Piro's 加国見聞録

April 28th, 2007.
The day that I went back to Japan finally came.

Considering the record of the past year, I had learned so many things in this foreign country. I feel like I could learn the bigger thing than just learning English. I think we Japanese can learn very fundamental attitude to live here. Haven't we forgotten the important thing in Japan？

Absolutely, a year that I lived in Canada must be very very very significant for me. I believe I changed compared to the passed self and also I would like to change myself in Japan from now on.

Then someday I want to visit this country again. And I want Canada to the show grown-up self at that time.

Farewell, Canada！ See you again！






This is the last episode of 加国見聞録. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to people who have ever read 加国見聞録. Thanks a million

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The day before going back to Japan, I went to Jericho Beach.

Because when I went to UBC the other day, I knew I could see some tankers in English Bay at a short distance. I wanted to see tankers at any cost. You think I am crasy? I don't know why I want to do that. You can laugh if you want.















Jericho Park also has green and quiet park.


The Beach.

Since playing in the beach was out of season, there was few people, like people playing with their dogs.




The tankers in English Bay.


I was really excited to see them at a close range.







And I walked to the tip of the cape.


On the way there, some birds were frightened and flew away from me. I was able to see the downtown over the birds.





The tip of the cape.

Two birds waited for me and one of them asked me like this.

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○ Mr.Bird: "I heard over the grapevine that you will go back to Japan tomorrow. That's true?"
● Piro: "Exactly. To be honest, I would like to stay longer here. I have no choice..."
○ Mr.Bird: "Don't be sad. We are under the same sky. We can meet each other someday!"
● Piro: "I hope so. See you someday! And if it cannot come true, see you next life!!"
○ Mr.Bird: "Have a wonderful life, my friend!"
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And the bird flew away over the sky...










After that, I went back to the gate of the park. This park was very nice for me. It was beatiful and quiet. And it has green grass, some ponds, beach and tankers. It was the first time for me to visit this park. I should have been to this park earlier.






I had to go back to my room and prepere for going back to Japan. Yes, I will go back to Japan tomorrow.....

I have lived in downtown, Vancouver. I'd like to introduce my apartment.

The appearance of my apartment.














The entrance.










The lobby of the 1st floor.

The manager lives in this floor. He is a middle-aged guy and looks very kind. The way he speaks sounds very gentle.

My room is in the 7th floor.
And the appearance of my room.



The kitchen.


























Washing machines and dryers are put in the basement.

It costs CA$2.00 to use washing machine and it costs CA$1.50 to use dryer. Slightly expensive, isn't it?

I love "Tim Hortons"


"Tim Hortons" is one of the most famous and popular fast food restaurant in Canada. They are selling donuts mainly. When I traveled in Canada last summer, I saw "Tim Hortons" all over this country, even remote regions. (I've thought "SUBWAY" has the largest number of the shops in Canada. And "Tim Hortons" has the second largest number of the shops. "Tim Hortons" is more than McDonald's. That's for sure.)

Why do I like "Tim Hortons"? Because I love the following menus.

[Iced Cappuccino]

It's commonly known as "Iced Capp". It's way too delicious! Creamy and sweet. Even though the texture seems 'Frappuccino' of "STARBUCKS", the small size of "Iced Capp" costs just CA$1.90! That's affordable, isn't it? If you have a chance to visit Canada, you should try it!








[Chili Combo]

This menu has Chili, garlic toast, a donut and drink like coffee. We can choose kind of garlic toast, white or wheat. Furthermore, we can choose our favorite donut. Chili tastes very good! It costs CA$5.67. It isn't also expensive, is it?

I have been to "Tim Hortons" so many times. I will miss it greatly So I wish "Tim Hortons" expanded into Japan on a massive scale

Cakra. It is only a element constituting everything in the world. Not only substance but also conception...

Life is also made of Cakra. Later, human beings call it reincarnation. That is to say, even if human die, they will be born again all at once.

One day, people realized such a mechanism. As a result, the following phenomena happened.

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People act by instinct, even though their behavior was pretty bad, such as criminal offenses. if their conduct caused bad consequence, they could start again from the beginning after rebirth. Therefore, human beings had never thought much of their life seriously. And the world got in the chaos...
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A noble spirit had deeply been concerned by this situation for long periods of time. And the spirit made a decision. The decision was cutting Cakra. In consequence, Cakra became a straight line. Since then, human haven't been able to be born again. Their life became one-time-only. However life kept decreasing in this case, the spirit gave the ability of passing down life to all life.


Time goes by and life has been living their straight-line life. And all life may have a dream tonight...◆

Commercial Drive.



The name of this street doesn't use "street" or "avenue". I like this street's name the best in Vancouver. Because I think the name is wicked for some reason. That's why I'd like to introduce this street in my blog.





Since I visited this street on Sunday, there were many people on this street. A lot of people enjoyed their meal outside restaurants.

We can see downtown from this street.

When I went to UBC, I also visited "Nitobe Memorial Garden", which is located in UBC.


You know "Nitobe" means renowned "Dr. Inazo Nitobe". This garden was built in remembrance of Dr. Nitobe who died in Victoria, BC. The brochure I got at the ticket office says the following description.

The Nitobe Memorial Garden is considered to be one of the best traditional Japanese gardens in North America and among the top five outside Japan.











The entrance.


The garden.







And Dr. Nitobe's statement was carved on the memorial stone.








This garden was very beautiful Don't you think so? I couldn't think that the garden doesn't exist in Japan. That is to say, I felt really comfortable with the garden as a Japanese garden.

UBC stands for "University of British Columbia". I've wanted to go to UBC for a long time. But I haven't been there before. So, before going back to Japan, I made up my mind to go to UBC.

And this day, I went to UBC by bus. The bus I took was No.4.
















Finally, I arrived at UBC. Though the day was Saturday, there were many students in the campus.




I really love the academic ambient atmosphere of university! I enjoyed walking around the campus.



While walking in the campus, I found a racoon. So cute, isn't it?

Jervis Street.






My apartment is on Jervis Street. I can say I have passed through this street most frequently.


The building on the left of this picture is the apartment which I've lived in.

Burrard Street.


Burrard Street is one of the biggest and busiest street in downtown, Vancouver. This street has 3 lanes each way in downtown. There is the SkyTrain station on the north part of this street. Also, "The Sutton Place Hotel" and "The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver", which are very famous and exclusive hotel, exist on this street. There are not only hotels but also many shops and restaurants along this street.






I have walked through this street many times. In particular, I like downward slope of this street leading to Burrard Station.