Author: stonyplaininshikaoi

Saturday, March 22^nd, 2025

Dodi regularly keeps a diary of all the travelling we have done as a married couple. The following is an excerpt describing March 22^nd, 2025.

It’s Saturday and it’s cleaning day for us. We spent about an hour or so on it. Keeping it weekly means it hasn’t had a chance to get too messy/dirty so it doesn’t take long and we both work on it. Glen picked us up at 12:30 and we went to Masame’s house where we met her and her daughter, Karin, and we’re off to another countryside restaurant for lunch. There is a lot of eating happening on this trip and I am afraid that I am gaining pounds but there is no scale here. I’m not certain but it feels like it. Anyway, we have a beautiful meal – a feast for the eyes and the mouth. It started with a potato and cheese soup, followed by the most beautiful salad I have ever seen and maybe the best tasting one, too. It is a selection of about a dozen different pieces of vegetables and meats piled with greens and topped by a delicious light dressing. Oishii! The main course was cod, lightly fried, served with a selection of colorful, roasted vegetables and fried tofu. This tofu was good as I normally don’t care for it. I think because it is such a staple to the Japanese diet that they know how to prepare it many ways and ways that make it taste okay. The meal ended with “kamboucha”, which of course I have heard of back home but have never tasted. Translated it means kelp tea. I expected it to taste like seaweed – briny and like grass. I was surprised that, to me, it tasted like chicken broth. I liked it and will see if I can get some in the grocery store. Apparently, it is a powder that you just add boiling water to. The restaurant was called “La Motrice” and seems like an odd name in Japan, but it was certainly a wonderful meal and seemed quite high end. It only had seating for about 14 people, 4 tables. There was a lovely view of the mountains and valley below and we were surrounded by birch trees. It was all a great experience.

We then took Glen back to his car as he was going to spend the rest of the day at work – on a Saturday. The Japanese do seem to devote an enormous amount of time to their jobs. The remaining four of us are then off to a ski resort where Masame’s husband works in administration. It is an enormous resort with a huge wave pool, about the size of the one at West Edmonton Mall. There are four 36 storey towers/hotels, with covered walkways connecting all the buildings, and at least a dozen restaurants. There are many retail stores and I don’t even know how many ski runs there are. There were crowds of people everywhere and many of them were families with young children. This resort is called “Risonare” at the town of Tomamu.

Unfortunately, as we were leaving and walking back to the parking lot, Paul slipped on a patch of ice and had a nasty fall. Luckily, he didn’t hit his head or break anything but he banged his elbow, so it was bleeding and landed on his tail bone, so he will be sore. We took the toll highway back towards home and had a pit stop at a grocery store in Shimizu. It was about 7:00 when we arrived at home and dark by then. It was a full and exhausting day.

Sunday, March 23, 2025

I woke up, excited for this day, as we had not seen Yuki and Jin since they moved away from Stony Plain near the end of the COVID crisis. After a couple of ‘great to see you again hugs’ we hopped in Yuki’s car and enjoyed a wonderful day together. We hit some of Yuki’s usual shopping stops in Obihiro and Otofuke as Sundays are her days for running errands. Jin was away for a few days, travelling to Korea to visit his family. We had a great lunch at a Hama-Sushi restaurant where Yuki introduced me to some of her favourite dishes. My list of favourite things to order at a sushi restaurant has expended quite a bit. A surprise dish came in the way of us ordering French Fries. They were very thin and deep fried to the perfect crispiness. We think they may have been done in a light tempura batter. Oishii!

I think the first time I became aware of dollar stores was during our first trip to Japan twenty years ago. Well, the 100 Yen stores are alive and well. We popped into a couple of them to browse and came away each time with items we have not seen before. Matcha salt and parchment paper with printed designs are just a few of the items we’ll be packing home. With Yuki’s help, I think I can now operate the electronic check-out systems at retail stores on my own, now.

We had a full day of exploring businesses, but my favourite time was being in the car with Yuki and getting caught up with our lives. I am appreciative of our conversations during the course of this day and I continue to learn more about what regular life is like in Japan.

Monday, March 24^th, 2025

Sadly, today was our last visit to Shikaoi schools. This week marks the end of the calendar year for local schools around here. Students and staff will have a couple of weeks break until their new school year begins in April.

We experienced a memorable and historic morning at Kamihoronai Elementary School when the school officially closed its doors on 109 years of serving its community. Of the nine grade 1 to 6 students registered at the school this year, two also celebrated their graduation today. This event certainly focussed more on the happiness of the day rather than the sadness of the end of an era.

