 20°C. The stage received local artists who presented the best of their music in different genres like country, pop and rock we could appreciate. Before the music started, the atmosphere was taken by the food that was organized in stands to let people view the plates. This made it easier to select the desired food. The restaurants in the main street were open until late hours and there is no doubt that it was a very good party. We could feel the atmosphere and the people were very happy. I was with my family, and we found many friends and we could share with them and remember the last 2023 block party. Both parties were amazing!

I could not stay to the end, but I know that people had a wonderful time!

For me as queer individual from a country where being LGBTQ is extremely punishable by the current regime which they implement the most extreme and radical version of Islam. Being homosexual is punished by stoning to death or crashing under the wall on. Plus, the amount of hate speech by ordinary people is unbearable. While I have never participated in any pride parade in the past, I had the honor to be invited and participate in a pride parade and walk with our community together and showcase our unity and our seven-rainbow colours. This parade happened and was organized by the authorities of Windsor Essex County on the 11 of August in the Windsor area. There were delegates of different sectors from police to paramedic, as well political parties and representatives of businesses and banks were there to show their support. I, alongside other participants, were representatives of the South Essex Community, which is an organization for helping people, I was holding the banner with the local of the organization. We had music followed by performers who exhibited their talent and beauty. People were sitting along the sidewalk, there were families, children, everyone was giving us the vibe and praising us. After the parade, there was a small exhibition in a park where different organizations showed their services and business. There was live music, and street food stalls. There was a hotdog stall which only accepted cash. However, I had no cash with me so there was a generous lady who paid for my food while I said it was ok, she insisted so I thanked her I introduced myself to her as a newcomer from Afghanistan.

It was a long walk on a sunny and windy day. The weather was confusing; in the sun we felt too hot but when we took shelter in the shade it was cold. I directly came from my night shift, so I had not slept but I felt it was my duty to attend the parade and walk along with my community in my new home. It was fun and I felt seen and included. While I was stuck between work and home it was a great day, I did not feel tired or bored at all.

Every year at the end of June there is an amazing three day electronic music festival called Valhallafest that takes place in the north west of British Columbia just outside of Terrace.

I attended the festival for the second time this summer with my partner. A friend came along too. We drove to the festival from our home in Daajing Giids, a small village on Queen Charlotte Island. It is a very long journey. To get to the mainland, we had to travel on a Ferry for eight hours to Prince Rupert. After that, we had to drive approximately two hours to the festival grounds. We had a great time in the car listening to music, singing and checking out the scenery. It definitely felt like we were on vacation.

This year, the festival, which was attended by 1500 people, kicked off on June 28 mid-afternoon. At this time, the DJs start to play their music. There are 3 stages. Each stage has a different DJ and a special laser show, so everyone can choose the music they like best. Besides listening to music, people visit the market, where small businesses and individuals offer a variety of services and sell merchandise. Also, a lot of artists set up booths to showcase and sell their art.

I worked two morning shifts as a volunteer this time around at the merchandise stand where we sold t-shirts, rain jackets, stickers and non-alcohol drinks. Lucky for me, volunteers had some benefits like hot showers and free food twice a day.

A lot of Ukrainians attend this festival and it was kind of a blessing to have friends who can talk with you in the same language. We can laugh at common jokes and feel close to our country. This year it was a lot of fun to meet old friends. It was also easy to make new friends because everyone is so warm and open. In fact, it feels like you are living in an alternative community for the entire time thanks to the involvement of the creators of this festival. They really enjoy what they do.

It is difficult for me to express how much I love this festival, but I have a couple of words that can convey my vision: colourful, loud, bright and fun. If someone asks me if they should go to this festival, my answer will be a hundred percent yes!

Some of the challenges for adult learners are related to time-management. When you have a family and kids, it is difficult to find time for your own learning. Memory is also weak sometimes, so remembering new words and using them everyday in a new language can be challenging. I think lifelong learning is important. When provided with some material and guidance, we can learn many things.

To share from my own learning experience, I studied for 12 years in school and completed a course in commerce in high school. My favorite subject was business because I learned a lot about finance and economics. I also studied English in my country for 12 years, but it was difficult for me because it was my second language. I learned only writing and reading in English while I was in school. Our spoken English and listening skills were not very strong. However, in Canada, we use English for speaking, listening, writing and reading most of the time, which has helped us learn quickly.

In my opinion, learning is crucial because it helps us to mature and consider different perspectives, keeping our brains active. Although it's challenging at times due to everyday life work and family responsibilities, not learning can hold us back. I believe mental health issues are common nowadays, and staying mentally active through learning can help.

The idea that elementary school children should not have homework is a hot topic. Some people think that without homework, young kids can spend more time with their families, play, and learn social skills, which are very important. They feel that the school day is enough for learning and that homework can add too much stress. On the other hand, some believe that homework helps kids remember what they learned in school, teaches them responsibility, and builds good study habits. They think a small amount of homework, that isn't too hard, can be a good addition to what kids learn in class.

In my opinion, children should be given homework. This will help parents take an interest in their children's lives at school and help them. Also, it will help children achieve responsibility at work when they will know that they still need to do additional work and, of course, improve their skills.

As an adult learner, I have faced several unique challenges that made it difficult to achieve my learning goals. Balancing work, family, and other commitments can be a significant challenge, as can managing the demands of coursework and studying.

One of the most significant challenges for me as an adult learner was managing my time effectively. With work, family, and other commitments, it can be difficult to find time to study and complete coursework. One effective strategy for managing my time is to create a schedule and stick to it. Identify blocks of time that are free from other commitments, such as early mornings, late evenings, or weekends, and use these times for studying and coursework. I always tried to be sure to break down larger assignments into smaller, manageable tasks, and set realistic deadlines for completing each one.

Another common challenge for adult learners is staying motivated throughout the learning process. One strategy I am using for staying motivated is to set clear, achievable goals and track my progress towards them. I have celebrated my successes along the way, no matter how small, and focused on the benefits of continuing education for my personal and professional growth. Also, I connected with a supportive community of other learners, such as coworkers or mentors, to help keep me motivated and engaged.

