NEWSLINC - linchsnational.ca · LINC Home Study is an English language program for newcomers to Canada who wish to improve their listening, speaking, ... LINC Home Study NEWSLINC

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FALL

2011

NEWSLINC

The LINC Home Study program is funded by:

Quarterly Student Publication of LINC Home Study

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About NewsLINC

NewsLINC is a quarterly publication of writing submitted by LINC Home Study students. We are proud of our students and thrilled to publish their writing. The publication encourages our students to practice writing, helps to boost their self-confidence, promotes language skills development and creates a sense of community within the LINC Home Study program. We also hope our readers learn from and feel inspired by the collection of works that are showcased each issue.

About LINC Home Study

LINC Home Study is an English language program for newcomers to Canada who wish to improve their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills but have barriers to attending classroom courses.

What is the program like?

As a student in the LINC Home Study program, you can learn English from the comfort of your home. You have the choice of completing the program either online (using a computer with network access) or offline (using a traditional textbook and CD). All study materials are based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks standards. To be successful, you have to study hard and commit your time to improving your English skills. This includes studying independently for 5 to 10 hours a week and finishing homework assignments.

Do I get any help?

To ensure you have the best possible learning experience, you receive support from our experienced and qualified staff. You work with a certified TESL instructor who contacts you every week by phone or Skype to review your homework, help you practice speaking and answer your questions. Your instructor helps you develop a learning plan that is tailored to your individual needs and guides you along the path to achieving your goals. You can also contact our technical and program support staff for assistance with any questions you have about the program policies, features or functionality.

How do I register for the program?

To qualify for the program you must have your language skills assessed at a language assessment centre and meet the following criteria:

• 18 years or older • A convention refugee OR a permanent resident of Canada who has not become a Canadian citizen • Face barriers to attending classroom-based English language training

How much does the program cost?

There is no course fee for this program. LINC Home Study is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada which means that all study materials are provided free of charge to our students.

Contact Us

If you have questions or feedback about the LINC Home Study program or NewsLINC, please email us at: [email protected]

About Us

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Fall 2011 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC 3

Contents

Welcome to the Fall edition of NewsLINC.

NewsLINC is published quarterly to allow enough time for gathering articles, recipes and feedback.

I hope you enjoy this issue. We have some great submissions from LINC Home Study students from across Canada. Read about traditional customs countries around the world, Halloween, and many other intriguing articles. Don’t forget to try some of the mouth-watering recipes.

Thank you to all those students who submitted articles. Please continue to share your writing with your teachers and to submit it for publication. Your comments and feedback is always welcome!

We look forward to bringing you the Winter edition in December.

Enjoy!

Student Reflections 5

Dancing with Canada’s Aboriginal People by Jorge C..…………………….6

Remembrance Day in Canada by Ping S……………………………………....7

Remembering My First Thanksgiving in Canada by Bao W.………….......7

My Three Successes in My New Home Country by Pei Y……………….....8

My Day Off by Lamia S………………………………………………...…………..8

Ontario’s Beauty by Anne F………………………………………………………9

My Story About English by Khadija A …………..…………………………….10

My Experience in Canada by Alejandro L………...…………………………...10

Challenges of Going Back to School by Man K………..……………………11

Qualifying to be a Pharmacist in Canada by Sonia T……………………....12

Staycation by Mi Jeong K………………………………………………………..13

Fishing On A Rainy Day by Li Jiao Q. K……..………………………………..14

Halloween by Irina C…….………………………………………………………..14

My Halloween Experience by Eric Y.…………………………………………..15

Settling In Canada & Keeping Chinese Custom by Fan Y.………………..16

A Traditional 25th Wedding Anniversary by Sunilkumar S..………………..17

Eid ul Fitr: Lost Childhood by Saleha S……….………………………………18

An Unexpressed Love by Yamuna U K………………………….……………..19

What I Miss The Most by Qi W......……………………………………………...21

What Do You Miss The Most About Your Homeland? by Larysa S..…….22

What Do You Miss The Most About Your Homeland? by Reina P....……22

A Thousand Origami Cranes by Ayano F........…………..…………………..23

The Lessons In Three Cups Of Tea by Banazer K........………..…………..24

EDITOR’S NOTE

4 Fall 2011 | LINC Home Study NEWSLINC

Student Profiles 33

by Libia O.

Activity Central 30 Crossword………………………………………………………………………..30

Halloween Word Scramble ……………………………………………………31

Answers ………………………………………………………………………….32

Kesihan S.…………………………………………………………………………33

Indunil W.…...……………………………………………………………………..33

Contents

Recipes 25

Green Peas Rice by Saba H …………………………………………………….25

Baba Gannouj by Hritani G ……………………….……………………………..26

Kiribath by Indunil W..…………………………………………………………….27

Ajiaco by Beatriz M………………………………………………………………..28

Carrot Cake by Sara M…………….……………………………………………..29

Chicken with Rice by Maria L……….…………………………………………..30


Student Reflections

DANCING WITH CANADA’S ABORIGINAL PEOPLE by Jorge C.

I was always interested in aboriginal cultures. In my country, before the Spaniards brought slaves from Africa to work in the sugar fields, the real Cuban population was aboriginal. The Spaniards killed all the natives and with this they killed all the culture that they had. In Cuba we can find some caves lived in by the aboriginals.

When I came to Canada I found that this country has some aboriginal population like in my country. I was so impressed with this. I wanted to know where they live, how they are and all about them. I read some history about the aboriginal Canadian’s and how the colonists decided to preserve their culture. I went to an aboriginal event, “The Halifax Pow Wow” where the native people danced. There they sold some music CD’s, clothes, handcrafts, and typical native food. I got to see some of their culture. I went to an aboriginal event, “The Halifax Pow Wow” where the native people danced. There they sold some music CD’s, clothes, handcrafts, and typical native food. I got to see some of their culture. I was really happy to be there and my imagination flew through the time thinking about them. Last year I couldn’t see all the activities they had because I went a little bit late. This year I went early and saw all the events. I was really excited to see the tribal dances. The singing sounds like a cry, and made me feel like I was in their tribe. I got close to see the show better, but I really wanted to be in there and dance like an aboriginal. One of the activities they had this day was the “non native dance competition.” They give a prize for the winner in this competition. For first place 100$ and for second place 50$. I decided to participate in this competition. Not for the prize, but to enjoy and to be dancing with them. First I was dancing with a group of men only. I was selected from some of these men to go to the second round. I won the competition against the another men. Finally I had to dance against a woman for first place. I was impressed when the crowd screamed and cheered for me for first place.

I finished really tired after this competition. I was really happy to participate, not for the money but for the experience. I think that I would like to visit one of their communities or to have an aboriginal friend. I would like to participate in one of their real activities or ceremonies. Who knows, maybe I will become an honorary aboriginal known as “Black Feather”

Jorge C. - Level 4 - Samuel M’s Student


REMEMBERANCE DAY IN CANADA by Ping S.