There were a host of dignitaries in attendance to witness this event, including Mayor Kii. A full media crew from NHK news service was there to mark the significance of the ceremony. The decorations were simple and beautifully done. The staff and students decorated the entire length of the hallway entrance to the gymnasium with cascading cherry blossoms cut out from paper. There were beautiful fresh flower arrangements everywhere. An assortment of potted flowers formed an aisle down the center of the gym The massive bouquet of cut flowers on the stage was spectacular. The protocols and cultural influence of this event have been similar in each of the three graduations we’ve been so fortunate to attend in Shikaoi. However, there are distinct differences and traditions that each school has developed over time. This morning, we were treated to a beautiful song performed by the kids, with original lyrics written specifically to reflect the last school year at Kamihoronai Elementary School. The students’ performance was touching. The parents of the two graduating students were given special seats of honour and their kids had an opportunity to publicly acknowledge their love and appreciation for them.

As part of the protocol for graduations there is no talking or whispering. Glen really wanted to make sure that we were kept in the loop with everything that was being said, so he came up with this great idea of using iPads and iPad pencils as a way of communicating. As individuals gave their speeches, Glen would translate and write key messages on his tablet for us in point form. It really assisted in providing us with a richer experience of what was going on.

Congratulations to the students, families, and staff at Kamihoronai Elementary School for the great send-off of its last two graduating students and the school’s 109 years of existence.

Tuesday, March 25^th, 2025

When Dodi and I first talked to each other about committing to participating in the Long Stay Volunteer Program, the two factors that we weren’t very sure about was how long would we go for and what would we be doing during that time? In chatting with previous volunteers, the one activity that seemed to stand out was the planned visits to the pre-school/Kindergarten program in Shikaoi. For logistical reasons, this morning was our first visit.

This recently constructed facility is remarkable. The design is unlike any pre-school or Kindergarten I’ve seen before. It is generously staffed. Once again, it is clear the Japanese place great importance and resources in ensuring the health and well-being of their children. Dodi and I were introduced to staff and then we were invited into the area where the three to five-year olds spend their unstructured playtime.

Dodi describes our initial meeting with these children as similar to being swarmed by a hive of bees! They were so excited to welcome us. We aren’t sure how many kids there were – at least fifty would be a guess. The lead instructor easily got the children into very organized lines after our initial greeting and we were formally introduced. Then it was free time, when the kids are given an opportunity to choose what they want to do. There was half a dozen play stations and lots of additional floor space and manipulatives for kids to make up their own activities. I spent time at the drawing/colouring tables and the play kitchen area. One child sat with me and read a couple of books to me, turning each page. I built structures with large foam blocks, I jumped rope, played tag, hide and seek, did tug of war, and I still struggle with using a hula hoop. I should mention that I did all of this with the children – not on my own. It is obvious that their structured time throughout the day is used effectively as these kids demonstrated many skills and routines. One little girl was able to tell me the names of every food item there was in the play kitchen area. Another child sang the ‘A, B, C, D’ song flawlessly, in English. Most knew to know how to count to ten in English and everyone could say ‘hello’ and ‘good-bye’. When it was time to clean up, every child enthusiastically pitched in with collecting every item and returning them to the proper places. Saying good-bye to us included all the children forming an arch through which we were expected to walk under. I had to crawl on my hands and knees through a very long human arch as my body size wasn’t compatible with theirs. Every child either said ‘thank you’ or ‘good-bye’ during this event.

These children didn’t seem to be aware or care much that there was a language barrier between us. They continually had running conversations with us in Japanese, even though we could only guess at whatever it was they wanted to share. As Dodi commented to me after we left, “Those kids must think we are pretty stupid!” One thing for certain is that the both of us were exhausted after our 90-minute play date.

Taeko and Takanori Yamamoto picked us up in the early afternoon and drove us to the town of Kamishihoro, where we enjoyed a beef and soba noodles lunch at a rest stop. Besides bathrooms, rest stops or ‘michi-no-ekis’ are typically made up of an information area featuring local places to visit, restaurants, comfortable sitting/resting areas, food shops, and shops with local items/crafts for sale. Interestingly, gas stations are not a part of a michi-no-eki, but they are located close-by.

When we returned to Shikaoi, we stopped to have tea/coffee and a sweet at Roku (a sweets shop). It was a surprise to have Kokoro Ui serve us. I didn’t know she was working there, part time. Kokoro is the young woman that spent the first semester of the current high school year in Canada, at Memorial Composite High School. She has recently graduated here, at Shikaoi High School. Koroko was excited to share that she is now driving. Young adults are not permitted to drive while they are attending school.

We spent a couple of hours talking with Takanori and Taeko over tea, before they dropped us back home.

Wednesday, March 26^th, 2025

We were first introduced to Elizabeth by the Yamamotos when we went to see a talent show in Urimaku, during our first week in Japan. Elizabeth is originally from California and has lived in Japan for about forty-five years. She is married and has one daughter (we met her) and is expecting her third grandchild this summer. The best single word I can think of to describe Elizabeth is ‘dynamic’.

