Hi Debra, how are you?
I'm fine, it's getting cold here though.  On the morning, it's -3 degrees.  Can you imagine?  Still autumn!!  I cannot imagine the winter here.
I have a lot of assignment every day.  Now I take "business strategy" for enrichment class.  It's very difficult but interesting.  I have to write a 500-word report about management.  Next Monday is Thanks Giving Day!  Maybe we will have a party.  Every Friday or Saturday, I have a party...  Then, I gained my weight. But in Canada, you know, I'm very small.  I can wear small-size clothes here.  That's a problem. I will write to you soon. Take care and keep in touch.

Hiro

Hello Hiro:

I was so happy to get your e-mail.  We really miss you in our class but I understand that you are happy there and making lots of new friends.  That's great!  Don't make too many friends so that you don't want to return to Japan though, o.k.?  Ha ha.

Last week a friend of yours Miyu tried our Thursday class but unfortunately everyone was absent except for Mari.  With the nuclear accident here a lot of students are busy and have taken oyasumi for October. She will come to try tonight's 6:45 class and maybe she will like it better. I would like to see her join your old Thursday night class though because the new text book if a good way to prepare for the TOEFL exam and she says this is her main goal.

Tell me more about your life there.  Do you find it more exciting than Japan?  I'm sure your English is improving every day.  Anytime you would like to write an e-mail to the class for me to read, please do.  Everyone asks about you and they would like to hear about your new life and what it is like to live in a foreign country.  If you aren't too busy, it would be great if you could send a letter to the class.

Take care of yourself and thanks for staying in touch.  I was so sorry I couldn't go to the Drunkin Duck with you and Mari before you left.  At that time I was having problems with my car.  I hope to see you again soon.

Fond Regards.
Debra

Hi Debra, how are you?
How is the weather in Japan?  Yesterday, we had a snow here.  So cold! Now I have some mid-term big assignments.  I had never have such too much homework in Japan.  University students are so busy here that Japanese students cannot imagine their life...

The city officers had been on strike for 6 weeks in Kingston, Ontario where I live but it finished last Wednesday.  During the strike, we couldn't take a bus and we had to keep all garbage.

I don't know what your students want to know... But these are the current news here.

Take care
Hiro

Hi Hiro:

So good to hear from you.  We were just talking about you the other day and wondering how you are getting along.  Yes, I agree that Japanese students have no concept of  university systems outside of Japan.  THe work work load is indeed incredible.  I know how busy you must be and writing e-mail is difficult to find time to do. I really appreciate your thinking of me and letting me know how you are.  I am concerned about your friend who would like to enter Seneca College.  She came over the other night with Tomi after class and I felt badly that I couldn't invite them inside.  Amanda had been home with a high fever for several days and I thought she might be contagious.

Too bad about the government being on strike there.  It must have been terrible to put up with garbage for so long.  At least you don't have to worry about radiation contamination.  I'm sure you heard of the JCO accident.  Many of our students are over worked these days as a result. Keep up the good work.  We look forward to your return in the spring.  Don't study too hard though and save some time for rest and relaxation.  You need to have some fun too.  Are you still having lots of parties?

Take care of yourself.
Fond Regards.
Debra

Hi Debra,
Today is the Remembrance Day in Canada. It's memorial day of Canadian soldiers. I attended the ceremony, learned about World War I & II, Korean War and sang "O Canada".  The end of the ceremony, the music of bagpipe was come out.  It was so nice.

My assignments are lots of research of Canada.  Then write reports and have presentations... every day. I need more time!

See you
Hiro

Hi Hiro:

I loved your e-mail.  Would you mind if we print it in our school's newsletter?  Please let me know asap so we can include it in December if you will allow us to.

Hope all is going well.  Please stay in touch and stay warm!
Fond Regards.
Debra

Hi Debra, of course you can use it. I'm happy that you pleased my e-mail. I'll send you when I have news here.In this week, I have 2 presentations.  I have to speak for 8 minutes for each without paper!

Take care
Hiro

Thanks so much for approving our idea to publish your news from Canada. Students often ask about you and if you want to write a little column from Canada with any news you have we are happy to put it in the newsletter. Good luck with your presentations.  I know you are nervous that you can't use notes.  Just relax and try not to think too hard.  Your English is very good and you have such a pretty smile.  Use it!

