According to a recent report from NEWSWIRE on August 10, 2023, one in four Canadians is expected to participate in back-to-school shopping this year. The Retail Council of Canada's Back-to-School 2023 Shopping Survey reveals that consumers are being more cautious with their spending, focusing on lower-priced items compared to previous years. Notably, stationery is projected to be the leading spending category at 60.8%, a significant shift from not being included in the list last year. Higher-priced items are being deferred by shoppers.

The shopping trend is beginning earlier this year, with 29.5% of respondents planning to shop 2-4 weeks before school starts, a decrease from 42.9% in 2022. A remarkable change is observed in shopping behavior, as 66% of Canadians intend to make dedicated trips for back-to-school purchases, contrasting with only 32.7% in the previous year.

Brick-and-mortar retailers in local neighborhoods are the preferred choice for 81% of Canadians, a notable increase from 41% in 2022, indicating a strong preference for physical stores over online purchases.

The top categories for back-to-school spending include stationery (60.8%), clothing (32.1%), books and music (23.4%), and personal or home electronics (18.2%). These findings provide insights into Canadians' shifting shopping habits and priorities for the upcoming school season.

You can jump into the article in the description.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/survey-1-in-4-canadians-will-go-shopping-for-back-to-school-this-year-805960556.html

Today I have an interesting topic which is about school summer vacation in Canada. The first surprise for the Japanese is this: school summer vacation in Canada usually lasts for 2 months or more.

The first day of the summer holidays for most Canadian schools is the last Saturday in June (early July), while the last day of the holiday is normally Labour Day in September. Students in the country enjoy two to three months of summer vacation. Mostly in Japan we only have 1 month that I was feeling long enough while I was in Japan for some reasons, though. 

At the end of the summer vacation, Canadian people seem to have a unique culture called back-to-school shopping. for me, it is similar to the Japanese shopping culture for a new season of school in April.

The most surprising thing for me should be that generally speaking, there is no homework during the vacation and no cram school that we called JUKU in Japan. That means children in Canada are essentially designed to enjoy their summer by playing with beautiful summer or focusing on playing sports in some leagues for those who belong to some teams.

By the way, one of my teammates in the running club has an old Japanese friend who is a teacher in the cram school. The funny thing was that he expressed that "the cram school" is the place the students in Japan are going crazy about the study outside of school. I was like, Juku is the strange culture in Japan, for some Canadians, that is just a crazy and awkward spot to have students study hard.

On the contrary, I am feeling something missing these days, it is likely because we don't have summer special holidays called OBON in Japan and nothing special opportunities to feel summer itself by having summer foods or joining summer festivals or meeting relatives who we basically only meet in summer in Japan. 

Overall, I am mostly jealous of Canadian children because they can enjoy their summer for 2 months without any responsibility for homework or anything. If I grew up in Canada, I must have been lazy but might have been curious about some nature experiences or summer activities.

How do you see Japanese summer? Stay safe everyone against the humid and boiling temperature.

LGBTQ+ の正式名称めっちゃ長いから人類皆どこかに当てはまる気がする

Today, we're diving into the vibrant world of LGBTQ+ celebrations and pride parades. In a recent news report by Daily Hive on August 6, 2023, we got an exciting glimpse into the 45th annual Vancouver Pride Parade. Let's break down the highlights.

Thousands of individuals gathered, uniting their spirits and transforming Vancouver's West End into a colourful journey all the way to False Creek. Love and pride were on full display as participants showcased their identities at this year's momentous event.

A fresh twist was added to the festivities this year, with the parade taking a new 3.1-kilometre-long route. The excitement kicked off at the intersection of Denman Street and Davie Street, leading participants on a journey that culminated at Concord Pacific Place.