During the last lunch date we had with Elizabeth, we discovered that we had a common interest in gardening. A couple of days ago, Elizabeth emailed us to let us know that she was going to be going to Otofuke, today, for an appointment. There was a greenhouse/gardening centre nearby and she offered to take us with her and drop us off while she was being cared for. We spent most of our time browsing through the seed collection of flowers and vegetables, picking up varieties that were new to us and ones that will, hopefully, take root in our own yard this growing season.

We visited several unique specialty shops in Otofuke, as well. The stores were mostly stocked with Hokkaido-made products. These smaller storefront shops had quite a large selection to peruse through. Aided by my Google Translate app on my phone, we were able to figure out the contents of items that are so appealingly packaged but can be impossible to know what you are looking at. It is interesting to note that many of these unique Hokkaido products often include an English description.

Elizabeth suggested we go to a Japanese restaurant (it was busy) that specialized in fish for lunch. Green tea is always served at the start of the meals. We all chose the luncheon special – salmon. It was very good. Accompanying dishes included rice, miso soup, a pickled vegetable, a salad (bean sprouts, green beans and seaweed), and tofu. It was a full meal.

Once again, our forty-minute commute between Shikaoi and Otofuke was engaging as we had ample opportunity to share information and ask lots of questions.

Just as we were pulling into Shikaoi, Elizabeth turned her car into the driveway of an old brick building that has been beautifully renovated. It is a project of a couple who are friends with Elizabeth. The building mainly serves as a meeting space for seniors in the latter stages of their lives. It has comfortable meeting spaces and a cafeteria that is open to the public. This facility can be utilized by other groups, as well.

Our days in Shikaoi tend to wind down in the early evening. Tonight, I took a nap at around 8:30 pm, in preparation for a virtual meeting in Stony Plain that had a 12:00 am start time. It was supposed to last for the entire day (Alberta time). Fortunately for me, we were able to work through the entire agenda in about four hours.

Monday, March 17^th, 2025

The Japanese educational system is quite different than the Canadian system in which I’ve spent over forty years as a teacher, a union leader, and currently as a trustee. It is so fascinating to be welcomed into so many schools within Shikaoi’s jurisdiction and to have the opportunity to observe and ask questions. I have learned so much because of the open dialogue the Town of Stony Plain and Shikaoi have nurtured over the past forty years.

Today, Glen Shimbo kindly escorted us on a four-school tour.

• Shikaoi Elementary English Class (Glen & Josh – grade 4)

• Kamihoronai Elementary School Tour (Glen)

• Sasagawa Elementary School Tour (Glen)

• Shikaoi High School Canada Studies Classes [2] (Glen & Mel – first year students)

As retired teachers and lifelong learners, it is such a delight to get to be invited on a tour of a school or to have the privilege of observing the craft of another teacher as they interact with their students. Getting to directly participate in a class lesson is still a thrill. Dodi and I are so thankful to continue to have these opportunities.

Unlike the junior high and senior high schools, the elementary students are not required to wear school uniforms. The significant importance of public education is certainly evident here by the small class sizes and increased number of teachers and support staff in each school.

It is a bit surreal to sit up at the back row in a lecture-style classroom (a tiered student seating area) in Japan and listen to groups of students deliver presentations about Parkland School Division schools and the education system in Canada in two languages. This first year group of students (grade ten) are the young men and women who will be travelling to Stony Plain in the fall of 2025. It is anticipated that there will be at least 70 students making the trip. For those of you reading this blog, I hope you will consider hosting these kids or at least spreading the word to your family and friends that their support would be appreciated.

Today was another good day.

Tuesday, March 18^th, 2025

Dodi and I were on our own today. we took a walk about the town after lunch and explored, including visiting some local merchants. We bought pastries at the Main Street Shofuku confectionery shop. Then we purchased groceries at both the Co-op and Fukuhara grocery stores. Later in the day, I returned to Main Street and got a haircut at one of the many barbershops in Shikaoi. It is a bit nostalgic seeing the barber’s pole spinning outside each shop, which is the indicator that they are open for business. Without any basic Japanese phrases on my end to lean on and without any knowledge of English from the barber, we were able to convey each other’s intentions. I got the haircut I was looking for and was happy to be able to support another local business.

I was on call for making dinner, tonight. In keeping with our current reality. I made a vegetable stir fry and sushi (scallop, two types of tuna, salmon), and cucumbers with a nori wrap and black sesame seeds. We also enjoyed some sashimi. The wasabi seemed to be more potent than at home and I experienced a couple of moments when my sinuses felt like they were on fire.

A basic and common question that Japanese can ask in English is, “What is your favourite Japanese food?” My answer to this question is ‘sashimi’, to which they are usually very surprised to hear that some Canadians actually like raw fish.