Remembrance day in Canada In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing , fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields...

Take up our quarrel with the foe: Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands, we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields...

One day every year on November 11, is a special public holiday in all of Canada except for a few provinces including Ontario. It is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of those who fought in the war. We honor those who fought for Canada in the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War. They gave up their lives and their futures. They died for us. They died for their homes, families and friends. They died for Canada.

In World War 1, more than 61,000 Canadian soldiers died. The poem In Flanders Fields, was written by John McCrae who was a Canadian doctor, soldier and poet.

The evocative poem was written in the trenches at the Battle of Ypres in 1915 when a close friend of McCrae's was one of 6000 Canadian casualties in just 48 hours.

In the Second World War more than 42,000 Canadians soldiers had given their lives. Many of these soldiers were dual citizens serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. A few years after the end of the Second World War, Canadian men and women served under the United Nations flag in Korea. There were 1,558 soldier casualties and 516 soldier fatalities. They sacrificed their lives to maintain world peace. In Canada, traditionally the poppies are worn as the symbol of remembrance. These poppies are made by disabled veterans. They are reminders of their comrades, friends and those one hundred thousand Canadians lives who died while fighting for peace. Remembrance Day will be coming soon. Let’s pause for two minutes of silence and pay tribute, let’s attend commemorative ceremonies in memory of our war dead, let’s wear red poppies; let’s bow our heads, let’s visit memorials and let’s proudly remember all Canadian soldiers who lost their lives for us!

Ping S. - Level 3 - Jason L’s Student


REMEMBERING MY FIRST THANKSGIVING IN CANADA by Bao W.

The first time I heard “Thanksgiving” was when my husband told me he had one day off the next week on Monday. I frowned, and I replied “Why are you taking one day off?” I worried that he might be laid off. “It's a holiday,” my husband replied to me, “Everybody is off.” “Oh...,” I was as nervous as before, “ I worried that you may be laid off.” I knew it was hard to find a good paying job at that time. Life is hard for new immigrants, especially when settling down. I didn't know what would happen tomorrow and where we would go. Our baby was just born. We hadn’t bought a house yet; the only one thing we had was my husband's job. We needed his wages to pay our rental. Every tiny change would cause me to worry. My husband realized I was anxious, so he gave me comfort, “Don't worry, I won't be laid off. My job is not fit for everybody, and it requires special skill.” I had a short period of relief. “What holiday?” I wanted to make sure was telling me the truth. “Thanksgiving,” he said and put one hand on my shoulder, “Don't worry! Our life has just begun. You must be happy and our baby will be happy too.” I said nothing. “Thanksgiving?” I thought curiously, “Thanks to whom? What was given?”

Late at that night, my friend Marta called me and invited me and my family to dinner on Thanksgiving day at her house. She told me that it was a traditional holiday for Christians. She had celebrated it since she was a little girl. On that day, her family members would get together and have dinner. Sometimes her parents would invite friends to come to their home. That's why she invited me and my family. Before having the meal, Marta and her family prayed to their God. I heard them say a lot of things to their God, but unfortunately I couldn't understand their language. The only one word I knew was “Amen” at the end of their prayer. During the meal, we were enjoying delicious food and chatting. Eagerly, I asked them two questions I wanted to know. Marta's husband Bartol honestly told us. He thanked God for giving him good health, a family, a job (even though he had to work hard). He said, “When we look around, we can find some people who are homeless, some are sick, some are lonely, and some don't get a job. So, I thanked God for giving me a second chance to marry a woman I love, a daughter I always wanted and a job I need. And what I am most thankful for is that God gave me a healthy body, which lets me keep working and going...” My husband and I listened quietly when Bartol was talking. When we were leaving their home, I felt everything was different. Their home was cozier, the building they lived in was cleaner, the trees in the street were lovelier, and even the street lights looked brighter...It was “Thanksgiving” in 2006, and that was my first Thanksgiving Day in Canada. I met Marta in LINC classes about five months ago. One year later, we both had a new home in a new city—Brampton. We live as close as before, and when my husband and I need help, Marta and Bartol are always there. When they need help, we are always there too. Thanks God, for giving me such good friends...

Bao W. - Level 6 - Joanne P’s Student


MY THREE SUCCESSES IN MY NEW HOME COUNTRY by Pei Y.

For many of us the word “success” means doing something extraordinary. Many newcomers, like me, start their new life in Canada from scratch, and for them every little step in adapting to a new home country is a real achievement. Let me tell you about things I feel successful.

I got my first job at Tim Horton’s two months after I arrived to Canada. Working in Tim Horton’s gave me the chance to meet and know Canadians. Being a storefront, I had a chance to meet various customers every day, and then I learnt a lot about coffee culture from them. I also learnt how to make fast food, such as donuts, muffins, and sandwiches. It was a great working experience for me.

Improving my English language skills is my second success in Canada. It means a lot to me, because speaking English well is the basic skill in order to live in Canada. After learning English from teachers and others, I feel more comfortable in my daily live.

Last but not least, making new friends is a big success in my social relationships. Friendship is an important part in my social life. However, everything changed in this area after I left my home country and my old friends. So, I had to make new friends to make myself feel better. Fortunately, I made it, and now I can go shopping or have a cup of coffee with them and be a gossip girl again.

Pei Y. - Level 5 - Ian Z’s Student

MY DAY OFF by Lamia S.

A funny story happened to me when I arrived in Canada. This story is about the difference between Canadian and Parisian French. As a new immigrant, I was waiting to be accepted into a post-doctoral program. I worked at a company that makes air conditioners.

From the beginning, I was really frustrated about the French that I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t imagine that the difference between the two accents would be so huge. When I talked, people smiled and when they talked, I understood nothing.

One day my boss told me to stay home the following day. He used the verb ‘rentre’, which means ‘to go home.’ The following day I didn’t show up for work, so my boss called to ask why. I answered that he had told me ‘to go home’ , or ‘rentrer demain.’ He laughed. He explained that ‘rentrer’ means to go to work in Quebec French.

At that company I learned many words unique to Quebec. I will never forget this newcomer story.

Lamia S. - Level 5 - Samuel M’s Student


ONTARIO’S BEAUTY by Anne F.

Our home area, where we live now, is considered as North Ontario. Up north we are surrounded by unbelievable beautiful nature, clean fresh water and small towns. Ontario’s immediate neighbours are Manitoba in the west, Quebec in the east and the United States of America in the south. Also, it is located near the largest lake of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior.

Lake Superior is the world’s third largest freshwater lake by volume and for me and my husband the most beautiful place on earth. A visit to one of the national parks can turn into a real outdoor experience. Whenever we have a chance, we take a canoe, travel along the coast and stay at one of the countless breathtaking spots over night. Many times, an untouched beach invites us to rest. The unbelievable clean, fresh and colorful water feels refreshing after a hard paddle. But for me, the rocks are the most exciting part of Lake Superior. The rocks of the North Shore date back to the early history of our earth. These granites of the Canadian Shield were created many millions of years ago and can be seen on the North Shore today. I am addicted to collecting rocks as soon we arrive at the beach.