You can jump into the article in the description.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/08/06/vancouvers-pride-parade-2023/

Today we are gonna talk about The Vancouver Pride Parade which isn't just any parade; it's a celebration that holds a special place in Canada's LGBTQ+ history. Regarded as one of the country's most significant LGBTQ-themed parades, it's also recognized as one of Vancouver's most vibrant and captivating annual events. If you're someone who loves the thrill of parades, enjoys the flair of extravagant costumes, and stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, the Vancouver Pride Parade promises an unforgettable experience. It's a true visual spectacle that's not to be missed!

While the event is deeply rooted in LGBTQ+ culture, its appeal reaches beyond the LGBTQ+ community. The parade is a family-friendly affair, and it's not uncommon to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making appearances, highlighting the broad acceptance and support it garners.

When did Pride Parade start in Vancouver?

Turning back the clock, the origins of the Pride Parade in Vancouver trace back to 1981. As Fortin shared with CTV News, the event carries an important message even today, stating, "There are still a lot of folks in our community who have not arrived, who are not given the same respect and opportunities that the rest of us are."It was only a couple of years ago that I started hearing the term LGBTQ, so I am surprised that this event has been around for roughly 40 years!

Do you know where the biggest LGBT parade in the world is?

The answer is in NYC where Pride March in the bustling heart of New York City proudly holds the title of the world's largest LGBTQ+ parade. This iconic event, situated at the crossroads of the global LGBTQIA+ movement, consistently draws record-breaking crowds. Attendance records of 2.1 million (2015) and 2.5 million (2016) were set, and even in 2018 and 2023, the estimated turnout reached an impressive two million participants.

Now, let's cross continents to Japan. Are there any pride parades in Japan?

If you are Japanese, you might feel barriers to some extent because of the unique cultural challenges, it appears Japan also embraces pride parades and LGBTQ+ events. Reflecting the growing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ issues, these events demonstrate the power of unity and progress, even in the face of adversity.

To be honest, we are really left behind and outdated. unfortunately, we sometimes still witness especially some politicians being blamed for their inappropriate speech. That’s always just embarrassing. On the contrary, I really love to see and put myself in the culture of Canada, they are really open and friendly in terms of cultural and sexual identities, and it is totally common sense to respect anyone with any personality.

That wraps up today's exploration of the Vancouver Pride Parade and its global counterparts. Stay tuned for more intriguing topics and inspiring stories.

ストライキたまに楽しそうなときすらある

According to news media “Global News” posted on July 31, 2023,

A tentative deal has been reached between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) to resolve a labour dispute affecting around 7,400 British Columbia port workers. The deal was reached with the assistance of the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Both parties are recommending their members ratify the agreement. The previous deal was rejected by union leaders. The new deal's details have not been disclosed yet. The strike, lasting for 13 days in July, caused significant disruption to port operations and resulted in an estimated $10 billion in lost trade. The government was under pressure to intervene if the dispute persisted, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the importance of continuing negotiations at the bargaining table. The union expressed concerns about contracting out maintenance work, fearing it might undermine the workforce and industry efficiency. The union members have until Friday to vote on the new offer, and if ratified, the deal is expected to bring long-term stability to the ports.

You can jump into the article in the description.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9866982/bc-port-strike-tentative-deal-oregan/

One of the most surprising cultures that most Japanese people living abroad should be surprised by is “Strike”. We all know the words but have never seen them in real.

First of all, a strike is the withholding of labour by workers in order to obtain better wages or working conditions. Usually, they sit outside the company with signs like “We are on strike” or something and keep this activity until the negotiation reached their goal. 

By the way, surprisingly, it appears there is the opposite word “a lockout”, which means the temporary shutdown of a business by an employer to compel employees to accept certain conditions.

Since I never saw a strike in Japan at least which affected our lives directly, I was shocked that there were so many strikes that happened back and force in Canada. 

Recently, we just witnessed the 2023 Canadian federal worker strike, which was a strike by Canadian federal workers who are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). The strike took place between April 19 and May 3, 2023, although the Treasury Board bargaining units ended their strike on May 1.