Wednesday, March 19^th, 2025

In the morning, we made a quick visit to the bakery before joining Tomoko for a grade eleven foods class at Shikaoi High School. We made pizza. The class was a lot of fun and the pizza was tasty. I teamed up with a pair of students for the lesson. Kernels of sweet corn, boiled potato chunks, and mayonnaise were part of the selection of toppings. A tomato-based sauce (the sauce comes in a very small plastic squeeze bottle), two types of sausage meat (pork and prosciutto), yellow onion, and green peppers (they are the same green peppers we have at home, but about one quarter the size) were also used. There were six groups of students and each demonstrated their creativity in the pizza-making process. One group made a couple of very large pizzas, another chose to go with thick crusts. The pizza dough shapes varied with each group and included one shaped into a heart. There was a group that included cookie-sized pizzas with their toppings arranged to make happy faces.  My group went with making four personal-sized pizzas, but we shared with each other. Three were round, one was rectangular, and two of them were made with thin crusts. The potato topping was a new experience and I enjoyed the corn topping and the drizzle of mayonnaise added before baking the pizza.

Back to our bakery visits. We are learning by trial and error what days and times the bakeries are open. We’ve also discovered that certain items are only made on certain days. A loaf of whole wheat or multigrain is rare. We have been frequenting the Hananeko Bakery. It is the one closest to the SS House and the product has been delicious.

Thursday, March 20^th, 2025

Happy Spring Vernal Equinox Day!

“Vernal Equinox Day is a public holiday in Japan that occurs on the date of the Northward equinox in Japan Standard Time, usually March 20 or 21. The date of the holiday is not officially declared until February of the previous year, due to the need for recent astronomical measurements. The autumnal equinox is also a holiday.” – Wikipedia

Taeko and Takanori invited us for a pizza lunch at the Roadhouse Nest restaurant. We met up in the parking lot with three ladies familiar to us, our lunch dates, Elizabeth, Kayoko and Masame. This venue was about 10 to 15 minutes northwest of town, towards Lake Shikaribetsu. There was a perfect view of the northern mountain range from the restaurant. They were covered with fresh snow, today.

We were treated to Japanese style pizza which consisted of a very thin crust and a unique combination of toppings. My absolute favourite was the blue cheese and walnuts pizza, served with a garlic oil to drizzle over the top. Another favourite consisted of a baked tomato sauce base and cheese which was then topped with fresh lettuce and prosciutto after it came out of the oven. Our group’s first two pizzas included one in which the main topping was potato and the other was a basic cheese pizza. One of the guests who joined us (Elizabeth) brought along a homemade pumpkin loaf (delicious). She handed it to the proprietor as she entered the dining area. It was sliced into seven equal pieces (the number of guests at our table) and served on a plate with dessert forks and was the last course of our meal, before coffee was served. Since we were treated to our lunch, I didn’t ask if there was a charge for this service. The afternoon’s conversation was mostly about food and gardening. Plans were also discussed about me and Dodi being invited into a few homes, good restaurants to eat at in the future, and the prospect of at least one more shopping excursion into Obihiro and Otofuke. As I have indicated before, we are being treated extremely well by our Japanese neighbors, the Yamamotos and are so grateful for their friendship.

Friday, March 21^st, 2025

Today, we spent quite a bit of our time at the Shikaoi High School attending Orie’s two first-year Canada Studies classes. High school grades are identified by first year (grade 10), second year (grade 11) and third year (grade 12). The students were finishing off presenting their group presentations on the Alberta education system. They worked in teams of five or six students and were tasked with each person speaking in both Japanese and English. All presentations were accompanied with a slideshow of information. Stony Plain’s Westview School, Memorial Composite High School, and the University of Alberta figured prominently as they were the main topic in three of six group projects in each class. The students evaluated each other’s presentations. As observers, me and Dodi were encouraged to provide feedback and ask questions at the conclusion of each talk.

Mel had previously asked us if we would be interested in joining her Tea Club for lunch. We purchased some food items that are provided each day for students and staff. It was very tasty and extremely inexpensive. Three students met up with us in one of the classrooms and we sat together and had a very pleasant English conversation during our meal. The time went by so fast.

Tonight was our third consecutive Friday of hosting local residents at the SS House. If someone had told me that I would have the unique opportunity of travelling halfway around the world to live for six weeks in a place where I had a very little knowledge of the language, only to host  a weekly Potluck party for people I had just been introduced to, I think I would have had to ask them what planet they live on. These evenings have certainly been a highlight for the both of us. An atmosphere of mutual respect and a willingness to learn is the feeling one has for the duration (and beyond) of the approximately three hours we get to spend with genuine and gracious people. Tonight’s conversation once again began with discussing all the great food that was prepared as we shared a meal together. As our eagerness to sample each dish slowed down from being full, the conversation shifted to music. It was a lot of fun to search YouTube or Spotify for our favourite songs. We laughed quite a bit when all of us were able to join in on a chorus or verse we all knew. It was special for me to hear our guests sing Japanese classics for the first time. As we exchanged our ‘good nights’ and ‘thank you for coming’, I could hear my internal voice saying, “Thank you Stony Plain for the gift of a forty-year relationship with this remarkable community. I am glad I got to come here.”