Every season has something to inspire you. My favourite season for an outdoor adventure trip is fall. A limited number of flies, but the still warm and sunny days make it even more enjoyable. Besides, the maple tree leaves turn red. It relates to a period of above normal temperatures, after there has been a killing frost, called an Indian Summer. To go for a hike, covered by a roof of colored leaves, refreshes my mind. Sometimes the scenery offers more than words can say.

We came to Ontario, because we are so fascinated by the Wilderness it has to offer. We hope every Ontarian appreciates the natural beauty and establishes a strong believe in protecting it.

Anne F. - Level 7 – Susan M’s Student


MY EXPERIENCE IN CANADA by Alejandro L.

MY STORY ABOUT ENGLISH by Khadija A.

Day by day, I was improving my English by researching and learning on the Internet until I got my high school degree. Also, I graduated from university with degree in English literature, and I started to teach English to beginners. I learned from my own experience with English language that if I have a desire to achieve anything in this life, I can do it by having a strong will.

Khadija A. - Level 3 - Natasa G’s Student

I will never forget the day I came to Canada. I felt sad because I had left my country where I was born and spent my childhood. It is hard to leave all your friends and family behind and start a new life somewhere else. Everything was different and strange for me. But as soon as I got in Canada, I met a lot of people, made new friends and learned a lot about myself. When I didn’t feel OK or when I missed my friends and family, I always had great people around me who cheered me up.

In my first year, sometimes it was hard living in Canada and working with Canadians as it was a totally different culture for me. Canadians really like their privacy and it is hard to really get to know them. But as soon as they let you in their lives, they will never let you go. They made my time away from home such a pleasure making me feel like family and really taking care of me.

Another big change for me was the cold and snow. When I first came to Canada in the middle of winter, I had never really experienced winter weather. I was very impressed by how the snow looked. They really were "snowflake shaped." I mean I had seen snowflake pictures, but it wasn't until that day that I had firsthand experience of snow.

I would recommend anyone to come to Canada; it is an experience of a life time and one which I will never forget. It makes you a stronger person, gives you life skills and makes you appreciate everything about your life. Whatever comes across your way truly makes the experience worthwhile.

Alejandro L. - Level 5 - Babak M’s Student

English in Morocco is the third language after Arabic, a mother tongue, and French, a second language. In Morocco you cannot continue your study at a university or any center if you are not fluent in French. Unfortunately I always got bad marks in French that were decreasing my school grades, which was the reason why I wanted to give up studying many times, but my friend was encouraging me to continue as I was good at other subjects. When I got to high school, I decided to work hard to learn English because I liked it and it would allow me to communicate with non-Arabic speakers, and to prove to myself that it was not my fault I could not speak French, but there were other circumstances like tough teachers and wrong methods of teaching.


CHALLENGES OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL by Man K.

Studying for a Master’s degree is a real challenge to me! As a newcomer, I have a language barrier. Having to communicate in English is not an easy task for me. Additionally, I have to quit my job as I will be studying in a full time program. This will certainly increase my financial burden. Last but not least, I find a balance between my studies and my family. As a mother of a 7-year-old boy, I have to struggle between spending time taking care of my son and working on my assignments and exams.

English is my second language. I have difficulty expressing myself in English. However, in class, I will have to do presentations in English. Also, I have to spend three days per week working as a placement student. Communicating with others in English, especially in a work setting, makes me feel anxious. I do not want to feel like a fool when other co-workers laugh about a joke, but only I do not.

I will quit my job in September, as I have to go to school. Without my income, my whole family will totally depend on my husband financially. You can imagine that it will be quite a burden to him. Also, the tuition fee is expensive. Even if I can apply for a student loan, I will have to repay it after graduation.

I am a busy mom. I have to take care of my son who participates in many activities. He has piano, swimming and Chinese lessons every week. When I start my studies in September, I have to sacrifice some of the time I normally spend with him to do my assignments and exams. My husband will be very tired after work. He will expect me to look after my son. It is hard to achieve a balance between family life and studies.

Now, I think you must agree with me that I have to face many obstacles to study for a Master’s degree. However, I can cherish the experience during my studies. I can build up my knowledge and make more friends. I think it is still worth it to pursue the degree even though I have to tackle all the challenges.

Man K. - Level 7 - Shurla C’s Student


QUALIFYING TO BE A PHARMACIST IN CANADA by Sonia T.

Pharmacists are health care professionals who serve the society to improve an individual’s quality of life. They are responsible for optimal drug use in a society. There are different types of Pharmacists. To be a Pharmacist in Canada, one has to follow some steps.

They work in different areas. There are Community Pharmacists who interact with patients directly. Hospital Pharmacists who help other health care professionals to make sure patients receive safe and effective therapy. Pharmacists also work in other areas such as research institutes, pharmaceutical industries and universities.

In order to practice as a Pharmacist in Canada, one has to obtain a license, which includes three basic steps:

1. Obtain a degree in pharmacy 2. Pass the licensing exams 3. Obtain practical experience through an internship program

There are around nine universities across Canada that provides a pharmacy degree. The entry requirements vary in each university. After acquiring the degree, one can appear for the licensing exam.

The licensing exams are conducted by the national board, which is the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (otherwise called PEBC). The graduates from other countries also have to pass this exam.

For international graduates, they have to evaluate their degree first. For this part, they have to register with the PEBC and obtain their I.D. #. After which, they can submit their documents. Document evaluation requires a maximum of 4 months. Once the degree is accepted by PEBC, the graduates can appear for the evaluating exams. This is usually conducted twice a year.

After the evaluating exams, they can appear for the qualifying exams. The qualifying exams have two parts:

Part I – multiple choice questions

Part II – OSCE (Objective structural clinical exams)

The candidate has three chances in each of these exams. After the qualifying exams, the next step is to register as a student or intern. In order to register, an English knowledge assessment is done. Depending on the province in which the candidate wants to practice, the regulatory exams have to be passed, which is different from province to province. After passing all these exams, studentship and internship, one can register as a Pharmacist in Canada.

Sonia T. - Level 7 - Shurla C’s Student


STAYCATION by Mi Jeong K.

What kind of vacation do you like to do for summer? Some people enjoy travelling to other countries and famous places, visiting family or having a staycation. However, my family and I go camping more than once in a year. The first time when I went camping, I didn’t like anything because I felt uncomfortable about taking a shower and going to the bathroom; also, I couldn’t sleep in a tent. But my children really wanted to go camping, so my husband forced me to make the sacrifice for them. Fortunately, nowadays, I’m getting used to camping. I think I realized what camping is all about.

