日全蝕

  

今日仔仔突然說要搬去Ontario ，

心裡奇怪，好端端的為什麼想要搬家？

問個究竟後，

發現原來是因為他在學校得知今天最熱的新聞，

就是Ontario 可以看到日全蝕，

而Vancouver 卻只能看到28%。

看著他拿著電筒和兩個球，

跟我們解釋日蝕如何產生，

還頭頭是道的講解日蝕的種類，

說Full eclipse是最棒、最正的，

心覺敬佩又好笑。

個人十分欣賞阿仔對追求完美的志向，

但孩子呀，我明白100%跟28%確是差距有點大，

在Vancouver 對這次日蝕確實完全無感，

不過為了看個特別自然現象就要搬家，

不是太大費周章嗎？

去個旅行不就可以了～

重點是，

這次已經錯過了，

要等20年才可以再次在北美看日全蝕哦。

（圖片來源：網絡轉載）

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Today, my son suddenly expressed his desire to move to Ontario.

I was puzzled—why would he suddenly want to relocate? After asking him more about it, I learned that he had heard the hottest news at school: Ontario would be able to see a total solar eclipse, while Vancouver would only get 28% coverage.

Watching him hold a flashlight and two balls to explain how an eclipse happens, and giving a detailed rundown of the different types of eclipses, I couldn’t help but feel both amused and impressed. He emphasized that a full eclipse is the best and most exciting one to witness.

I truly admire his pursuit of perfection. However, my dear child, I understand that there is a significant difference between 100% coverage and 28%. And I agree—Vancouver didn’t feel much excitement about this eclipse. 🙈 Still, moving just to see a special natural phenomenon might be a bit excessive, don’t you think? Why not just take a trip instead?

The thing is, we already missed the opportunity this time, and it’ll be another 20 years before we can see a total eclipse in North America again. 😅

(Image source: from the web)

法文學習之路

 加拿大的法定語言為英語和法語，平日買的日用品、銀行信件大都有英法雙語，因此，打算在此定居後一直都想學學法語。

之前經楓之谷法文自學谷認識了學語文的App: Duolingo，玩票性質地斷斷續續的自學，沒有很認真的學習計劃，進度當然是龜速。

拿了PR後驚喜地發現原來給新移民的免費語言班是有法文學的！：）等了半年，終於排到了做測試。

讀寫聽講像考IELTS似的玩了兩小時，今天收到了成績單，看出了嘆慢板自學的成果。讀寫還算喜出望外，只是一聽真人講法語便不太聽得到，自然答不到問題，明顯是位法語系聾啞人士。聽講還是需要更多語境配合呢。

這次測試，除了賺了真人法語對答機會，考評員見我聽法語上的問題，還推介了另一個自學法文app：Mauril ，內裡有很多不同的生活短片，由淺入深的教法文用語。從頭去聽最簡單的法語，真的發覺自己好像甚麼也沒學似的，真人發音很難聽懂。

就在等候通知有課程之前（或許又是一個半年），再來自學一下～

P.S. 順道自介一下小妹拿來練習法文的threads:

https://www.threads.net/@tcmp_crystal

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Canada’s official languages are English and French. Everyday items and bank letters typically come in both languages, so since deciding to settle here, I’ve been eager to learn French.

I discovered a language learning app called 'Duolingo' through a self-study French group named 'Maple Valley French Self-Learning'. I've been using it casually, without a serious study plan, so my progress has been at a snail's pace.

After receiving my Permanent Resident status, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are free language classes for new immigrants that include French! :) After waiting for six months, I finally secured a spot for the assessment.

The test was two hours long, covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking—similar to the IELTS exam. I received my results today, which revealed the impact of my slow-paced self-study. My reading and writing results were surprisingly decent, but as soon as I heard real French speakers, I struggled to understand them and naturally couldn’t answer the questions. Clearly, I was somewhat lost in conversation 🙈. I definitely need more immersion to improve my listening and speaking.

Besides giving me real conversation practice, the evaluator noticed my difficulties with listening and recommended another self-study app called Mauril. It offers a variety of everyday videos that teach French from beginner level upwards. Starting from the basics, I honestly felt like I hadn’t learned much at all 😂—real spoken French is tough to grasp 🙈.

While I'm waiting for a course placement (which might take another six months 😂), I’ll keep up with my self-study! 😊

P.S. Here’s my Threads account, where I practice French: https://www.threads.net/@tcmp_crystal"

生日快樂

又大一歲。

今年隨老公公幹快閃Calgary ，可以跟姐姐聚餐慶祝

有愛護自己的家人圍繞，是最好的禮物。

尤其人在外，與家人見面的時間更是可貴。

初次美國行

小孩的Pro-D day(類似教師發展日的學校假期），又是BC長假期前夕，就試試搞搞新意思——來個美國行。

第一次過境美國，來到開車一小時左右的Bellingham，我們在來加前申請的美簽終於有用武之地了。

話說小妹未曾踏足過美國領土，大鄉里出城，大概是帶著一點獵奇的心態作客。由於不是常客，在關口被召進海關查旅遊記錄、拍照和打指模，還要每人交$6查閱費！被要求查閱旅遊記錄，費用卻要我們付，這個有點耐人尋味。

此趟旅程尚算短暫，除了在美國關口被官員問話那段時間，還有在路上的時速標示由km轉為miles ，其實未有感覺到邊界兩地有多大分別，可能要多看看不同地方感受下。

在小鎮閒逛一下，悠閑的過上一天。

確要感謝同行友人們的建議和安排。

小試牛刀，下次可以走遠一點吧～

回家

飛機上的朝陽迎接我們回加！

實在好得無比。

回港 ‧ 啟程

 移加兩周年，

現在是回鄉探親的心情。

通過路試

 是日最高興事件莫過於有返對腳！

有些少非重大錯誤。

泊好車後考官跟我講解好些要改進的地方。

例如叫我之後要好好練習一下泊車，

還問我紅燈轉右要怎處理，答完標準答案後，他說紅燈轉右一定要停定，我剛才考試時做的只是rolling stop，不是full stop。

以為衰了，但考官放人！！

遇著好人，無可否認是幸運的。

等候了10個月不能開車的日子，

終於等到香港車牌夠2年期，

可以合資格考class 5路試。

現在能夠成功合格，

可以自行開車出門，

一定要感謝抽空陪我練習的老公。

紅葉遍地🍁

 2023 Fall @Eagles Drive