Wednesday, March 12^th, 2025

Today, we were on our own and Dodi suggested that we walk down the street and visit the Fukuhara Memorial Museum. The entry fee was 600 Yen/person and what a deal that turned out to be. I am still marvelling at how such a small community can house a remarkable selection of artwork. The size and architectural design of the building was impressive and the surrounding grounds housed many statues. The museum was mainly built and pieces were provided by philanthropist, Mr. Jihei Fukuhara. We enjoyed the better part of an afternoon wandering through the galleries and marvelling at this private collection.

“This museum features the collection of Mr. Jihei Fukuhara, the founder of the Fukuhara Supermarket chain which operates in the Tokachi and Kushiro regions of Hokkaido. The wide variety of artworks on display include those by artists representative of Japan and by those closely associated with the Tokachi region.” – Fukuhara Memorial Museum Website

Thursday, March 13^th, 2025

We returned to the Fukuhara Museum, today to have lunch. There is a warm and decadent atmosphere in the restaurant. One wall has floor to ceiling windows that give you a great view of the museum grounds. The food and service were excellent and cost us about $20.00 (total). As our leisurely lunch ended, we started talking to a young man named, Daigo. He introduced himself as the director of the museum. After some basic attempts at dialogue, Daigo pulled out his phone and enlarged a photo with his two fingers. It turns out that he is the friend of one our guests from our first SS House Potluck party. Daigo had a picture of us posing with the group at SS House.

In the evening, we headed over to our second English Class at Choumin Hall. Mel Li  is one of two ATLs (assistant language teacher) currently living and working in Shikaoi. Mel was this evening’s teacher and she used the topic of vegetables to generate dialogue and discussion between attendees. My group included Kayoko and a junior high school student. We worked together at deciphering a list of almost 100 fruits and vegetables. There were four columns. Each row represented three different written forms for the same vegetable. We had to write the English name in the fourth column. I wasn’t much help with most of the lesson except for providing a few spelling changes. We were able to share with each other our preferences for many of the items, though, as we worked through the list.

Friday, March 14^th, 2025

Our morning began with an invitation to attend the Urimaku Junior High School Graduation. We dressed in business/formal and joined parents, staff, dignitaries and all the students in the gymnasium. The procedures and protocols were interesting to experience – nothing like what you would see in an Alberta junior high school grade nine celebration. The event lasted about two hours. Each of the eleven graduating student was individually recognized and there were many speeches to work through. The best part of the ceremony was that each student gave a speech near the conclusion. Without really knowing exactly what was said, the emotion from each student was so vivid. Lots of tears, head nods, and laughter was shared by all. It was a very touching event. Ten days prior, we had the opportunity to engage with these students during Ms. Monica’s English class, providing us with a general understanding of their individual personalities.

After the graduation ceremony, Glen drove us to visit both Uramaki Elementary School and Tsumei Elementary School. We were graciously welcomed by the administration and staff at each facility. We also were privileged to be invited into some classrooms and interact with the kids.

In the evening, we hosted our second Potluck at SS House. The weather was pretty ugly today, with high gusts of wind and a mixture of snow and rain. It may have affected the number of people who came tonight. The three guests who did attend certainly made up for the crappy weather by bringing lots of tasty food and great conversation. The smaller group dynamic seemed to change the nature and depth of our discussions. I judge that it was a very good opportunity for our guests to strengthen their English skills. Kayoko’s car wouldn’t start as we were saying our goodbyes. I was happy to be able to help out with attaching the booster cables to the car batteries and getting her on her way.

Saturday, March 15^th, 2025

We were invited to join Kazumi and Tomoko (our house guests from their 2018 visit to Stony Plain) for the day in Otofuke and Obihiro. Glen was gracious in picking us up taking us back home at the end of our reunion. This day a treat for us as we were able to reconnect with two terrific people. Today, we were honoured to visit both Kazumi’s and Tomoko’s homes where we were introduced to their children. Tomoko and Kazumi each have two school-aged sons. Then we were off to tour Kazumi’s school and classroom. There is a kindred spirit between the four of us as we all share in the experiences of being in the teaching profession. Glen’s background has a pretty solid grounding in the classroom, as well. He does have a personal connection with both Kazumi and Tomoko and certainly seemed to feel at home with everyone.

The Hokkaido Hotel was the next destination, where we were treated to what was called a ‘Spring Lunch”. It was a set meal served in traditional Japanese style and presented with lots of selections and more modest servings than we expect in Canada. The food presentation, textures, flavour and variety were great – sensory overload in the best way! The number of dishes more than makes up for the smaller portions.

We finished the afternoon with a visit to the Obihiro Racetrack.

“Banei Horse Racing is the only race of its kind in the world. Large draft horses, weighing about 1 ton, race on a separate course in a 200 m straight line, going over two separate inclines, while pulling an iron sled that weighs up to 1 ton.” – Google

The experience was so much fun. There was aa big crowd with lots of noise, both in the betting area and along the length of the track, once the starting gate flew open. Without any reasonable knowledge, we placed bets in two races. No luck in the first race, but Dodi placed 500 Yen for her horse of choice (the horse looked nice) to ‘show’ in the next race.