This summer, we went camping for 6 days in Algonquin Provincial Park. We went hiking, canoeing, swimming and watched many wild animals such as a male moose, a turtle, a great blue heron, a chipmunk, geese and a turkey. At night, we went to the beach and watched the rising moon; where we also saw some constellations and shooting stars. We should have made a wish to the shooting star, but we couldn’t because the time was extremely short. The funniest time was at the campfire. Every night, we made a fire and baked meat, sausages, rice cakes and potatoes. When the fire died down, we cooked marshmallows and sometimes, my children made a torch with a marshmallow.

I do recommend to all newcomer families that if you want to know the real Canadian life you have to go camping. Camping is not just a relaxing time. You can build good and strong relationships with family members and you may even forget some nasty issues during that time, and if so you might find better solutions. The best thing is that you could have an experience without electronic devices. We are always too near computers, TV, the Internet and games. Human beings need to spend some time in Mother Nature’s world.

Mi Jeong K. - Level 6 - Terese C’s Student


FISHING ON A RAINY DAY by Li Jiao Q.

My friend, Aric has a boat. His boat can fit six people, and he usually goes fishing with his family on Sundays. I went fishing with his family last Sunday on Port Perry Lake, but it wasn’t a sunny day.

All of us were excited when we got there, and we saw a lot of sunfish swimming around our boat. To begin with the weather was good and there was a little sun, and it felt like a little smile to us. After, we sat in the boat, and Aric helped me to set up the fishing tackle. I caught two big sunfish and one of them was about a one pound largemouth-bass. Aric’s wife, Lina, had a very big fish bite her fishhook, so she quickly rolled up the fishing-line. At that moment, the fish snapped the fishing-line. Then the fish swam away. Lina didn’t say much, but she said that she knew how to catch the biggest fish and had one more experience.

Suddenly it started raining. Aric sailed to a place under the bridge so that we would not get wet. Aric had a joke and said that he will write a complaint letter to The Weather Network company because before we got there, we had checked the weather forecast online, and it said there could be 1mm of rain, but in reality we got 10mm of rain. Then everyone laughed. The rain lasted for an hour, then stopped. We continued to fish. This time I caught a bigger bass, it was 2 pounds more. Aric caught one bass bigger than mine. What a competition!

HALLOWEEN by Irina C.

Halloween is a holiday that is celebrated on the night of Oct. 31 and is very popular in the USA and Canada. It is not a statutory holiday but it very popular and loved by children. On the day people decorate their houses and yards with images of ghosts, witches, devils, pumpkins and anything else what anyone can imagine to scare bad spirits away. Children dress in funny costumes and go from house to house knocking at the doors and saying "trick or treat". The owners of the houses give kids candy, cookies, chocolate or anything else sweet. It is why we call the holiday “sweet” It is a very funny holiday and children are happy.

Irina C. - Level 6 - Sondra S’s Student

It was time to go home. Lina said fishing on a rainy day sounds very romantic. Everyone caught a fish, and we had fish soup for dinner. What a delicious meal!

Li Jiao Q. - Level 4 - Ana R’s Student


MY HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE by HongDong Y.

I had heard about Halloween, but I had never experienced it. Last year my son was invited to go with his friends to celebrate Halloween. I went with my son and experienced the high energy of this special day.

Children are the happiest people on Halloween. Before they started running up and down the streets, they dressed up in costumes first. In a short time, the usually lovely children changed into skeletons, a one-eye blinded pirate with a sword in hand, a blue bird with shining hair, monsters, ghosts, devils, witches…… If it was not on Halloween, you would think you met a group of gangsters. This group of gangsters couldn’t wait for the sun to set to start robbing the whole street of candy. They knocked door after door along the street, and they didn’t want to miss anyone of the houses with a light on. What’s strange was that none of the hosts opening their doors were annoyed; they smiled, welcoming the young group robbers. “Trick or treat,” the young pirate threatened, and when the host surrendered a grasp of candy, the pirate took the candy, and ran away victoriously with his treasure. Some hosts would ask the children to sing or tell a ghost story. The whole block was swarmed with groups of children who were running, screaming, shouting and laughing. I guessed that time was the busiest time on the street for the year.

Children were not the only busy people on Halloween; parents were also busy. Before the festival, they were busy shopping for costumes for their children, bags of candy and pumpkins. They carved the pumpkins into scary monster faces. They also decorated their houses. During the festival, when the children ran across street and knocked on doors, parents stayed at home, waiting for the groups of “robbers” to visit their home, and handed out candy. If they had nothing in hand to treat the “gangsters”, they deemed to be tricked. Some parents even prepared tricks to treat the “robbers”.

Decorated houses formed the great scene, like an exhibition of scary monuments. Everyone put a carved pumpkin outside of their door. The carved faces were different from each other. Some were smiling, some were crying, some with wide opened mouths, and there was even one with a stick for a nose…… all with exaggerated expressions. Some people put lights in the pumpkins, and then they became jack-o’-lanterns. In the dark the two eyes of the face sent out a horrible light, staring at everyone passing the house. One person added smoke, and the horrible eyes stared from among the rising fog, like the white mist in a deep forest. And, some people added music, sounding like a ghost screaming in the darkness. If you went by yourself, I bet your hair would stand up.

After several hours of running and “robbing”, every child harvested a full bag of candy. They were satisfied and tired, and went back home, sweating even in the cold weather. When my son got back home with his victories, he told me, “Dad, I can’t go to sleep by myself tonight. I am so scared and excited.” This is Halloween - scary, exciting and full of happiness.

HongDong Y. - Level 6 - Joanne P’s Student


SETTLING IN CANADA AND KEEPING AN OLD CHINESE CUSTOM by Fan Y.

Do you know the custom practiced by Chinese women after they have a baby? If you are not from China, you might not know. In North America, many woman take a few days of rest after delivering a baby. Then they often go back to doing regular things like taking showers, walking outside with their baby, shopping or eating ice cream on a hot day. This is not the custom in China.

I had my first baby, Samuel, last September and my mother and father-in-law came to Canada from China to help me. I practiced a custom called “Zuo Yue Zi”. This is a social custom from ancient times. Chinese women from the time of their delivery to 31 days after, have to stay at home. Most of the time they rest in bed. All doors and windows have to be closed. The family members make special food for them to eat such as lamb soup. In the first 5-7 days they drink some Chinese herbal medicine. Women eat seven times per day and one in three times is formal eating. The other four times can be snacking on some little desserts. Women are forbidden from doing a lot of things, such as walking around, going shopping, taking a shower or eating cold food. They are also not even allowed to brush their teeth during this time. Sponge baths and cleaning teeth with a cloth are what women do most often, but in China, different cities, towns, and villages have different customs. At the end of the 31st day, women take a long, wonderful bath. The bath water is boiled with a half pound of ginger skin. After the bath, your skin feels very hot. You feel clean, relaxed and healthy.