In addition, stress can be a significant challenge for adult learners, particularly when juggling multiple responsibilities. I learned to manage stress effectively. I am considering and using strategies such as exercise yoga, meditation, cold water therapy or other relaxation techniques to help reduce stress and improve my overall well-being. Also, I make sure to prioritize self-care, such as getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet (it’s means homemade food), and taking breaks when needed. The more I can manage stress effectively, the better equipped I’ll be to handle the demands of coursework and studying.

Finally, developing effective study habits is also key to success as an adult learner. This means for me developing habits that promote focus, concentration, and efficiency. I considered strategies such as breaking my learning into manageable chunks, taking frequent breaks, and reviewing my notes regularly. Also, I am trying to eliminate distractions during study time, such as social media and email notifications. The more I can focus and engage with my learning, the more effective my study time will be.

I would now like to share my greatest secret - it is that I never stopped to study because my work as a doctor, scientist and teacher has always involved constant learning and gaining new knowledge.

I recommend everyone, regardless of profession, do not stop learning, do not stop there. Therefore, with the right strategies and mindset, it’s possible to overcome these challenges and achieve success as an adult learner.

Countries have various education systems. Some countries' education systems can be really friendly for students yet others can be very tough. The reason why the education systems is varied is mainly due to the different ways that the teachers and parents treat children’s education.

There are similarities and differences between the education systems in Canada and China.

In China, parents put a great deal of effort into their children’s education because they all hope that their children will study hard and get good grades. And, this will ultimately help them get into a good university. However, in Canada I think that parents pay more attention to their children’s extracurricular activities rather than their academic performances. They hope that children can choose courses they are interested in and allow children to choose their own career paths.

In my opinion there are also some differences in the classrooms between China and Canada. In China, teachers pay attention to the grades of various subjects and the participation in various competitions. They hope that students will have active self-learning abilities. The school wants the students to be admitted to their ideal university so that this can bring honor to their school. Whereas, in Canada the teachers focus more on students' own will. Teachers like to guide students to learn several technical lessons according to the students' abilities. So, the students have the opportunities to get in touch with many skill-based courses.

Although there are differences in the education systems in different countries due to different national conditions. We can not say which is good or bad. The education system of each country is designed to help students achieve their own success in their future growth. Their education system is in order to help students for the growth of children. We can not say which one is good or bad.

I remember the day I first heard the news that I had been accepted into my dream university. My friend called me early in the morning, and as soon as I picked up, she excitedly said, "I just checked the results, and you got in!" At first, I couldn’t believe what she was saying, so I asked her to repeat it. She told me again that my name was on the list of accepted students.

After that, I called my parents to share the exciting news. I told them, "I’ve been accepted into the university!" They were thrilled and immediately said that they were proud of me. My mom asked if I had seen the letter, and when I admitted that I hadn’t, she suggested that I check it to confirm. When I finally saw the acceptance letter in my mailbox, I realized that everything my friend had told me was true. That moment, full of joy, relief and happiness, is something I’ll never forget.

Have you ever noticed that Labour Day in Canada and China is celebrated differently? Although both holidays honor the contributions of workers, they differ significantly in terms of their dates, historical origins, and the cultural values they reflect.

Firstly, the dates of Labour Day in Canada and China are different. In China, Labour Day is celebrated on May 1st, aligning with International Workers' Day, a date chosen by the Second International in 1889 to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago. On the other hand, Canada observes Labour Day is on the first Monday of September. This date was selected to create a long weekend that marks the end of summer, allowing Canadians to enjoy a final break before fall begins. The choice of September also emphasizes a more localized approach to celebrating labor achievements.

Secondly, the historical origins of Labour Day in the two countries highlight their unique labor movements. China's Labour Day is rooted in international solidarity and the global push for workers' rights, which gained momentum after the Haymarket Affair. This reflects China's connection to the broader international labor movement. However, Canadian Labour Day has its origins in domestic labor struggles, particularly the 1872 Toronto Typographical Union strike, which demanded a nine-hour workday. This strike was a significant milestone in Canadian labor history, leading to the legalization of trade unions. Canadian Labour Day reflects this specific historical context, focusing on local labor achievements rather than global solidarity.

Moreover, the cultural values reflected by Labour Day in Canada and China are quite different. In China, Labour Day is a national holiday that emphasizes the collective achievements of workers and the importance of unity in advancing workers' rights. It is often marked by parades, official speeches, and cultural events that underscore the contributions of the working class to the nation. In contrast, Canadian Labour Day is more of a relaxed celebration, with parades, family gatherings, and leisure activities like barbecues. The holiday reflects Canada's cultural value of balancing work and leisure, providing a moment for Canadians to appreciate the efforts of workers while also enjoying the last days of summer.

In conclusion, while both Canada and China celebrate Labour Day, the differences in their dates, historical origins, and the cultural values they reflect highlight the distinct ways each nation honors its workers. China’s May1st holiday connects to a global movement and emphasizes collective labor achievements, whereas Canada’s September Labour Day focuses on local historical milestones and blends the celebration of labor with seasonal transitions.

I landed in Canada via Mississauga where I spent a few weeks in the Airbnb. One day while walking down a street of the city I saw the warehouse of Mary Kay, I said wow!!! However, I always thought of using those products since I was in my home country. Because I used the products brought by a friend from the USA and since then I knew the products and loved them.

I finally couldn’t get the information I needed until I left Mississauga to another city. Then, I arrived in the new city and started getting blemishes on my face and people said oh, it's due to the weather, which is very dry and aggressive, so it'll go away with time. In the meantime, I was reflecting and regretting not having taken the information from MK, except that I was still curious in the Whatsapp groups I belonged to. Then, one day I saw a post telling those who wanted to become a consultant to join an information session with all the details. Which I did. So, at the end of the session they asked who wanted to be a consultant. As I was very excited and was only waiting for this part, I had to subscribe the same day and order products according to the concerns I had on my face. A few days later I received my products and began to use the products while training myself every week. When the results began to be visible I also began to talk about it to acquaintances around me. The feedback was that the products from this brand are good but very expensive. So far, I'm still using the products and still like them, and I've created a Whatsapp group where I add acquaintances and share information about the products from time to time and over there, some people contact me in Inbox for more information.

