Summer Holidays
I can't believe it's already time for ECM's summer holidays!  It seems like we just got back from Golden Week break!  I've been so busy, I don't know where the time is going, but it's definitely better than being bored :)  I really feel like Japan is home now, and even though I know I will probably always feel like an outsider here, no matter how long I'm here, I definitely feel more comfortable than I did a year ago!  However you choose to spend your days off from work and studying this summer, I hope you have a great time relaxing and remember to stay safe!  And if you see any foreigners while you're out and about, strike up a conversation. It really makes me happy and I feel more welcome when people try and practice their English with me!  Don't be afraid to make mistakes.  See you in a few weeks!
 
Ziggy
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Celebrate Good Times!
Summertime has always meant celebration for me.  The 4th of July, my birthday, block parties, BBQs, family reunions, and carnival!  Apart from the weather, the celebrations are the reason that I love the summer months.  

Things have been no different in Japan.  Summer in Japan has proven to be a non-stop celebration.  I am really enjoying all of the matsuris, BBQs & picnics with friends and going to watch hanabi displays.   The best part is that now that tsuyu is over, the celebrations have just begun.  I am looking forward to many more celebrations and good times with friends here in Japan this summer.  I cherish every moment.  Before you know it, summer will be over and my time in Japan will quickly be coming to an end.  In the meantime, I am making great memories.

I know it is very hot.  I hope that you all are enjoying this summer as much as I am.  So stay cool and enjoy!  I look forward to hearing about your good times throughout this summer.

Take care,
Raashida
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Summer Holidays
You must all be very excited to have started your summer holidays! I still remember how excited I was to be finished school every June. On the last day of school we would clean our desks and lockers (but not the classroom, there are janitors at schools in Canada!) and have an awards ceremony. The next day, we would go to get our final report cards from our teachers and say goodbye.

In Canada, life as a student is a little easier than here in Japan. Our school year starts in September and ends in June. So that means over summer holidays, there is no homework because you're in between teachers and grades! We also don't have any club activities in the summer, our two months of holidays means absolute freedom! Because my father is a farmer/rancher, my summer holidays usually involved working on the farm. As a young child, this meant helping my mother weed the garden, can and pickle the vegetables, planting trees for shelterbelts, picking berries or wild mint tea, or mowing the huge law. Of course, there was a lot of playing outside on the big farm, riding bikes and horses, quadding, and canoeing. One summer I spent my whole week baking, so I could go sell it at the Farmer's Market on Friday and make some pocket money. When I was older, I would help in the field and working the cattle. As a result, I was always very tanned, and had really light blonde hair, bleached from the sun. My mother was also a teacher, and I loved going to school with her the days she was working on curriculums for the upcoming school year. I would play in the gym, or the music room, sit in the computer lab or read books in the library. We had the whole school to ourselves. I also loved to help decorate her classroom, rearrange the desks and laminate for her. Plus it was a nice break from being outside in the hot sun. Occasionally we would take a camping trip to the lake, and a few summers we took longer family trips in our motorhome, driving to the U.S. or the Rockies.

Whatever you do this summer, I hope you have a great time. Take a break from studying for a few days and go out and have some fun, you're only young once!

Ziggy
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Tata, Madiba!
On July 18th former political prisoner, Nobel Peace Laureate and President of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela turned 94 years old.  Nelson Mandela is also known as Madiba (his clan name) or Tata (which means father in isiXhosa, his mother-tongue). Tata is a great inspiration to me and many others and is widely respected throughout the World for his dedication to the freedom struggle in South Africa.  He is also know for helping to bring South Africans together and beginning a process of reconciliation after the fall of Apartheid.  An achievement that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize (alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Former SA President FW de Klerk).

In his youth and early adulthood, Nelson Mandela fought against Apartheid and was a leader in the liberation struggle of the African National Congress (ANC).  Apartheid was a system of racial segregation (separation) enforced by the minority white government of South Africa from 1948 to 1994.  As a result of his work with the ANC Madiba was imprisoned on Robben Island for 27 years by the Apartheid government of South Africa.  Madiba was released from prison in 1990 and went to become the first president elected in open South African elections in 1994.  Before that time only whites were allowed to vote in South African elections.

After his presidency Nelson Mandela continued to advocate for the rights of oppressed people especially children around the World.  The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund still supports children rights causes today. In recognition of his work, July 18 was declared "Mandela Day" by the United Nations.  It is a day for people to honor the sacrifices that Nelson Mandela has made in his life by doing community service and charity works in their communities.

Nelson Mandela has inspired me with his dedication to freedom, his forgiving heart and his strength.  I wish Nelson Mandela a very Happy 94th Birthday and I pray that he will see many more.

Happy Birthday Tata! Ndiyatanda (I love you in isiXhosa)

"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behing, I'd still be in prison." - Nelson Mandela




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Summer Festivals
I can't believe it's past the middle of July already!  This summer is going by so fast!  You all must be very excited to be starting summer holidays soon as well, I know I am!  I'm really looking forward to taking in some new summer festivals in Japan that I didn't get to see last year.  Maybe I will even buy a yukata this year.  I hope to hear all about your plans for the upcoming holidays!
 
My city in Canada has many summer festivals including rodeos, a Jazz Festival, a Fringe Festival I often volunteer at and the 'Taste of Saskatchewan'.  The Fringe festival is a drama and arts festival that originated in Edinburgh, Scotland and that's where the biggest one is still held.  The Taste of Saskatchewan Festival is a food festival showcasing the multiculturalism of the area and has food from all over the world, such as perogies from the Ukraine, sushi from Japan,  curry from India, and Saskatoon berry pie from Saskatchewan.  By far, my favourite festival in Saskatoon is the Folk Festival.  There are pavillions all over the city for different countries of the world and I often like to volunteer at this festival as well.  You buy a 'passport', which is your ticket to the festival and as you go to each 'country' you get a stamp.  There are different foods, drinks, dancing, music, traditional dress and other cultural events at each pavillion.  Usually when I come back from living in a country, I like to volunteer at that country's pavillion, so I've worked at the Australian and Scottish one, and hopefully will work at the Japanese one in the future!  Seeing as I love to travel, if I have to spend a summer in Canada, these days can be a great escape to somewhere more exotic.
 
Some other festivals I've been to around the world that I really enjoyed are Oktoberfest in Germany, the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, many music festivals in the UK (in fact, it was my job to travel to all festivals around Scotland and England) and Australia, rural agricultural festivals in Switzerland, as well as the big Obon festival in Kyoto last summer (along with many smaller ones all over Japan).  Some countries where I'd love to see a festival are in Spain, India, and Brazil. Festivals are a great way to meet people and to get an insight into a country and it's culture.  I hope you all manage to take in a few local festivals this summer, especially to watch some fireworks!

~Ziggy~
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