You must be curious about why Chinese women spend a month torturing themselves. The answer is that after delivery, they feel weak. Women think Zuo Yue Zi gives them the chance for a second life. After Zuo Yue Zi, they become healthier and stronger than before. Some chronic symptoms like colds can disappear. Women’s immune system is weak after the baby so they can catch germs more easily. If women don’t follow the rules, they believe you will get weaker and weaker or your body may be left with some bad symptoms. Can you believe this? I felt upset during this time because I lost my freedom to shower, to go shopping, or to eat my favourite food. One day felt like a year. The food I enjoyed before, now looked awful. However, I persisted with these old traditions to keep my family happy and because we believe that I will be healthier, as a result.

Even today in the 21st century, women still keep this tradition in China. Maybe some brave woman have broken the tradition, but not too many. It has been very interesting bringing this old tradition to Canada. I wonder how long Chinese Canadian women will keep this tradition alive.

Fan Y. - Level 4 - Christine L’s Student


A TRADITIONAL 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION by Sunilkumar S.

There is a very famous quote written by Mark Twain: “Love seems swiftest, but it is the slowest of growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” I now understand the words of Mark Twain after my wife and I completed our first quarter of married life with so much of happiness and many up and downs.

Everyone celebrates their anniversary by their choice of likeness and budget. Our 25th Anniversary celebration had a different theme. The day was started with a traditional Hindu celebration called “Gayatri Yagna”, Gayatri is the name of the Goddess and Yagna is also name of God. In this ceremony we worship the Goddess and fire, which is very spiritual for Hindus and their culture. We invited a priest, who carried and directed the whole Gayatri Yagna occasion for 3 hours, and it was performed by my wife and I. The priest started by telling us life lesson stories about accepting and following good habits and leaving behind bad habits like short temper, rude behaviour and not obeying parents or elders. Also, he talked about how to cure them in our everyday life. What touched my mind and heart was when the priest told us to offer food to God before eating the first meal of the day because of the blessing of God on us. The Gayatri mantra is repeated 108 times by everyone present there at once along with priest. It is said with this chanting and holy fire the atmosphere in the house becomes pure and powerful. It keeps the evil eyes away and protects everyone. It’s a way of worshiping God and desiring blessings.

Later in the day, dinner, cake cutting, a presentation of our 25 year married life journey, and a small Hindu marriage ceremony were organized. The night function was started by greeting guests with snack food. The presentation was performed by my son and daughter, and the cake cutting was done by me and my wife. Later on, the very important Hindu marriage ceremony followed, which is taking rounds of holy fire. The priest said four promises and after every promise, I and my wife took a round with the blessing of God, the priest and elders. It is very valuable and respectful for religion to follow in the presence of holy fire. There was also a ring ceremony done by me for my wife. It was a small gift for my wife from my side. It was the best moment of my life when I saw and gave a very surprising gift of a golden necklace set to my wife.

After the small marriage ceremony, dinner was served to the guests, and along with that, Guajarati traditional music was played. The guests participated and did traditional dances known as garba, sanedo and rasdandia. Every dance is different from each other and has its own steps and ways to dance. The whole function was not only enjoyed by my family members, but also by relatives and friends. Every moment was memorable for my wife and I, and it was captured in photos. A very important thing is that this ceremony will carry good things to my children.

Sunilkumar S. - Level 6 - Laura W’s Student


EID UL FITR: LOST CHILDHOOD by Saleha S.

My husband entered home happily and announced, “ the Eid moon has appeared and tomorrow will be Eid, Insha Allah.” I became happy too. I told my children “take out your new dresses, so you can wear them tomorrow morning.”

My oldest daughter watched us very surprisingly, and after a few minutes she asked me, “Why is Papa so happy to see the new moon? We saw a new moon every month but he is not excited all time.” I tried to explain to her. “After Ramadan month we celebrate Eid, it’s our celebration which God granted to us - that’s why your father is excited and happy.” “But what’s new?” she argued and asked, “ how did you celebrate your Eid when you were a child?”

This question brought me down memory lane and I told her a story. “When I was a child, my father bought new dresses for us. One night we went to the market to purchase bangles (bracelets) and other jewellery, and put Henna on our hands. In the morning we went for Eid prayer, and my Mother made vermicilies (special sweet dish) and other sweet dishes. That’s why we say this is sweet Eid. After Eid prayer, my father gave us some money which we called Eidi. We went to other relatives’ houses to wish them Eid, and they also gave us eidi. We used money to buy different things we wanted because that was our money and were allowed to use it.”

“Where were you all day on Eid?” she interrupted. I just come back from my memories and replied, “we visited our relatives and neighbors homes to collect eidi and have fun all day with our friends and cousins.”

“Mom, why can’t we celebrate Eid like you? Why don’t we have that much fun?” I had no answer. But I tried to explain to her, “we are living abroad, we don’t have relatives here and not many friends. We are not allowed to just anybody’s house without permission. We are busy, and we are struggling ourselves to adjust here to get good jobs.” She said, “Mom, why did you bring us here? Do you think we don’t have the right to celebrate Eid like you? Do you think we are not children like you?” I had no answer for her. Then I said, “I will try to make your Eid like mine was,” and I phoned my friend to come to my home with her children to celebrate Chaand Raat (moon night), and to put on henna and bangles.

I hope this Eid is even better than my Eid for my children. I realize that it’s the parent’s duty to make our children happy. We forget about their childhood because of our busy lifestyle and I promised myself to make their Eid better than me.

Saleha S. - Level 7 - Meghann W’s Student


Everyone is born to be loved by someone else. Firstly, from the mother, an unconditioned love, we all get only once in the life. Besides, all other kinds of love are temporary, it will depend on something else, mostly this love is selfish, blind, and mixed with lust. Especially, it is a devoted attachment to someone, and a passionate affection for one of the opposite sex.

We all have sweet memories in our life; at least even once we have experienced love with the opposite sex. When I was in grade nine I felt that I needed extra help for science and mathematics. With the permission of my parents I found a tuition class close to my house. Without a doubt I went there to get extra help after school two days in a week. There were more boys from the boy’s school which was close to our school. (mine was a girls school) After attending few days to the classes I noticed one boy was looking at me continuously. He had a fair complexion, and I still can remember his reddish lips, and neatly combed hair to the left side. He had a very slim body, big round eyes and a deep unique voice. I too was so excited, and looked at him on and off and automatically, our eyes started to talk each other.

No one knew that my heart was beating quickly . I tried to understand what I was experiencing, until finally, I realized that was called love. This continued for two years. My impatient eyes looking for him every single day when I had extra classes, sometimes I had sleepless nights dreaming about him, but believe me we never talked to each other. The reason behind that was we have a lot of barriers around us in our country in those days, so none of us was strong enough to break those and get close and have the warmth of first fresh love. I personally used to talk with girls who were on the same school bus as him, and I was able find a lot of information of him. I learned that he was the eldest of the family, had two younger sisters and a brother, the family owned a little convenience store. And he was living close to the farming area etc.