In my opinion, there are several reasons we can see more Strikes in Canada than in Japan.

One of the biggest reasons is that wages are, generally speaking, totally negotiable in Canada. Before joining the company, most candidates are asked about the salary expectation by the interviewer. Therefore, candidates should state their expected salary with a reason. Likewise, the same thing goes forward after joining the company. As that is not common in Japanese society, we basically need to wait until our boss would suggest our promotion and wage increase. Otherwise, you should change your job, if you are not satisfied with the wage.

Overall, no matter when I see people on strike in front of the company, I always feel like such patient people! Moreover, It is impressive because this is a kind of affirmation to the company! They don’t want to give up working there!  For me, as I don’t have the time and savings to wait for the company to increase wages, I will just change the job. 

How do you see the strikes overseas? 

自分のキッチンがあって、風呂があってトイレがある日本の1K5万円は世界最高条件

According to the news media "Vancouver is Awesome" posted on Jul 19, 2023,

The unfurnished solarium in downtown Vancouver rents for more than $1,000 per month.

For those seeking cheap rent in Vancouver's core, it's a struggle.

One option recently posted to Facebook's Marketplace is a very bare-bones situation: an empty solarium. The rent for the small, empty room is $1,050, plus utilities (another $20 per month).

The unfurnished space has enough room for a double bed and not much more. That said, the new roommate will have to bring their own bed.

And while the view is big, given two of the walls are windows to the outside world, a third wall is made up of sliding glass doors, entering into the apartment's living room.

Aside from the solarium, the apartment has three bedrooms (each occupied) and three bathrooms. The building also features a pool, hot tub, and parking.

You can dive into the article in the description.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/vancouver-rental-housing-solarium-shared-apartment-monthly-7298221

Today we will talk about renting a room in Vancouver. First of all, for those seeking affordable rent in Vancouver's core, it's a real struggle. Generally speaking, compared to Japan, where the rooms are larger and more expensive, young people here often opt for shared living spaces or what's known as a shared house. This means having individual rooms but sharing the kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, and entrance with roommates which is usually annoying. The number of roommates and bathrooms usually depends on the size and location of the house.

Now, let's dive into the unique types of rooms you might encounter when looking for accommodation in Vancouver, like dens and solariums. Starting with dens, they're incredibly small and often windowless rooms found in urban condominiums downtown. For those who prioritize living in a convenient metropolis with modern amenities, dens can be a reasonable option, even though they are relatively small. Dens are usually filled with just a single bed and maybe one suitcase, resembling a "storage room". 

Now, let's move on to solariums. A solarium is a glass room which is really commonly seen in a downtown condominium, typically used for sunbathing or enjoying therapeutic experiences. It's a relatively larger space than a den but still smaller than usual Japanese 1K, and features many windows and glass walls that allow plenty of sunlight.

As you can easily imagine, solariums have their downsides too. The lack of insulation due to the glass walls makes them less durable against extreme heat and cold. It can be quite chilly in winter and toasty in summer, which might not be ideal for many people.

Now, coming back to the article we mentioned earlier, even though the solarium offers a unique view and experience, the price tag of $1,050 per month, plus utilities, is undeniably a nightmare for many.

As for me, I've always chosen rooms relatively far from downtown but with personal bathrooms and spacious bedrooms. Regardless of your choice, it's important to note that the average rent keeps rising every year in Vancouver. One of the primary reasons for this is the serious shortage of available rooms, leaving potential renters with limited options when rents skyrocket.

If you're considering moving to Canada as a student, it's crucial to be flexible and patient, both in terms of your budget and living with people from all over the world.

That's it for today's podcast on renting in Vancouver from a former international student's perspective. We hope you found this information helpful. Stay tuned for more exciting topics and discussions in the future. 

盛り上がってます！私は行かないけど！

「彼はまちがいなく元会計士だ」のボケの意味がまだわからない