I really like those products and would encourage people to use them because it’s a long time brand for over 60 years and a lot of other brands started and fell into bankruptcy. I trust them and I am my first customer. All products have the list of the ingredients and all the information are on their website for the public and everyone can educate himself before buying a product. I can also make facial but as people are reticent I am not discussing this option.

I hope my teacher will buy some products to encourage me as well. Looking forward to hearing from my teacher and get her order.

I would like to tell you about my job and my regular work day. I am a maintenance mechanic and I work in a laundry company. I work with equipment such as washer machines, dryer machines, ironers, steamer conveyors and so on. My shift is starting at 12 p.m. and includes two parts. From the beginning of my shift until 3.30 p.m. I do preventive maintenance, for example: adding oil or grease, checking mechanical and electrical systems, and trying to find broken parts. The second part of my shift starts at 3:30 pm. At this time, many machines are turned off and I can repair or replace broken parts. I also clean and prepare the machines for tomorrow's shift. This is my usual work day.

Finding employment in Canada is not an easy process. As a newcomer, I have noticed many cultural differences between Canada and Ukraine. I realized how hard it is to find a job without information. When you arrive in a new country you should look for good information and resources.

The best way for me was to use special courses about employment. I chose a Clerical and Computer Skills course from a non-profit organization.

The help that I got from them was priceless. My teacher explained not only computer science. She shared information about business and workplace culture. For example, how to write a resume using Canadian conventions. Another thing I learned was how to find a good job with my work experience. Something that was especially useful to practice for a job interview.

However, a lot depends on your experience and your drive.
I hope using these tips will help everyone find their dream job in Canada.

When I first decided to move to Canada two years ago, I often heard that it was challenging for newcomers to secure jobs without Canadian experience. While there is some truth to this, it initially made me nervous as I didn't know what to expect when applying. I embarked on a journey of trial and error, focusing on tailoring my resume/CV to meet Canadian standards and emphasizing my strengths in relation to the job requirements. This process required significant effort and dedication, and I spent countless hours applying for jobs daily. It's worth noting that I began applying for jobs a year before my actual move to Canada. Some of these applications were more for interview practice than actual job prospects. The interview style in Canada was different from what I was accustomed to in the Middle East. I still remember my first interview, where I was asked if the session could be recorded for team members who couldn’t attend. This request made me uncomfortable at the time, but I didn't want to refuse, fearing it might be viewed negatively

It's important to approach interviews as a formal opportunity to get to know each other. Interviews are a two-way street; just as the employer wants to understand your skills and what you can bring to the table, you should be prepared to ask questions. Do your research beforehand.

Go the extra mile—don't just send out a generic resume to every job posting. In today's technological world, AI systems can detect certain keywords and might filter out your resume if it's not tailored appropriately. My job search took a whole year of applications, interviews, and a ton of rejections before I found a job. Understanding Canadian work culture and experience is important; it can be helpful to read about Canadian work ethics and culture before applying. Don't get discouraged, as it often takes several attempts before succeeding. Canada offers free services to newcomers for job application and resume review—take advantage of these resources. Rejection isn't necessarily a negative outcome; you can always ask for feedback on why you weren't selected, which can provide valuable insights. Some companies might even respond and give you constructive feedback.

In conclusion, be clear about what you're looking for, conduct thorough research, tailor your resume to each job, and don't hesitate to ask for help. The process may be tedious, but hard work is often required for rewarding outcomes.

Hi, my name is Harpreet, and I am going to tell you how I will start my own cleaning company. I want to start this business because owning your own business lets you make more money and I can choose my hours. I will feel more free if I work for myself.

First, I have to choose what kind of cleaning I will offer. I will offer deep cleaning in offices.

Next, I have to register my business. I have to get a business license. Also, I have to make sure the name of my business isn’t being used by someone else.

Then, I have to buy insurance. This will protect any lost or broken equipment. This will protect me if I break anything that I am cleaning. There are three types of insurance I need.
- General Liability Insurance
- Professional Liability Insurance
- Contents Insurance

Those are to protect me from unhappy clients flood, fire, or anything else.

Afterwards, I need to buy equipment to start the cleaning business. I will need things like brooms dustpans,mops, bucket,s vacuums,rags,and squeegees.

When I have some more money in my account I will buy more equipment like: a steam cleaner, floor waxer, window cleaning kits, and a high pressure washer.

Lastly, I need to stay active on social media platforms like: X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.

Learning English effectively involves immersing yourself in the language as much as possible. For example, watching movies or TV shows with subtitles can significantly enhance listening skills and comprehension. Besides, reading English books, newspapers, or online articles helps you build vocabulary and understand different contexts. Moreover, practicing speaking is crucial. Therefore, it is good to try to engage in conversations with native speakers or participate in language exchange groups. Also, there are some learning apps where you can improve your speaking skills.

Furthermore, writing regularly is another effective strategy. Keeping a journal, writing essays, or joining online forums provides practical application and helps you identify areas for improvement. In addition, it is essential to review and edit your work to catch and correct errors, reinforcing your learning. Additionally, setting small goals, such as learning a certain number of new words each week, can keep you motivated and track your progress. Finally, seeking feedback from teachers, language partners, or online communities can provide valuable insights and guide your improvement.

I want to share my experience passing the CELPIP test. I got this test for the PR process, and I chose between IELTS and CELPIP. IELTS is an international test, and it is very different from CELPIP because the last one is totally Canadian. For example, in the listening or reading part in IELTS you can hear different accents from different nationalities. Instead, in CELPIP it will be just Canadian pronunciation. One more difference is that the CELPIP test is totally on a computer instead of in IELTS where you will speak with a real person. Also, your writing part in CELPIP you will type on the computer. What is amazing is that it will show you your mistakes as you can see it just like when you are typing a regular message on your phone. In IELTS you will write everything manually and every mistake, such as punctuation or wrong written words will count.