After two years of eye contact we had to separate to go to different high schools. I need to say over there we don't have unisex schools. Then, we met again in tuition classes, both of us were in the same biology stream, and again we started to talk with our eyes. This time we shared our files in the bus. Usually, standing people give all their belongings to people who are sitting, only that transaction had happened. Again, two and a half years flew away, we all had to sit the island wide examination where all the girls had to go the boys school to sit the exam. The exam lasted for almost 14 days. At the end of the last question paper, he came to me and asked for my signature in his autograph book which I did with shivering fingers. I was shocked, he had never talked to me, that was the first day he talked to me, but both of us knew that we had to say good bye to each other at the end of the event. I returned the autograph to him, again our eyes met, for a second the whole world stopped rotating, everything kept quiet, the entire world let us talk, but we didn't. The next second we departed from each other, thousands weight of stones carried my heart. All girls were laughing, white frocks flew here and there in the school ground, they all were happy, no burden, the exam was over, but I was carting a heavy weight. Again, I let my eyes to wipe it with its own tears on the bed at night. I cried as much as I want.

AN UNEXPRESSED LOVE by Yamuna U.


After a year and few months , I joined the School of Nursing in Colombo, to become a Nurse. We had to stay in the Postal, and every week end we were asked to go home if we needed. I used to go home every weekend. After six or seven months I was in the bus at the main bus stop in Colombo. Accidentally, my eyes stopped, in -front of me was him. I couldn't believe my eyes, I was shocked, he too was surprised, Again, the whole world stopped at once, At the second minute he sat close to me, he was also heading to his home after work and we talked a lot until the bus went to our home town. He had joined the Sri Lankan Army as a recruiting cadet officer, and graduated as a 2nd lieutenant. By that time he was working in the North side of the Island, in a military base where the war was terrible. He asked my address; (at that time no cell phones) I gave it to him without thinking twice.

The next week, I went to work happily, everyday checked the mail box, finally, on Friday I received the letter, which I had been looking for almost seven years. At night, I replied. I too loved him, and we could lead a happy life after all. On Saturday, I posted the letter. I let the letter go to him for five days. (Those days it was hard to go to vehicles to the Ares where the war was terrible)At the end of every day I lit lanterns to Lord Buddha and asked him to keep my honey safe. From the next week I started to check the mail again. On Wednesday I got a phone call at lunch time from my twin sister, the saddest news I ever heard in my life, He died at the battle front from LTTE bomb. I was shocked, I still can’t express what my feelings were at that time.

Luckily, our warden gave me two days holiday. I flew to my home, and then to his home. Unfortunately, the coffin was sealed, according to the other military personnel it was not good to see him chopped and crushed. I offered a carnation. He requested me on the bus the last day we met. The same day, in the afternoon he went to his final journey. in front of grieving relatives . He was given a promotion as a Major in the Sri Lankan army, and he was awarded military salutation before he went to his last sleep.

Now, my country is free of war, but still our lives have dark shadows which were given by the cruel war. If he were alive, even without a leg or a hand, I could have taken care of him. Still I have a question did he receive my letter? Did he die without knowing that I love him?

Yamuna U. – Level 6 - Marilyn K’s Student


I am from China, and I have been in Canada for almost 8 years. Generally, I like it here and I feel comfortable, but sometimes I still feel that I lost something and I want to find it. I have met many immigrants in Canada. They left their Motherland, left their relatives, their cultures which made them so proud. All of us, immigrants, miss something that we have left in our homelands. Somebody misses his or her native foods: they miss the foods that their mothers cooked. Some miss their relatives, parents, and friends. Some often think about their good times in their native lands. I often think about what I miss the most. I miss all of the above, but I especially miss the feeling of an insider of my home country that I had in China, because I still feel I am an outsider in Canada, even though this the land is so beautiful, and the people are so friendly. Here the sky is so blue, and the clouds flow in the sky, just like in China, but I can’t get the same feeling when I was in China and watched the clouds in the sky. When I was in China, hearing the whisper of wind, looking up the sky, reciting the famous ancient poems, I really felt the world belonged to me, or I belonged to the world. We were mixed together. I went anywhere in China, I felt I was at home; everything was so familiar, so close to me. People chatted with each other, I understood; they laughed loudly, I understood why. In Canada, I see the Canadians are so happy in their land, but I don’t have the same feelings with them. In China, everything could stir my emotion; I could feel the people’s thoughts, I could be happy with them, sad with them, but here I am isolated, I can’t feel the feelings of others. I really miss my country, my homeland.

Qi W. – Level 5 - Nataliya B’s Student

WHAT I MISS THE MOST by Qi W.


WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT YOUR HOMELAND? by Larysa S.

WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT YOUR HOMELAND? by Reina P.

Being in other country has been a unique experience that has opened my mind and given me the opportunity to learn more about a new culture. Besides learning another language, travelling and seeing beautiful and unusual places for me, at the same time I have learned to appreciate more my roots, like my culture, my family and my friends. I miss a lot of things from my country like the food and my family, but what I miss the most are my friends, because it has been very difficult for me to find friends here. I have met a lot of people, never less it is very difficult to match our schedules to go outside and drink a coffee or just have a nice breakfast or meal together or any other activity.

I have been living in Saskatchewan Canada for six years and really like this country, but still miss my homeland sometimes. I am a Ukrainian and I moved to Canada when I was over thirty years old. I had finished school and had gotten my economics degree over there. I had gotten married and our son was born in that country too. I have lots of sweet memories about that time and miss my parents and our friends so much. Ukraine is a nice country with a climate much milder then in Canada, which is why I prefer to spend January in Ukraine because it is never 40C below! Another big benefit for me is the fact that Saskatchewan has a lot of lakes and I can swim every nice weekend if the water in the lakes is warm enough. I was born in Berdyansk Ukraine. This city located near the Azov sea, the warmest sea in Ukraine and I spent lots of hot days in the water or at the beach with my family and our friends. When I visit my parents I always go to the sea and out of town because the peculiar smells down there bring me so many good memories about my childhood and school years. It is so nice to be able to visit Ukraine, my homeland because my parents live down there and we can visit our friend too.

Larysa S. - Level 6 – Andrew V’s Student

When I was living in my country, I used to have visits with my friends every day. One of my favourite days used to be on Sunday because in the morning I had breakfast with my friends. Then we used to go for a walk around a handcraft market where you could find necklaces, bracelets, rings, paints, paint bags, pots, and you could also taste many different foods in that places. After that we used to go a big mall to watch a movie and then go back home and have a nice rest.

I am trying to enjoy every moment in Canada and be happy here with my family, which is my husband and my daughter. I don't have any doubt that pretty soon I will find very good friends, because I have been working hard

Reina P. - Level 6 – Rozita B’s Student


A THOUSAND ORIGAMI CRANES by Ayano F.

Have you ever heard about “A Thousand Origami Cranes” before? In Japan, there is a saying that if you make one thousand origami cranes, you will live a long life or recover from illness, and if we can accomplish this task, we will recover from illness also.