It won and Dodi walked away with 2000 Yen in her pocket.

Glen Shimbo has been so kind and generous to us. He has a lot to ensure that we are being taken care of, including chauffeuring us around, answering a million questions, and constantly translating. We are grateful.

Sunday, March 16^th, 2025

We were invited by Takanori and Taeko to join them for a senior’s monthly luncheon. There were over twenty people there. Seven ladies prepared, served everyone, and then sat at their own table to eat a traditional meal. They also did all the clean-up afterwards. The meal included sticky rice, miso soup, tempura pork and vegetables, a salad, pickled vegetables, beans, burdock, and a couple of other dishes that I don’t know the names for. After a tasty lunch, we played a couple of group games – Jenga and a team relay using beans, chopsticks and two bowls that required you to transfer the beans from one to the other using the chopsticks.

We had some great conversations with different individuals. Taeko and Takanori served as our interpreters. I can only guess that our two newfound friends must be exhausted taking on this role. Translating must challenge them at becoming more proficient in mastering English. We are grateful for their companionship and willingness to help us out in any way they can.

Friday, March 7^th, 2025

One week in and the days just keep getting better. Hopefully tomorrow will be a much-needed reset day for the both of us. Yuyu and Hiromi picked us up in one of the town’s hydrogen-powered cars and we drove up to Lake Shikaribetsu, where the Ice Village (Snow/Igloo Village is located. It’s about a half an hour drive from town. It was a beautiful, clear sky and the panoramic view of the mountains was spectacular. Lake Shikaribetsu is the highest altitude lake on Hokkaidō and the drive through fresh snow only added to the experience. We spent about one hour on the lake, visiting the ice bar and some ice/snow structures. The village provides visitors with an opportunity to drive your own snowmobile or you can also get pulled around the lake in an inflatable tube (shaped like a zodiac). The snow and ice igloos contained intricate ice carvings and there was a portable pool to soak in water that is piped in from the hot spring.

It was quite a shock to be greeted by my name as we crossed the parking lot on the way back to our car. Jinseng and his wife Yuki were living in Stony Plain a couple of years ago, where we had an opportunity to spend some time with them. I was completely dumbfounded by Jin’s greeting and it took me far too long to realize who I was seeing. Seeing Jin again was just another completely unexpected treat.

Mr. Yamamoto picked us up in the afternoon, as he had invited us to join him at his Fumanet class. There were about 30 participants and it was certainly a brand-new experience for the two of us. The two hours flew by with lots of encouragement and coaching from everybody. The citizens of Shikaoi have been so welcoming to us.

“Fumanet” refers to a Japanese exercise program, developed in Hokkaido, designed to prevent falls and dementia by promoting light-burden and net-step exercises, encouraging seniors to work together in a fun and sustainable way. – Wikipedia

Me and Dodi hosted our first SS House Potluck tonight. We had 10 guests join us for some great food and engaging conversation. Everyone pitched in to clean up at the end of the evening and our fridge (very small in size) was fuller than when the evening began. Me and Dodi will be eating well for the next few days.

Saturday, March 8^th, 2025

There were no scheduled events for the weekend. A couple of hours in the morning was set aside to do some house cleaning. During the afternoon, me and Dodi went for a walk through the community, including a stroll along the main business street.

We decided that we would visit the Hatsune BAR for supper and karaoke. The bar is owned and operated by Yoichi Oki and his wife. We were first introduced to Yoichi in 2005, when he stayed with us during his trip to Stony Plain. In the subsequent trips we have made to Shikaoi, we have been able to reconnect.

The meal we had was exceptional. We started off with three appetizers which were delicious. The rest of our taste experience included edamame, shrimp, gyoza, and spicy ramen, with a local beer on tap to help ease our thirst. The front eating area is very cozy and we shared it with a nice young man and some high school kids. When our meal was done, we moved over to the karaoke bar. This part of our evening was shared with four local men, three of whom came in together. The other was the young guy from the restaurant. Clearly, all of them knew their way around karaoke.

It was a fun evening with Yoichi and his wife being the best of hosts. The microphones didn’t get much of a rest as we alternated between Japanese hits and classics and a variety of American tunes.

As we were saying our goodbyes for the night, Yoichi handed presented us with a gift. He handed me a bag said that they had prepared something for us to have for our dinner, the next day.

Sunday, March 9^th, 2025

Today was a down day for the both of us. The Yamamoto’s knocked on our door during their morning and invited us to join them when they travel to Otofuke on Monday to do some errands. I listened to the Oilers, live on 880 CHED, and Dodi went for a walk. I went for a long walk around the perimeter of Shikaoi after the broadcast. We rented a movie on Apple TV and thoroughly enjoyed the meal that had been prepared for us by the Oki’s the night before.