The CELPIP test consists of 4 parts. There are listening, speaking, reading and writing. You will have 3 hours for the whole process and your time will not stop if you go to the restroom. In the speaking part you will have 8 tasks with a timeline. You will have just 1 try to record your answer. My advice is do not stop speaking if you even don't know what you should say because it will be better than silence. In the reading part it will be 3 or 4 tasks where you will choose 1 from 4 multiple choice answers and the complexity will be from easy to hard (it could be some article from a science magazine, for example). In the listening part it will be a few tasks such as video conversation or just voice recorder and you should choose the correct answer. The writing part will consist of 2 parts. You will write an email and then the second part will consist of explaining your position on a survey question.

In conclusion, I would give a couple pieces of advice. First advice for everybody is to take some additional courses with a teacher, who can give you structure for this test, and you will just fill it up with your knowledge. It was so useful for me to be ready for what I would expect. I knew the whole structure of writing and speaking. I tried at home, for example, recording my answer to the teacher for 60 or 90 seconds where I should have at least 3 ideas in every section. When I had 30 seconds for preparation, I tried to think of which 3 ideas I could give. The second piece of advice is to be sure of your knowledge and don't panic. Remember also, that in the reading part when you choose the correct answers it will include synonyms. They will try to confuse you, using the same words in answers as in the texts, but you should choose the synonyms for your correct answer.

I got a score of 7 on my test, and it should be enough for my PR. Good luck to everybody and hope you will achieve your goals.

In spite of the fact that there are many causes of global hunger, overall, there is enough food to feed every person in the world. However, unfortunately, not everyone has a chance to get the necessary food, and more than 700 million people are still starving. In order to reduce global hunger people should take some actions, such as reducing food waste, food sharing, and providing school meals.

Every time when we go to the store, we can see people who have enough money and access to food products and we can see the way they make their purchase. They buy a lot and a lot of food that probably they will not be able to eat and at the expiration time they just throw it away.

For me it does not mean that they are just throw their own money, it is more than that. It is very harmful to throw away food when there are so many people who are hungry in the world. If every person starts to buy food reasonably, they will save some food for others as well as their own money.

One more option to reduce global hunger is food sharing. In Canada, there are many locations where some can donate and others can get the food. It is a great opportunity for people in need. If this option is very popular and modern and it might be a good solution.

Finally, it is well known fact that most of all, children are in need of good quality and full of nutrients food and products. In this case schools all over the world (especially in developed countries) must provide balanced lunches for students at schools. It is a win-win situation. Children from wealthy families or wealthy countries will get knowledge about proper nutrition and healthy habits, and students from a poor environment will get access to the healthy food that they might not have at home. Moreover, it is about equality too.

Global hunger is not something that exists far away from us. It is hard to believe that in modern world there are a lot of starving people but it is true and everyone can do something to make someone’s life a little bit easier.

Every person has some period in life which they will always remember. That time, memories make you laugh, those warm feelings inside you which you will never forget. If you ask your friends about their memorable age they’re opinion will split. One of them said that it's a childhood period, when you are free and careless and don’t need to worry about school and job. The other said it when you were a student. You have had a lot of friends, little duties and not a big responsibility. That maturing period when you discover a lot of new things that you must try. Also someone can tell that the most memorable age is adulthood.

As for me, I’ll prefer the last one. My memorable age is adulthood. It's the best time for me , because I’m independent enough to take care of myself, I can take responsibility for all my actions, and can make my own decisions. I don't need to ask for permission from my parents and I can even help them with money.

So, I’m living in my memorable age right now and creating my unforgettable memories in this timeline. Since that time , when I started living alone I visited 6 countries, went to the mountains with my friends and slept in a tent at least 5 times per year. I can afford to go to a concert , theaters or cinema without hearing that it's wasting money, because I can afford it by myself. I enjoy my life and take all the opportunities that it gives me.

I am not in favor of use of steroids in sports. I think sports authorities consider steroids use as unethical and it is a good thing. There are various reasons why steroids are unethical like side effects on body. Steroids help to increase muscle mass and energy in body at the time of training. If we compare athletes who use steroids, and those who don’t while training, sometimes results in performance of both are very different. An athlete can release a big throw with the same training just because of use of steroids. They enhance the performance for a specific time period. On other hand, those who concentrate on his/her training with full dedication but do not use any kind of performance enhancers can be defeated. So, this would be the reason why I am against steroids in sports.

It is legal to grow marijuana for recreational and medical purposes in my country of origin. The subject is under discussion for several other regions because the legal permissions are available for specific landscapes not for the whole country. The controversy is either government has to make it legal for whole country or not. As per my viewpoint, it is good if government makes it legal. By doing this the production of medicines would be cheaper than now and government can export it to other countries.

Marijuana is one of the first grown plants by humans in history. It was used by humans more than 10,000 years ago. This is a multi-use plant. People use this for cloths, tents, drugs and several more things. With change in time and advancement in lifestyle the use of synthetic and artificial products increases day by day in the era of corporations that change mindset of peoples according to their benefits. Majority of governments are run by corporate houses by giving them commands from the back. Governments made new policies to give benefits to those heads, doesn’t matter if that are harmful for humanity and environment.

Same as this, synthetic drugs came on the market, and they increase the sale of drugs. Putting ban over natural substances such as marijuana and opium also increases the sale of synthetic products. On the prospective of harmful effects, marijuana is much better than alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol is much harmful, and tobacco causes cancer which are life threatening conditions. If marijuana were legalized by governments, people would reduce the use of alcohol and tobacco.

The question if athletes earn too much money is subjective and answer depends on ones point of view.

Athletes get paid a lot because their skills are in high demand. Teams and sponsors are willing to pay big money to attract the best talent, just like in other fields where talented people earn more.

Athletes have short careers due to the physical demands of their sports. Their high salaries make up for the fact that they can only earn top money for a limited time and might face health issues later.

Whether athletes earn too much is really about personal opinion. Different people and cultures see it differently based on what they think is fair pay.