After March 11th, 2011’s “Higashi Nihon Daishinsai (The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake), many people including myself, made origami cranes to raise donations or found other ways to help Japan. We made origami cranes to hope everything gets better… and now I started making “A Thousand Origami Cranes” for a lady from my work who is fighting her illness. My colleagues and I wish that she gets well soon.

Origami cranes are the most popular shape in origami and I believe most Japanese know how to make them. “A Thousand Origami Cranes” is a group of one thousand origami cranes put together. These days we don’t fold the cranes’ neck part because people think folding the neck is associate with death and it is ominous; but to fold the neck is the original way to make origami cranes.

“A Thousand Origami Cranes” is also a symbol of peace. It became so because of a Japanese girl - Sadako Sasaki - who died from an atomic-bomb-related disease. Before her death, she began folding cranes in hopes of prolonging her life. Many “A Thousand Origami Cranes” are sent from around the world now to the place where a statue model of herself is found.

It is not easy to make one thousand origami cranes but we make it one by one to seal our wishes with them while thinking about the person. Everyone’s wish is different but so many people are making “A Thousand Origami Cranes” today in all areas of the world to wish for long life, recovery from illness etc. I am making origami cranes for the lady now and wishing she recovers from her illness soon. I know this is not medication or something but I just hope our wish comes true and I would like her to know that we are thinking about her a lot. A “Thousand Origami Cranes” brings everyone’s wishes and hopes to a person who we want to get well and want to cheer up.

How to make an Origami Crane website: http://monkey.org/~aidan/origami/crane/

Ayano F. – Level 7 - Meghann W’s Student

http://monkey.org/~aidan/origami/crane/�


Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson is a book that teaches readers about the importance of perseverance and patience, accepting cultural differences and building relationships with people. It not only teaches us moral values but also demonstrates a practical approach to them. Different lessons flourishing from this book are discussed below.

Firstly, the book begins with Mortenson’s struggle to climb a mountain, which unexpectedly takes him to an impoverished village in a remote part of Pakistan where he encounters another struggle to build schools for the poor children living there. It shows us how patience, perseverance and personal sacrifice along with good intentions can bring success. Despite the obstacles he faces to raise money and gain support for his venture, his relentless determination results in the construction of a school. He goes on to build several more schools. The book practically shows the steps to take initiative to achieve something.

Secondly, the book tells us how to build meaningful relationships with people from different cultures. Mortenson learns about the history and culture of the places he visits in Asia to understand customs and to help him promote literacy in the area. Moreover, throughout this book, one can picture the human condition in developing countries where basic needs like education and medical treatment are out of reach for poor people, yet those impoverished people are blessed with good moral values, good manners and soft welcoming hearts.

Thirdly, this book teaches us to solve the root cause of any problem rather than solving just a resulting issue. It also provokes readers to see a problem from different perspectives. The book illustrates that winning hearts is better than fighting.

Overall the book is well written and motivational. It is sure to fire up any reader to do something for humanity.

Banazer K. – Level 7 - Rachel B’s Student

THE LESSONS IN THREE CUPS OF TEA by Banazer K.


Directions

Boil 8 cups of water in a large pan. Add garlic, ginger, aniseed, coriander, all the spices and salt. Let it boil for 10 minutes, strain and keep the broth aside. Now heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till pale golden. Take half the onions from the pan and spread on a kitchen paper sheet. Add yogurt, small cardamoms and fresh peas to the remaining onions.

*Stir for 5 minutes. Add broth to the pan. When it begins to boil add rice and salt. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, cover and lower the heat. Cook for 10-12 minutes, until the water has been completely absorbed. Now sprinkle-fried onions on the cooked rice, serve hot.

Saba H. - Level 5 – Sayuri N’s student

Recipes

GREEN PEAS Dish Origin: Pakistan

Ingredients

• Peas 1 kg • Long grain rice 1 kg • Black cumin seeds ½ tsp. • Bay leaf 1 • Black cardamoms 3 • Aniseed ½ tsp. • Coriander (whole) 1 tsp. • Garlic 1 pod whole • Ginger 1 small piece • Onions 2 medium size, thinly sliced • Yogurt 1 tbsp. • Small cardamoms 3 • Salt to taste • Oil ¾ cups

RICE


BABA

Directions

• Pierce few holes on the skin of the eggplant (to avoid explosion) and grill over medium-high heat turning every 7 minutes, until the skin is blackened and the body is nice and soft. Total time for grilling is about 30 minutes. If you do not have a grill you can roast your eggplant in a 375 degree F oven for about 30 minutes. Remove eggplant from the grill and let it cool. Once the eggplant is cool enough to touch, peel the skin and discard.

• In a mixing bowl, mix the eggplant hard with a fork then add ½ cup of yogurt to the mix, then combine garlic, lemon juice, and tahini. Add ½ cup of chopped parsley and ½ cup of chopped green paper. Season with salt and pepper and mix lightly with a fork.

• Finally, put the prepared Baba Gannouj on a decorative platter and sprinkle with olive oil. Serve with pita bread or cut vegetables.

Babagannouj can also be served with popular Canadian party snacks, such as, fish fingers, chicken wings, tacos and chips.

Hritani G. - Level 7 – Rima B’s student

Ingredients

• 2 eggplants • 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice • 2 tablespoons of tahini (available at

Superstores or Middle Eastern Stores) • 1/2 cup chopped parsley, leaves only • ½ cup chopped green pepper • Salt and pepper to taste • 3 tablespoon of virgin olive oil • ½ cup of yogurt

GANNOUJ

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Directions

1. Wash rice and put in pot.

2. Cover with water (keep your index finger on surface of rice and put water until water level reaches the 1st digit).

3. Cook on low heat until rice is cooked and most

of the water evaporates. 4. Dissolve coconut milk powder in hot water to

make about 2 cups of milk, add to the rice along with the salt.

5. Simmer until the rice is sticky and you can

smell the coconut milk 6. Put onto a plate and make a circle. Cut into

diamond pieces and serve.

Indunil W. - Level 7 – Meghann W’s student

KIRIBATH Dish Origin: Pakistan

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice • Some water • 4 tbsp Coconut milk powder

1 tsp salt


AJIACO

Dish Origin: Colombia

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts • 1 cube of chicken flavor • 2 corn on the cob • 125 g white potatoes • 125 g red potatoes • 125 g yellow potatoes • 5 g Guascas (a herb found in Latin stores) • 1 carton of whipped cream • 1 cup of capers • Salt, amount as desired

Directions

7. Boil 2 chicken breasts in two liters of water. Add 1 cube of chicken flavor. Boil until the chicken breasts are soft. Cool and pull chicken apart and return to the pot of chicken broth.

8. Cut the potatoes into smaller pieces. Cut the corn cobs into 6 pieces each. (Leave corn on the cob.)

9. Add the white potatoes, red potatoes, corn, salt

(as desired) with chicken breast. 10. Cook over medium heat on a stove until you

get a thick soup. (about 30 minutes) 11. Next, add yellow potatoes. Be careful that

these potatoes do not tear apart. Cook for 10 minutes.