Good luck!
Debra

Dear Debra,

The day before yesterday, I had a presentation.  My topic was "Strategy of Tim Hortons(most poplar donut shop in Canada)".  Teacher told me Very GooD! I will have one more presentation in the next class. My topic is "Immigration in Canada".  I will use Video and show the present situation and tell about the history.

Take care!

Love Hiro

Hi Hiro:

What has been going on in Canada?  I haven't heard from you in a while.  I leave Wednesday for two weeks in the US.  Write and tell us how you are doing.  We wait for your e-mail.

Fond Regards.
Debra

Hi Debra, I'm sorry that I haven't written to you for long.  Actually, I have been very busy since January. The weather in Canada is not bad, not good.  When it's snowing, around -4 degrees, not so cold.  But if the sun shines after snowing, it would be -20 degrees.  In January, we had -42 degrees.  Freezing!!! Now I have a lot of literature homework and presentation.  Every day I write essay, essay, essay...  My classmates are noisy and crazy.  We have a lot of arguments in the class.  We insist our opinions strongly.  So funny.  Sometimes class become like fight!  Recently, we discuss about "marriage" in the class.  If you are interested in this topic, I'll tell you our debate.  Maybe Japanese guys don't like my story.  Also, I argued about our history with Korean guys (we asked Canadian friend to listen our opinions as a third person.)with drinking.  It was complicated but good experience. Besides, I'm taking the class "Canadian Culture through History".  I also have a lot of Quebecer friends (they don't say "I'm Canadian" but "Quebecer".) so that I can tell you about the real problems in Canada between French Canadian and English Canadian.  I forget if I told you or not but it's not true that Canadian can speak both English and French. There are a lot of problems between them. I'll have to go... Happy Valentine and Have a nice trip!

Hiro

Hello there, how are you? Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day! So we wore "green" clothes.  All Irish Pubs in Kingston were full of people from morning.  We could drink "green" beer at the pub and also we could see "green" rice in the cafeteria in university.  My friend drew clovers on my cheek, so many people said to me, "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"

Hiro

Hi Hiro:

I feel terrible that it took so long to write to you.  I went to the US twice in two months.  The first time I was there for three weeks and the second time for only three days!  The school is going well, but we miss you. Are you coming back to Japan? Thanks for the e-mail about St. Patrick's Day.  I am going to print it out and put it on the bulletin board. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Debra

Hello.  You must have been busy!  Me too.  I have just finished all research essays and presentations.  I'll go back to Japan in August, maybe...depends on my money. Now in Canada, people start to wear T-shirt, it's around 7-10 degrees though.  First I thought they are crazy.  But now I can understand their feeling.  We had -35 degrees.  Now it's like the beginning of the summer??? for us.

Hiro

Hi Hiro:

I haven't heard from you in a long time.  How is it going in Canada? I have been to the US about four times this year.  I have been really busybuying new materials for the school and also my daughter has been sick. How is school going?  When will you return to Japan? Please let us hear from you.

Best Regards.
Debra

Hello Debra.  Thank you for e-mail and sorry that I have not written to you for lone time. Now I'm taking computer programming course and natural writing course at college.  Yesterday was the deadline for programming assignment, today is the deadline for essay(1200 words) though I didn't finish yet(I've written just 300 words...), then tomorrow is the test of programming...  I'm gonna be dead!!!

I'm busy though I really enjoy my life here. Could you give me your address?  So I can send you postcards or pictures of Canada. I'll tell you about Canada more next time.Sorry but I'm so busy...

Hiro

Hi Debra, How are you and your family? I hope your daughter is fine now.  Is Ms. Ou in England now?  I got e-mail from her once though I'm not sure. My writing course will finish today.  I found that my expressions are still Japanese-English...   Sometimes my teacher says to me that it doesn't make sense to him.  Maybe because it related to culture, isn't it? Soooo difficult.  My teacher is a professional writer so his expressions are beautiful. I try to buy a lot of books and videos.  I read "Snow falling on cedar" and "Memoirs of geisha".  Those are wonderful stories.  Now I'm reading "The bluest eyes" which is the best seller here.

I have to go.
Take care   Hiro

Best Wishes!
Debra

Hello.  Here, we have a lot of rainy days like rainy season in Japan.  It's totally different from last summer.  What's happening here??? I'm just wondering how I can keep my English skill in Japan.  All my friends who'd already gone back told me that their English skill fell like a waterfalls... Do you have any ideas???

Hiro