In summary, the debate about athlete salaries is complex. It's not just about money but also about what's fair and how sports fit into society.

My home town is a beautiful city. The food is wonderful, people are always friendly, and there are so many places to visit. First, there are many types of food like rice and curry, thosai, idly, and hoppers. I like to eat thosai and hoppers. Second, everyone knows everyone else. Third, my hometown has temples, beaches and parks. I like to visit Nallur Temple and beaches. I really enjoy it here. My hometown is made up of a number of small towns that make up our community. I think my hometown is the best place in the world and it is my most favorite place in the whole world.

In this paragraph, I will compare my hometown with Saskatoon. In my home town of Lascanod its surrounded by mountain and hills while Saskatoon city is prairie land.

Secondly my town has only two main road connecting to other town while Saskatoon city have many roads connecting different towns and cities.

Thirdly my home town experiences two seasons which is summer and spring and Saskatoon city experiences four seasons winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Lastly my home town is less populated while Saskatoon is over populated city with different communities and national.

In conclusion, both cities share some similarities.

This summer holiday, I went back to my hometown city , GuangZhou, China, with my son to visit my mom, and my younger brother. This is the first time we went back in five years. I really experienced the reverse cultural shock.

First of all, I believe that the weather in GuangZhou city significantly contributed to my reverse cultural shock. My home city, Guangzhou, is located in the southern region of China, which has a unique climate. Guangzhou is known for its humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, humid summers. This summer, Guangzhou experienced a significant amount of rainfall, especially during the monsoon season from April to September. Coincidentally, my son and I decided to visit the city during this period, and its hot and humid summers left our skin feeling greasy. As soon as we stepped out of the house for a few minutes, we started sweating. On the other hand, my second home city, Toronto, is the opposite as its air is really dry. So, I felt overwhelmed by the frequent rain, thunderstorms, and need to frequently take a shower.

What is more, with new trends, social norms, or even different languages becoming more prominent, I figured out that the cultural landscape felt different than what I had experienced when I was young. With rapid development for the past 10 years, Guangzhou has a vibrant mix of traditional and modern influences. With globalization and economic growth, the city has seen an increase in international businesses, restaurants, and a more diverse population. More and more people speak Mandarin than Cantonese now. People from different provinces are finding jobs here, as Guangzhou is one of the biggest cities in China. This has resulted in a cultural landscape that feels different from what I remember.

The third factor was technological advancements. China, including Guangzhou, has been at the forefront of technological advancements. I noticed the widespread use of digital payments, high-tech gadgets, smart city applications, and other technological innovations that have become integrated into daily life. Adapting to these changes was a little challenging for me. I felt myself like an old woman who comes from a small village.

Returning to a city that has undergone rapid changes like GuangZhou city is a disorienting experience. I felt a sense of loss for the familiar environment I once knew, along with the challenge of adapting to a place that seems both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

Lviv is a beautiful corner of Western Ukraine. How many warm thoughts and memories this city evokes. Probably all over the world . There is no person who, having visited this city, would not want to return again. Landscapes, architecture, friendly residents, coffee, chocolate - all this is a small list of what Lviv is famous for today.

Lviv is a special place for me, warm and cozy, even with its constant rains, you can feel calm there.

Unfortunately, because of the war, I haven’t been there for several years, I miss my home very much, and I hope that in the near future I will be able to visit my native Lviv.

I will never forgets my Motherland country. I have tons of childhood memories from my country. Afghanistan has unique and blest culture, food and nature.

Afghanistan has individual culture. indeed, Afghan culture is known for its genuine culture and Afghan people generally put their family's interests before their own. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has true Islamic culture, and the majority people are practicing Islam. Secondly, Afghan people are kind and courteous to older people, traditionally its part of our culture to take care and respect for the elders. Overall, we can only say that Afghan culture is an authentic ancient culture and Afghanistan has the most diverse cultures.

Afghanistan cuisine is renowned for rich variety of flavor meats and dishes. Afghanistan has amazingly restaurants in every country in terms of food quality and taste. Indeed, Afghan food has all the essential components like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to ensure a healthy, balanced meal. Furthermore, Afghan kebabs and qabuli are incredibly famous, the unique ingredients and traditional cooking methods make Afghan kebabs and qabuli particularly memorable. Lastly Afghan cuisine is growing quickly. Over the last years, it has become easier to find Afghani restaurants in every countries.

Afghanistan nature is the most beautiful and likable nature that I know. Afghanistan nature mostly covers forbidding mountains and dry desert. Although, Afghanistan has dramatic geography and varied climates with beautiful summer and winter. Therefore, Afghanistan nature is a great variety of wild animals roaming the mountains and foothills, including wolves, foxes, striped hyenas, and jackals. Additionally, Band-e Amir (Amir Lake) is one of Afghanistan’s most incredible natural wonders, Amir Lake is one of the few rare natural lakes in the world which are created by travertine systems. Finally, Afghanistan has an arid continental climate with considerable temperature and precipitation variation between seasons.

Although my hometown of Sumy, Ukraine and Toronto, Ontario where I currently live, are vastly different, both have their own unique charms. While Toronto boasts modern skyscrapers and a diverse population, my hometown is characterized by its historic architecture and close-knit community. In contrast to Toronto’s bustling urban environment, Sumy is quieter and more relaxed. Despite these differences, both places offer a strong sense of belonging and pride.

Moreover, the cultural experiences in Toronto, such as international cuisine and festivals, are more varied compared to the traditional, local events in Sumy. On the other hand, the natural beauty of Sumy, with its rolling hills and serene landscapes, offers a tranquility that is hard to find in Toronto’s fast-paced life. Whereas Toronto is known for its vibrant nightlife and opportunities, Sumy provides a peaceful retreat. But no matter where I am, both places feel like home to me in different ways.

I come from Eritrea. Eritrea is located in northeastern Africa. It borders Sudan in the northwest, Ethiopia in the south, Djibouti in the southeast and the Red Sea in the northeast. Eritrea has almost four million inhabitants. The capital is called Asmera. I lived in a small village called Akebgorzo until I was 9 years old. That is where my father was born.