Monday, March 10^th, 2025

This morning, we joined the Yamamoto’s on their regular errand run into Otofuke. We parked in a large shopping area and visited a Walmart-like store, a couple of second-hand stores, a clothing store, and a grocery store. We had another excellent meal at the Matsuriya sushi restaurant where we ran into one of the women who participated in the Fumanet class.

On our way home, we stopped at the Tokachi Toteppo Factory for an ice cream and beverage. I remembered visiting this sweets shop on our first visit to the area, twenty years ago. This place is so popular with the locals that it’s hard to get a parking space on Sundays. There is a souvenir/rest stop beside the factory and we checked that place out, as well. We ran into Magumi and her daughter Yui just as we were leaving. They were part of our Potluck Party at SS House, the week before.

“In Obihiro, Hokkaido, famous for its “Sweets Kingdom,” notable cake factories include Tokachi Toteppo Factory, known for local milk and cheese confections, and Ryugetsu, famous for its Baumkuchen called Sanporoku.” – Google Search

The day was quite tiring as there was quite a bit of sensory overload from experiencing so many new things in Otofuke. I could have spent hours in each of the stores we visited just walking up and down the aisles. During the evening, we enjoyed a few snacks (still full from the sushi lunch) and watched a movie on Netflix.

Tuesday, March 11^th, 2025

This morning, we were invited to join and participate in a second year (Grade 11) Home Economics class, taught by Tomoko. Tomoko stayed with us when she visited Stony Plain. A grade eleven student from Spruce Grove (on a six-week exchange through the government of Alberta program) was a part of this group of eighteen students. The group was preparation a traditional Japanese food called Mochi. It is rice that is ‘pounded’ into a very heavy, thick dough-like substance. The Mochi was then used to make 6 different products 1. Bean paste wrapped around a fresh strawberry and enveloped in Mochi

2. Mochi with a chocolate center

3. Mochi balls with miso soup

4. Mochi dusted with a sweetened bean powder

5. Mochi topped with bean past and butter

6. Mochi balls in a heated bean sauce

We were able to join each group of students during the entire preparation process and then sat to enjoy the labour of our efforts. In addition to the hard work, we were able to chat with all the students. Quite a few students had a strong grasp of English, so we were able to engage in deeper conversations with them.

It was another good day of learning and conversation.

This last weekend I was able to visit the Ice Kotan at lake Shikaribetsu with two other ALTs. Each year, a kotan (village) of ice and snow is constructed on top of the frozen lake, and stays open for two months. The word kotan comes from the Ainu – the indigenous peoples of Hokkaido, and part of Russia. The Ice Kotan is a popular tourist destination in Hokkaido during the winter.

The main attractions at the ice village include the ice café, snowmobile rides, and the onsen (hot spring). As winter has been very warm this year, fewer buildings than usual have been constructed.

The ice café/ice bar sold an array of hot and cold beverages, with the option of it being served in an ice glass. You could also try your hand at ice carving, and chisel out your own glass for $12. Although it would’ve been cool to use an ice glass, my fingers were already in the process of becoming icicles, so paper cup coffee it was.

Upon seeing my friend’s Vancouver 2010 gloves, the bartender asked if she was from Canada – and then if she was from Stony Plain. I am still surprised when I hear people talking about Stony Plain all the way in Japan!

In a separate room of the café building, there was a small theatre where live music plays on the weekends. Among the seats were two bears, and a mouse.

Snowmobile rides around a portion of the lake were offered for $12 to $24 depending on if you chose to go with a guide, or solo. For all you snowmobile enthusiasts out there, like my dad, they were Yamahas!

For the very brave, you could strip down and partake in the semi-public onsen, which is attached to an ice building on the lake. There was also a foot bath option, but we decided against trying it, as no one was particularly interested in cold, wet socks later on.

Other activities included looking through the ice lens, checking the thickness of the ice, and losing circulation to your toes. Overall, it was very cold, but very enjoyable!

Every day, all elementary and junior high schools in Shikaoi receive a hot school lunch. A company in Shikaoi prepares the food, and transports it to each school via truck in time for lunch. A large metal box on wheels goes to each classroom (if it’s a large school), or to each school (the smallest schools have only 12-16 students). Inside the container is everything from the actual food, to the dishes, trays, and serving utensils.

Each school serves lunch differently. Some do a self-serve assembly line style, while others have a few students or staff serve the food to the rest. Many students wear an apron and hair bandana when serving and handling the food. Students bring their own chopsticks, though sometimes spoons are sent with the lunch depending on the day’s menu.

At the end of lunch, any food scraps are dumped back into one of the containers, which are then packed up in the large metal box along with all of the trays, etc. and are wheeled to where the lunch company truck can pick them back up again.

Each month we receive a calendar detailing the lunches for each day in the next month. The cost of lunch for staff comes to about $2 a day, and is paid monthly. This summer, the new mayor of Shikaoi decided to waive lunch fees for all students!

