Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Vocaroo Voice Message

My First Christmas in Canada

Christmas marks the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's a day of celebration for Christians to spend together with family and friends. People go to church on Christmas Eve. After that they exchange gifts, drink. and eat together on "Noche Buena."

In year 2009, I celebrated my first Christmas in Canada with my family without any relatives around, unlike other people who stayed longer in Canada. It was an Exciting experience because in reality, there was snow falling around, before it was just a dream.

After the celebration of Halloween, we assembled the Christmas Tree on the living room and started putting some decorations. I also fixed some decorations on the walls to feel more with Christmas spirit. On the Eve of Christmas Day, my family went to church on a night mass. At home waiting for the midnight, we opened the gifts, hugged and kissed each other, and as a sign of respect the kids get the back of our hand to one's forehead. On Christmas Day my family went out to friends house to celebrate with them. We usually brought some foods with as potluck. During the winter season, I have been to the Enchanted Forest, it was a viewing park every December filled with light all around the place including the big trees with different colored lights. I wondered how much hundreds or thousands of volts used. It's so amazing!

It was so wonderful to feel that I'm in Canada and it was my first time to spent Christmas with my family. One the second thought, I missed also our parents and relatives that we celebrate the Christmas season together every year. It was a totally different from our customs and traditions in our native land. We used to go outside without the winter jackets on, no snow falling outside, and the children were going to their Godparents every Christmas to greet and hug them.

Here in Canada, we have to get used to it, it's our choice to be here. I have accepted the fact that I'm now here in Canada with my family. Now,
I'm enjoying a White Christmas on winter season with my family together.

Thursday, 1 August 2013

Cultural Folk Festival








 




Jeepney use in the Philippines
 






 







 
           
                                           

Cultural Folk Festival

The Folk Festival is an annual celebration that started in Saskatoon in 1980. Folk Fest is a 3-day event every year. Visitors will find cultural displays, dance, song, food, folklore, souvenirs and many things related to different cultures. The Folk Fest is a multi-cultural experience that has allowed visitors to become one of Saskatoon's attractions. It ran in August at several venues throughout Saskatoon. It has 21 pavilions, and this year 3 pavilions would be added to the list. A Folk Fest passport is used to visit any of the pavilions for as long as the they want. A Folk Fest passport is also used as a ticket on a special Folk Fest bus.

I have posted pictures
 above. These pictures were taken at Folk Fest 2012. My family visited last year's event, and it was fun. Unfortunately, we visited 5 pavilions among the 21 pavilions all over Saskatoon. All 5 pavilions we visited were in one venue. It took us half a day to visit one place. I was surprised by the visitors that arrived at the Philippine pavilion. They came from different nations. We saw that they enjoyed the program, and watched while dancing to our own native dance steps. They also enjoyed the food prepared by the staff. Every event was a memorable one because we appreciated every culture presented by each pavilion.








                                                  

Friday, 28 June 2013

Lifelong learning experience at LINC Home Study program



Lifelong Learning Experience

One day, I heard someone tell me about the study of the English Language. So I asked this person for information on how to be able to study in the program. I came across the interview and I took the language assessment at Open Door. The problem was a conflict of time with my work. I can't go to school. The facilitator explained to me LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) Home Study program.

At first, I was not confident because I have to use a computer. I didn’t have enough knowledge of the computer. The only thing I knew was how to surf the web, including Facebook, Google and email. LINC Home Study program has given me a lot of experience. As a novice, I'm confident that I can communicate and write well because of I’ve learned back home. It came as a surprise to me to learn of the errors of sentences and paragraphs. Did I forget what I learned from school? It came to back to mind.

Luckily, I have a good instructor. He told me to be confident. There are rules and regulations to follow. I had a tough time and sometimes, I feel ashamed of myself. My instructor keeps on reminding me not to feel that way. I've learned the proper way to correct run-on sentences and comma splices. Those are serious errors. They should be fixed immediately. Every lesson I have assignments for the following week. Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, we come across phrases which are unfamiliar. Mostly, we talk about them and explain the meaning of the phrases.

I'm happy and proud that one of my blogs was published in the NewsLINC. All that I've learned at the LINC Home Study program can be an important aspect in my daily living. There's a lot way to go. Now, I'm on Level 5.




Posted by Lorelei Canlas