People live differently there than in the city. They live in traditional houses called Hdmonas. These houses are made of masonry walls, wooden ceilings and soil-roofs. All of the family members sleep together and eat with their hands. One of the staple foods is Injera (flat bread). It is made of teff flour. Different types of spicy vegetables, chicken and meat are served with it. Women and girls wear loose long white dresses. Men and boys wear loose long white pants and long white tunics over their pants. This clothing is made from silk or rayon. These outfits are very comfortable.

The people of my hometown like to dance and sing. They play traditional Eritrian music and do traditional dances for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, holidays and outdoor festivals.

I would like to visit my homeland and see all of my relatives and friends from my childhood.

Today I want to tell you about the types of houses built in Ukraine. Houses in my country have the same size as the Canadian ones. In Ukraine people don't build homes with wood; they are usually made with cement and concrete blocks. Also, they are not built with a basement; instead, people make an attic under the roof. The garage and the house are not built together; they are made separately. Ukrainian people like to build a balcony at the upper floor of their house. All the rest is very similar with Canadian homes, but the backyard is different.

In Ukraine people try to use the backyard as an extra-large garden. They like to cultivate vegetables and fruits. Also, people make barns for domestic animals and for storage. I almost forgot about the fence; every house and property have a fence and the bigger it is the better. When you buy a house in Ukraine, it comes with cupboards and stove in the kitchen, but the fridge and microwave are not included. The newly built houses come with a dishwasher, but the older houses do not have this included. When all these items are included, the sale price is higher for the house.

I hope now you have an idea about houses in Ukraine.

There are advantages to owning a home. My children can freely run around the house without worrying about disturbing neighbors or other tenants. Most importantly, we don't worry about the landlord announcing an increase in the rental price or taking back the house.

If we are unlucky enough to buy an old house it can be leaky and old and use an oil furnace. We would have to spend a lot of money and time replacing it. The houses in Canada are quite different to the houses in Vietnam.

Vietnamese houses are mostly built with bricks and cement and do not have basements . Each bedroom has a bathroom .The house is equipped with a lot of light, including in the bedroom. The floor is made of glazed tiles for easy living and cleaning which is convenient . Most house have small area so there is only a small yard in front of the house, enough to park one or two motorbikes.

I would like to buy a modern, new house in Canada.

First of all, I want to say that each generation had its features connecting with getting birth and raising children. Nowadays in Europe and the biggest part of South America and North America there is a trend to become parents after 30 or even 40 years of age. This tendency has its advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s start with advantages. To my mind, elder parents are ready to take care of kids because, as usual, it is their conscious decision. You need to be ready to change your habits, lifestyle and to be ready to sacrifice your time, power and desires. Young parents can be unable to cope with all the challenges of parenthood.

Next, financial situation of the family influences a lot on the decision to have kids. People try to build their carriers at first, to buy the house, make savings and then create families. I am sure that it is more pleasant to feel independent and have everything your baby needs. On the other hand, young parents can face a lot of problems because of lack of money. A large number of couples break down because of the small income and misunderstandings connected with money.

Last but not the least, until 30 or 40 you have enough time to enjoy your life, to travel all over the world, to develop yourself and to earn money. It doesn’t mean that you can’t do whatever you want having kids but it is really harder. Your life is not longer yours after the birth of a child.

Talking about disadvantages I’d like to start with the health. Despite all medical achievements our reproductive age is not endless. Living your ideal life without kids, you can just lose your opportunity to give birth to your own child and you will never turn back your time. In addition, according to the research the older the mother, the higher the risk of health problems for the baby.

We have an expression in Ukraine: late kids – early orphans. For those countries whose citizens’ life expectancy is not so long, it can be a disaster. Children need their parents even when they are 20 or 30. But now we see that teenagers must take care of their retired parents and cope with really adult problems because of the big difference in their ages.

In conclusion, I can say that we are lucky to have a choice. There is no right or wrong decision when to give birth to kids or not to have them at all. But everybody must realize that our choice influences our lives and waisted time will never be returned.

All pets are one of the beauties that God gives us. I love all pets but cats are most special for me. I can understand them. Also, cats are playful and loyal. In my country, people can feed all stray dogs and cats, however they can take care of them at home. Pets can go outside and come back. Unlike, In Canada, you can't leave your pets outside. In my opinion, pets should go outside freely, and this world is not just for people. I know that outside is not safe for them, but they will be happier than now. In Canada, I don't have any pets because my house is small, and my husband has an allergy. I believe that one day I'll own dogs and cats.

Today, you can meet many people who have one or more animals in the house. Animals bring not only happiness to the house but also additional responsibility. Pets depend on their owners throughout their lives, no matter how long that is. Therefore, it is very important to think about everything before getting a pet. From my perspective, I would like to provide several points that will help you evaluate your capabilities and make you think about how ready you are for this kind of responsibility:

1. Take care of pets. Occasionally, this can be for more than 10-15 years.
2. Carefully choose the pet that is suitable for your home and lifestyle. Please do not make impulsive decisions.
3. Try to admit that caring for an animal requires both costs and time.
4. Keep only the number of animals for which it is possible to provide a suitable habitat that will protect their health and well-being. Also, minimize the stress or discomfort of the pets.
5. Provide the pet with proper veterinary care: vaccinations, consultations, parasite treatment, and other procedures as needed.
6. Socialize and educate pets and engage in their physical and mental activity.
7. Arrange for someone to take care of your pet if you cannot do it yourself for a while.
8. Monitor the quality of life of your pet.

I hope that all these points will make each reader think and help them make the right decision. I wish you good luck in finding your four-legged friend!

Have you ever thought about getting a pet but hesitated? Many people choose pets based on how easy they are to care for. If you are concerned about maintenance, interaction, and protection, then a fish might not be the best choice. Let's find out why.