Lunch time varies at each school, but generally starts around 12:10, and runs for 40 minutes. At Shikaoi elementary and Urimaku elementary, where class sizes are much larger, the English teacher and I will eat in the teacher’s office with many of the other staff. Students and homeroom teachers eat together in the classroom. In the smaller schools, lunch is usually in a cafeteria space with all of the students and staff, though sometimes the English teacher and I will be invited to eat with a specific grade in their classroom.

There are five components to each school lunch.

• Grain
• Soup
• Salad
• Protein
• Milk

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Tuesday, December 3rd – Day 1

• Rice. It is very easy to eat this with chopsticks, because the rice sticks together in large clumps. Japanese rice has a slightly sweet taste on its own. We usually get rice on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Sometimes it’s seasoned with vegetables or seaweed.

• Soup with tofu, carrot, cabbage, leek, mushroom, and chicken. “No spoon?!” you might be asking. In Japan, chunky soups like these are eaten with CHOPSTICKS! Eat all of the large pieces first, then pick the bowl up, and drink the remaining broth.

• Potato and pork salad. Boiled potato is one of the trickiest foods to pick up with chopsticks!

• Natto. Natto is fermented soybeans. It is a divisive food in Japan due to its slimy/sticky texture, and powerful smell. We have only had it once before for school lunch, and as a natto-hater, it seemed ironic to get it on the day I started documenting school lunch.

• Milk. Hokkaido milk is famous in Japan, and is very rich. Sadly, I had to start giving it away after a couple weeks due to mild lactose intolerance. 😥

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Wednesday, December 4th – Day 2

• Bread. Wednesdays are usually bread days – my favourite! This bread had a smattering of whole sweet red beans inside.

• Soup. Today’s soup was cabbage, spinach, and pork.

• Tomato macaroni salad with corn, peppers, and ground pork.

• Fried fish, with a tartar sauce packet. I find Wednesdays often have more Western-style foods, which might also explain the presence of a spoon instead of chopsticks.

• Milk.

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Thursday, December 5th – Day 3

• Ramen. We usually have noodles on Thursday. Today, we had ramen in a dark soy sauce soup. The noodles come cooked and warm in a plastic bag, which we dump into the broth. The soup had pork, cabbage, onion, leek, carrots, and bamboo shoot.

• Cucumber, bean sprout, and chicken salad, with a creamy dressing.

• An orange! We don’t often get fruit with lunch, so this is a special treat! I bought a bag of 10 small oranges like this last week, and it cost ¥450, or about $5.50 CAD.

• Milk.

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It’s nice to not have to prepare my own lunch everyday, and to be able to try more authentic Japanese foods. Restaurants, while delicious, are often limited to curry, noodles, tempura, or other popular dishes. Many of the dishes in school lunch are more akin to what would be prepared in someone’s home.

Thanks to school lunch, I have been able to try many traditional Japanese foods that I otherwise would not have experienced, or been aware of. Yum!

Nelson Barros – Long Stay Participant

During my stay in Shikaoi, I was given the absolute pleasure of taking part in English Camp! Hosted in Shikaoi’s “Pure Malt Clubhouse”, the goal of the event is to get the Japanese junior high students to use mainly English for the day. The event spanned from 9:30am to 2:30pm, and is packed with fun games, workshops and big group cooking activity. The 3 English speakers involved were Kelsey (JET ALT) and Megan (Stony Plain ALT) me. We were each given a similarly sized group of students to oversee. Despite being a younger group, their English level went above and beyond all expectations. The level at which many Japanese people can speak English is very impressive. 

We had a fun video chat with people from Stony Plain during English Camp. The students all got to ask some questions and talk to some children their age. They were split into 3 groups again to ensure every student was given the chance to talk. Megan and Kelsey each led a group activity. Megan had the students design an all English comic book cover, Kelsey had them write up an all English postcards to send to their grandparents. My responsibility was figuring out what meal to make for 40 people. It also needed to have some relevance to Canadian culture. With snow on the ground, and a bitterly cold breeze, there’s no food I wanted more than chili. Maybe not a traditionally Canadian food, but definitely an adopted one.

The hardest part of making chili in Japan is finding kidney beans. There are a lot of foods that Canada has in abundance that are entirely unobtainable in Japan. 

 I had 10 Japanese students carefully cutting vegetables, while 2 poor souls were in charge of browning a ridiculous amount of meat. All of the students were given English instruction throughout cooking, and all of them handled it very well. The chili went over great, and one of the teachers suggested adding it to a school lunch rotation. It’s wonderful to see so many people in Shikaoi so interested in English and Canadian culture. Experiences like these are what you should look out for if you ever get the chance to take part in theLong Stay Program! Many fun things are constantly taking place in Shikaoi and the surrounding area. Don’t hesitate to ask about upcoming events and festivals.