カナダ2日目-ホームステイ1

I was trying homestay for the first time.

Today, I was getting up at 6 o’clock in the morning and I was getting ready to dress myself.
I saw on the internet that this youth hotel is a complimentary breakfast served from 8am to 10am, so I was conflicted between whether I went or not, I decided to try going to the dining hall.

My reserved room was the farthest from the dining hall, so I was worried about that I walked passed other passengers in the hall and I was spoken them.
I didn’t want to leave the room.

But, when I walked past old woman in front of a elevator, I was greeted with her friendly smile, I returned a greeting.
So, I found it overthinking.
I could know that I can return greeting, but I didn’t have confidence to have a conversation, then I went straight the dining hall quicklly.

When I arrived at dining hall, there were a lot of people and the dining hall was smaller than I thought.
Since I was knowing there is the breakfast buffet served, I expected there are line up a lot of table and various dish on each table.
But, several food only were piled up on each dish around kitchen, two staffs cooked at the kitchen, it didn’t look like there were any open seats, number of seat was few I can count on both hands.

Anyway, I lined up following other people around me, then I took some foods I want to eat.
I looked for open seats, but there was not already it.
So, I took out it in my room and I ate.

I felt Pain au chocolat was delicious, I had only eaten an airline meal and a Calorie Mate since I departure from japan.
Since I was hungry, I went to take that for 3 times.

Then, since check-out was 11 am, I would be preparing to check-out at 10 am, but a room mate didn’t come back until the end.
I really thought where he went?

I finished preparing to go out, I left the room and I was waiting for a elevator.

The day before, I brought around 22kg my baggage into my reserved room from 1 floor to 2 floor using stairs while suffering.
But, I was very tired because a lot has happened.
So, I decided to use the elevator, I took on that and pushed “1”, but I arrived at the 3 floor.

Two persons waiting for the elevator were a puzzled looking face, after that, I was looking on the internet, I found it was difference how to call about first floor in abroad.
The second floor what I expected was “1” floor in canada, In short, when I pushed “1”, but I had been already “1” floor.
As a result, the elevator did next action going “2” floor and I arrived 3 floor I didn’t expected.
I looked buttons of elevator carefully, there was “L” button, I pushed it, then I arrived 1 floor.
“L” was initial of “Lower ground”.
There was difference about floor number between japan and abroad.
I got it that there are shift by one.

Then, I arrived the front desk and I checked out, but I couldn’t understand the staff what he say.
I wanted him to speak more slowly.

I went out from the youth hostel, since I was looking up on the internet, I went straight bus stop and I lined up, I could take on a bus easily.
I was taking on the bus for 30 minutes while I was looking outside.
When I arrived my purpose place and I was going to get off the bus, an old lady helped me for getting off.
I didn’t know the bus in vancouver have to manually open by pressing the button of the back door.
I was confused in front of close back door, then kind old lady helped me pushing button.
That moment was I felt it was good country for Canada.

My reserved homestay wasn’t far away from bus stop, if I arrived earlier than scheduled time from I would be going to kill time walking around.
But, the house was built in a place like a gentle slope mountain in North Vancouver, so it was impossible walking around with my suitcase.
It was really impossible.

So, I was confirming the place of reserved host family house and I was going to try to wait until scheduled time at there near by the house.
Then, I saw a woman (host mother) and a man (reader of guest) were just going out of the entrance, our eyes met, I was greeting, I was welcomed into the house 1 hour before the scheduled time.

When I was welcomed into the house, I was hesitant to not take off my shoes.
Then, the woman taught me where is my room, I left my luggage in there and I went to the kitchen.
The host mother was preparing a tea, I sat across from each other and I was talked a lot by her.
But, I couldn’t unerstand what she said.
Since I was learning English using online English in japan, so I thought it will be alright.
But, it was wishful thinking.
I was not able to catch at all what she said.

I tried to understand that she talked to me for an hour, while I connected words I was able to understand, in my head.
But I was half way through that I wasn’t able to understand at all, then I said “I’m very tired” and I left from the kitchen.
I was sorry about that I wasn’t talk well, I was disappointed with myself, I was feeling like going back to my home.

Since I arrived before lunch, she took care and served the lunch, nevertheless the lunch didn’t include in homestay service charge.
I was eating with other homestay mates together, but I wasn’t able to understand what they say said.

There were 3 of us eating together, 2 Mexicans and 2 Ecuadorians, but their spanish accent was hard to understand, then I wasn’t able to talk.
They were interested in Japan, I felt I was sorry.
I was really feeling like going back to my home.
The served lunch were boiled instant noodles and putted cut broccoli, carrots and corn.

I managed to overcome the lunch time somehow, I went back to my room and I kept staying in my room.
Then I got sleepy gradually, I decided sleeping.
I feel like I have been sleeping half of the time during in canada since I came here, maybe I was so tired, I thought.

When it was time for dinner, my host mother called me over and I went to dining room with a kitchen, but the noodles I ate for lunch hadn’t been completely digested.
Nevertheless, there were served huge hot dog, salad, and naan-like dough wrapped something spicy.
I thought it’s a lot!
But, my stay mates who ate for lunch with me ate it lightly.
I was really surprised, in the end I finished eating last among everyone.

My first day was finished like that.
But, a toilet paper was in my room, I wondered what was it and I found out that it was toilet paper to use in the toilet.
It would have been in danger, if I had gone to the toilet without knowing a reason of the toilet paper placed in the room.

Plus, the door of toilet and bathroom didn’t have a indicator lock, so I have to open and close the door to see if someone is inside.
Is it normal in Canada?

My first day of homestay was finished something like that.
Since I felt even stronger it wasn’t enought English skill, so I really want to go back home.
I regretted what I bought a ticket to stay for 10 days.