Taking care of a fish tank can be time-consuming and challenging. It requires regular cleaning and constant monitoring of water quality to keep the fish healthy. You can't interact much with a fish, unlike dogs or cats. You can't play with them or train them. If meaningful interaction is important to you, a fish might not be the best choice. Protecting a fish can also be more difficult than caring for other pets. Fish are sensitive to changes in their environment, which can lead to health issues. They require special equipment and frequent monitoring to ensure their safety, which can be challenging and expensive.

If these aspects are important to you, a fish may not be the best pet choice. Considering the amount of work involved and the limited interaction they offer, other pets might better meet your needs and preferences.

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 12 people

Ingredients

• 2 boxes macaroni (any type)
• 2 cans evaporated milk
• 1 stick butter (1/2 stick for sautéing the onions and peppers, and the other 1/2 stick for the sauce)
• 1 small onion
• 1/2 of a green, red, orange, and yellow bell pepper (diced or minced)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 8 oz mild cheese
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp seasoning salt

Directions

Add 1/2 stick of butter into a frying pan, add diced peppers and diced onion, and let it cook until the bell peppers and onion are soft. Remove the sautéed onions and peppers from the stove. Then, add the other 1/2 stick of butter, 1/4 cup flour, and 2 cans of evaporated milk. Stir until the milk thickens, continuing to stir constantly.

Add 8 oz extra sharp cheese, 8 oz mild cheese, 8 oz mozzarella cheese, 4 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp seasoning salt, and 1 tbsp paprika. Mix in the onion and pepper mixture until it looks crumbly.

In a baking dish, combine the macaroni and the sauce. Mix everything together, and then grate some cheese on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until it is golden brown. Wait 15 minutes before serving as a side dish.

I would like to tell you about some traditional food from my country. It is very popular and people usually eat it every Sunday. It is called couscous. Here is what you need:

• 1 large pot and a big mixing spoon
• Vegetables :two onions ,100 grams chickpeas and two pieces of pumpkin.
• Meats: four pieces of lamb (about 750 grams)
• Spices: 1 tbsp salt ½ tbsp black pepper,2 tbsp concentrated tomato, 2 tbsp paprika,½ tbsp Ground turmeric.
• Water: you need two liters of water.
• Vegetable oil,½ cup
• Couscous,half a kilo (it is bubbled in its own pot over water for 20 minutes)

On a medium temperature,put the oil, onions,meat, chickpeas,sat,black pepper and concentrated tomatoes. Then fry all the ingredients together gradually add 2 liters ½ of water and leave it until it boils.

We place the couscous on top of the pot to steam the couscous on top of it ,after we have soaked it in a large cup of hot water,stirring, leave it to steam for 20 minutes. Then put it aside and cover it with a napkin.

When the meat is cooked, pour the couscous into a dish, put the broth on it and stir until the broth is absorbed, then pour the rest of the ingredients over it and it will be ready to eat. I hope you like this delicious popular Tunisian dish.

Try it one day.

I would like to talk about my favourite food during Thanksgiving.

Song-pyeon is one of traditional Korean rice cakes, typically made during Korean Thanksgiving Chooseok in fall. Here are steps to make Song-pyeon.

Ingredients:
Short-grain rice flour, not glutinous rice flour, salt, water, pine needles.

Filling options:
Sesame seeds with brown sugar (most common option), red bean paste, chestnuts…

Steps:

1. Bring a large mixing bowl, mix the rice flours with a half teaspoon of salt.
2. Add warm water slowly, then stirring continuously to form a dough.
3. When it is done, cover the dough with a slightly wet cloth to prevent it from drying out.
4. Choose your favourite filling option such as sesame seeds with brown sugar.
5. Take a small piece of dough, flatten it like a thin circle using your hands.
6. Place the filling with a teaspoon, put it in the center of the dough.
7. Carefully close over the filling and pinch the edge to seal it then make it as moon shape.
8. Prepare a big pot with a steamer, put pine needles to add aroma.
9. Place the shaped song-pyeon on the pine needles, make sure they do not touch each other to prevent sticking to each other.
10. Steam it around 20 minutes, until the song-pyeon is fully cooked.
11. After steaming, brush song-pyeon with sesame oil to prevent them sticking to each other and give a glossy look.
12. Let the song-pyeon(s) cool a couple of minutes before serving.

How to store Song-pyeon:

1. If you want to keep Song-pyeon for a few days, put them in a Lock and Lock container or a Ziplock in a fridge. Before eating, steam them again about 10 minutes.
2. To keep Song-pyeon a long period time, keep them in a Lock and Lock container and freeze. When you want to eat, steam them for 20 minutes until hot inside of Song-pyeon.
3. If you are not eating Song-pyeon right away, cover them with a damp cloth

I love Song-pyeon because it is a special food we can only enjoy during Chooseok. The sweet filling inside of Song-pyeon was my favourite when I was a child. The most memorable things are my family gathering together during the Chooseok holidays, making Thanksgiving foods, especially Song-pyeon. We were all working together, chatting and enjoying the Chooseok atmosphere. I miss those things when Thanksgiving comes.

Song-pyeon has a special meaning. As I mentioned above, the circle shape of Song-pyeon symbolizes the full moon during Chooseok. I remember my grandmother said that if you shape Song-pyeon or Mandu(dumpling) well, your future daughter will be beautiful. So, when I shaped Song-pyeons I did my best all the time.

References:

https://www.10000recipe.com/recipe/6943257

https://kin.naver.com/qna/detail.naver?d1id=13&dirId=130105&docId=116794987&qb=6riw67O4IOyGoe2OuCDssJzquLAg64OJ64+ZIDIw67aE&enc=utf8§ion=kin.qna_ency_cafe&rank=1&search_sort=0&spq=0

Winter is just around the corner and if you catch a cold, before taking any medication, try this natural remedy for cold. It is considered a very good remedy for cold in my native country.

Ingredients:

• Honey (2 Or 3 Tbsp)
• Lemon (2 Tbsp)
• 1 Onion
• Water (3 Tbsp)

Cooking Instructions

1. Grate onion in a bowl. You may use a grater or a chopper for this purpose. Please do not add any water.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of honey, and now 3 tablespoons of water. Mix them well.