12. Add Guascas and turn off the stove.

13. Finally, dish out the soup into a bowl, put some whipped cream and some capers on the top.

14. Serve it hot. You can eat it with avocado, pieces of fried yellow plantain (cut lengthwise before frying) and rice.

Beatriz M. - Level 5 – Susan M’s student


Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius.) Sift the dry ingredients together (flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon) in a bowl and set aside. With an electric beater, beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes thick, then add the oil and continue beating for about 3 minutes. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula or a wire whisk. Stir in the carrots and the walnuts and pour the batter in a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake for 45 minutes. (Insert a knife after 40 minutes if it comes out clean the cake is done, if not check after another 8 or 10 minutes, baking time varies.) Leave the cake on a wire rack until it cools down then invert it on a plate and dust with powdered sugar. Bon appétit!

Sara M. - Level 7 – Val P’s student

CARROT

CAKE

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour • 1½ tbsp baking powder • 1 tbsp cinnamon • Pinch of salt • 5 eggs • 1½ cup sugar • ¾ cup vegetable oil • 2 cups carrots (shredded) • 1 cup walnut pieces


Ingredients

• 4 cups cold cooked rice • 1 Breast chicken- cooked, chopped • 4 sausage, diced • 1/2 cup green peas and carrots • 1 medium onion, diced • 1 green onion, diced • Medium tomato, diced • Seasonings (more or less add according to

taste): • Salt • Pepper (black powder) • Oil for stir-frying, as needed

Directions

Cook the chicken breast with salt, pepper, and seasonings according to taste.

Chop the chicken meat, sausage and dice the onion, tomato, and green onion and stir-fry in oil, remove and set aside.

Cook the rice with green peas and carrots, in the water (chicken stock) where the chicken was cooked, when the water has dried, add the chicken mixture.

Serve this dish with fries and green salad.

Enjoy!

Maria L. - Level 4 – Jonathan B’s student

CHICKEN WITH RICE


Games and Puzzles

Central Activity

Crossword

Courtesy of www.esl-galaxy.com


Halloween Word Scramble

Barbeque

Car show

Comedy act

Concert

Fair

Festival

Game

Musical

Park

Party

Play

Tournament

Are you looking for a challenging way to pass time? Find the words in the box hidden in the alphabet grid. Circle each word as you find them, and cross it off the list.

Then, as part of your homework, use as many words as you can in sentences of your own.



Answers

Central Activity

Halloween Scramble Answers

skeleton

pumpkin

pirate

trick or treat

vampire

witch

scary

scarecrow

monster

mask

jackolantern

haunted

graves

ghost

costume

cemetary

candy

broom

blood

bats

spider

mummy

Crossword Answers



My name is Indunil W. I immigrated to Canada, in April 2009, and it was a hard decision to make for me and many things led to this decision.

My family originally came from Sri Lanka but we moved to England for three years, for my wife’s higher education. After we came back, we went back to our former work places and did our jobs, and life went back to normal. After working for a year and a half in Sri Lanka, my wife decided to submit applications to migrate to Canada during May 2007. Our only son was in grade seven and we have a dream for him to become a successful doctor as my father, father in law, and his three cousins were. After a long working process, we got our skilled workers visas in January of 2009.

However, I had mixed feeling making this decision. As a person in his middle ages, it is hard for me to adjust to the Western world. I was a cricket fan but I am starting to convert into a rigorous hockey fan. On the other hand, our parents have already passed away and my brothers are settled in England. All my sisters are worried and disliked our decision to come to Canada. I have always reminded my son that he should put his studies first then he can get accepted into a prestigious medical school and eventually get a good job in the future. In Sri Lanka, I owned cinnamon cultivations and paddy fields which I had to give to other relatives to look after.

The decision I disliked the most was the early retirement from my job in government service after twenty five years of service. While collecting river and rainfall data, I travelled all over the country. My superiors, subordinates, and helpers were very apprehensive for me.

In the end, we came here in April 2009. We stayed at our relatives for a month and after a prolonged residence search, we moved into an apartment which was in close proximity to my son’s high school. After a drawn out job search I found a job in wireless industry.

I changed my career from a Hydrological Assistant to an Electronic Assembler. I bought a new house and started to settle in. After two years of hard work, I got laid off but I think of this as a new experience for me. With regard to our dreams for our son, they seem to be becoming a reality. He is currently in grade twelve AP class and he has an average of ninety five percent.

I have gained a lot of new experience from living in Canada for two years. I have grown accustomed to the Canadian way of life. O Canada, our home and native land!

Indunil W. - Level 7 – Meghann W’s Student

Profiles Student

Kesihan S.

My name is Kesihan. I was born in Srilanka. I have three brothers and two sisters. My parents were born on a small Island. My father was a business man. He moved from the island to the city when he was young. Then he came back for his wedding and after their wedding, my mother and father moved back to city.

My siblings were born in Colombo, the capital of Srilanka. My family moved to another city called Chettikulam, where I was born. My father continued his business there until the civil war started. He lost everything, and then he went back to the island.

I was there in my teenage years. I went to school there and during that time, my siblings got married and they moved abroad. I moved to another city for my education. I finished my high school there. I completed my degree in India at Chennai, where I was studying medical lab technician. My brothers helped in my education. I worked in the same field at a hospital for two months. Then I came to Canada. I have been living in Mississauga since 2005. I’m working as a shipping clerk at Paradigm.

Kesihan S. - Level 5 – Susan M’s Student

Indunil W.


Glossary

Colonist (pg.5) someone who settles in a new colony

Commemorate (pg.6) to do something to show that you remember and respect someone important or an important event in the past

Evocative (pg.6) making people remember something by producing a feeling or memory in them

Casualty (pg.6) someone who is hurt or killed in an accident or war

Fatality (pg.6) a death in an accident or a violent attack

Veteran (pg.6) someone who has been a soldier, sailor etc in a war

Refreshing (p.9) pleasantly different from what is familiar and boring/ making you feel less tired or less hot

Constellation (pg.13) a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name

Gangster (pg.15) a member of a violent group of criminals

Swarm (pg.15) if people swarm somewhere, they go there as a large, uncontrolled crowd

Chanting (pg.17) to repeat a word or phrase again and again

Complexion (pg.19) the natural colour or appearance of the skin on your face

Unisex (pg.19) intended for both men and women

Peculiar (pg.22) strange, unfamiliar, or a little surprising

Ominous (pg.23) making you feel that something bad is going to happen

Perseverance (pg.24) determination to keep trying to achieve something in spite of difficulties - use this to show approval

Flourishing (pg.24) to develop well and be successful

Promote (pg.24) to help something to develop or increase

Rigorous (pg.33) careful, thorough, and exact

Prestigious (pg.33) admired as one of the best and most important

Prolonged (pg.33) continuing for a long time

Here is some vocabulary from this month’s newsletter. Do you know what the words mean?

36

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