It is ready to drink. You can drink it 3 times a day till you start feeling better.

Ingredients:

• 600ml water
• 600ml uncooked glutinous white rice (sushi rice)
• 75ml sushi vinegar
• 2 pieces of dry seaweed (with one piece cut in half for use)
• One cucumber (cut into 20g strips with the seeds removed20g per roll)
• One avocado (peeled and cored, cut into 2cm thick cloves, 20g per roll)
• 240g crabmeat puree (60g per roll)

First, cut the cucumber into strips that are 1cm thick and 20cm long, then cut and peel off the core with a cross knife. Cut the avocado into 0.5cm thick avocado slices.

Second, put the sushi rice evenly on the seaweed, turning the seaweed side upside down, with the rice on it.

Then, put 1 cucumber stick, 2 pieces of avocado and 60g crabmeat puree in the center of seaweed.

After that, roll up the seaweed in the bamboo curtain to make a sushi roll.

Next, sprinkle sesame seeds and fish eggs on top of the roll.

Finally, cut the sushi into 8 pieces and put them on a plate. Enjoy!

Papdi and Khichu – Traditional Indian (Gujarati) appetizer

This is a traditional Gujarati dish that can be eaten at any time with meals or on its own. It’s very famous in Gujarat, India. People make them and store them for the entire year.

Papdis can be eaten in many ways such as a snack, called khichu, or sun-dried and eaten with lunch or dinner meals. Sun-dried Papdis need bright sunny weather to dry thoroughly.

Ingredients:

• Rice flour:1 kg
• Sabudana flour/tapioca pearl :1 full tablespoon
• Wheat flour (optional): 1 full tablespoon
• Salt as per taste
• Green/chopped chillies :1 full tablespoon
• Cumin: 1 full teaspoon
• Ajwain/carom seeds :1 full teaspoon
• Sanchar/black salt: 1 tablespoon
• Sesame seed :1 teaspoon
• Oil

(all ingredients are available in Indian grocery stores)

Ingredients:
- idli maker(steamer)
- Large pots -2

1. Take pot 1 almost filled with water, put it on the stove on medium flame and bring the water to a rolling boil.
2. Add some crushed/chopped green chilies, cumin, ajwain, Sanchar powder, and salt to taste in the water.
3. Take pot 2 for mixing the dry ingredients listed above including rice. Add remaining cumin, ajwain, sesame seed, and salt to taste.
4. Pour the boiling water from pot 1 into this pot, and mix well until it becomes a runny dough
5. Make sure to use a large spatula for mixing the dough while the water is still boiling. Water must be boiling so that the papdis turn out the way we want them to.
6. Now it’s time to pour the hot watery dough/mixture into the idli maker/steamer tray to steam it. Put it on high flame on the stove. Make sure to grease the steamer’s tray with oil before you pour the dough. Spread the dough in the steamer plate evenly and let it cook on high flame for 25-30 minutes.
7. Take out the dough from the steamer and knead with hand. Divide the dough into small balls and roll them into thin big rounds like pita on a large tray.
8. Make sure the papdis are thin and round because they shrink after drying. Place them in a large tray, cover them with wax paper/baking sheet and put the tray, preferably outside in the sun.
9. When completely dry, they are ready to use. They can be roasted on the stove in medium flame till they are crispy and crunchy and can be eaten with meals.
10. Re Step 7: You can apply a little oil to the steamed dough, roll it in any shape and eat it for breakfast ( Khichu) for breakfast or as a snack. Khichu can be stored in the fridge and eaten within a day or two.

Eat in any form you would like and Enjoy!

This recipe is my one of favorite . It's made with chicken and bitter melon. Bitter melon is full of source of vitamin C. It's also great for skin and bones. Chicken builds muscle and strong bones.

Cooking Tools:

• One large size pot for cooking the chicken.
• One medium size pan for frying the bitter melon.
• Knives to cut the bitter melon and tomato.

Ingredients:

• One cup of oil Three onions Two tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon ginger& garlic paste
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder 1 teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 3 tablespoon yogurt
• Green chillies 1 kg chicken
• Half kg bitter melon

Cooking Preparations:
- Wash and slice the bitter melon.
- Soak the slices in salted & turmeric water for about 15 minutes.
- Then rinse and drain the bitter melon.
- Wash the chicken and cut in small pieces.
- Cut the onions & green chillies and tomatoes.

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a frying pan pour oil and when oil is hot add the bitter melon slices and sliced onions.
2. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes or until the bitter melon is tender.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pot. When oil is hot add onions. Fry until golden brown.
4. Add chicken and fry until brown. This time add ginger& garlic paste ,salt, red chili, turmeric, coriander, cumin powder and add water. Then add tomatoes and yogurt. When all the things are fry chicken cooked.
5. Lastly , add the fried bitter melon to the chicken. Cook 5 minutes.

Serve hot with steamed rice and chapati.
Enjoy your chicken and bitter melon stir-fry.

This soup I prepare for my family at any time of the year. It is very light and, at the same time, very healthy soup, as it contains a lot of vitamins, trace elements, and Omega 3, 6.

For preparation, you will need:

Fish fillets (to your taste) I use

• Salmon - 300 gr.
• Tuna 200 gr.
• Shrimp 400 gr.
• Mussels 300 gr.
• Escalopes 200 g.
• Carrots 1 pcs.
• Onions 1pc.
• Potatoes 3 pcs.
• Tomato 2 pcs.
• Garlic 2–3 cloves
• Laurel leaf 2 pcs.

Put potatoes in boiling water (3 litre pot). While the potatoes are boiling, fry the onions and carrots in a frying pan until golden. Cut the fish fillets into small pieces. Remove the skin from the tomato and cut into cubes. Chop the greens finely. Peel the garlic and put it through a garlic press. Rinse the seafood under running water.

When the potatoes are ready, add the fish fillets. After 10 minutes, add the seafood and cook for another 5 minutes. Then add the tomatoes and herbs and cook for another 3 minutes. At the end, add the garlic and cover with a lid.

Bon appétit.