At the beginning of November, we moved!
カナダに来て早くも1年以上が経ちましたが、私たちもやっと自分たちの住む場所ができました。
A full year has quickly gone by since we came to Canada, so we thought it was time to move into a place of our own!
外観：
Take a gander.
この家は売りに出されていますが、今は私たちが借りています。不動産のホームページからこの写真を取ってきたので、緑がきれいですが、もちろん、11月の今は雪で囲まれています(*^^*)
We had looked at mostly apartments, but in the end we couldn't turn down what seemed like the perfect opportunity. This house is for sale by a family that has already moved - but they are having trouble selling it in the present state of the housing market. We are renting it from them at a very reasonable rate (good for us) which gives them some peace of mind that their property is being looked-after over the winter months (good for them). Gotta love a win-win situation.
These are pictures from the Real Estate website where it is advertised. These pictures were taken back in the summer...Of course, now it is November and we are surrounded by snow (*^^*)
居間 暖炉がありま～す（＾＾）
This is the Living Room - it has a fire place（＾＾）
TVルーム ・ The TV Room
ピアノは今はありませ～ん。(It looks just like this - only the piano is no longer here)
ダイニングルーム （全然使ってません）
The Dining Room (we don't use this room at all)
台所 食事はここで取って、仕事もここで済ませてます（＾＾）
Here is the Kitchen. We cook here and use this table to eat and as a work space.
11月はカナダでは男性特有のガンに対するガン検診の啓発運動の一環で、男性はひげをはやすことをするムーヴメントがあります。Steveのひげもそのためです(*^_^*)
In Canada, the month of November is kind of a men's cancer awareness month, with a big focus on prostate cancer awareness. Men show their support by growing a mustache - which explains Steve's new (but temporary, he assures me) look.
２階に行きましょう～ 子ども部屋が２つあります
Let's take a look upstairs. There are two children's rooms.
私たちは使ってません。Just to stop any rumours from spreading - we are not using these rooms.
お風呂 ・ The Bathroom
ボーナス・ルーム ・ This is an additional room built over the garage that joins onto the Master Bedroom. It is referred to as the Bonus Room.
ガスの暖炉があるので、短時間で暖をとるには最適なのと、天井から自然の光が入るのがいいです。(*^_^*) 私たちはエクササイズルームとして使っています。
The Bonus Room has a gas fire place, so it can be quickly lit. There are lots of windows and multiple sunroofs to provide plenty of natural lighting.
地下室 ・ The Basement
以上です。
This is the furnished part of the basement. Because it is a split-level house, there is a lot of storage space in the rooms that connect to this main room.
この家は、いろいろと条件が合ったので借りたわけですが、この広さが必要で選んだわけではありません。２人で暮らすには大き過ぎるくらいです。
普段使う部屋は１つか２つですね。
As I mentioned before, we rented this house because the rental conditions suited our situation. Of course the house itself is much too big for just the two of us.
We really only use a few of the rooms.
Still, this has all been another very interesting part of my cultural experience. In Japan, it is still common for people who are not married live with in their family's home regardless of their age. Then after getting married, it is common for the newlywed couple to live with the parents of either the bride or groom. I think that the latter trend may be gradually changing these days. Although I have friends who have moved out of their family home before marriage, as was the case for me as well, I think that most people still live in their family home.
一方のカナダでは、実家から出るというのは『自立のシンボル』のようで、特に20代過ぎても実家にいるのは、「ちょっとねぇ・・・」という感じが一般的という印象を受けます。（学生は別ですが。）
On the other hand, in Canada it seems much more common that moving out from the family home is seen as a sign of independence. I am under the impression that, especially once people are in their twenties, still living at your parents place is generally frowned upon. (although there are exceptions, such as if someone is a student)
私とSteveはカナダに帰って来て、この11月までSteveの実家に住まわせてもらっていました。
私にとっては初めて、Steveにとっても８年ぶりとなるカナダ生活を始めるにあたって、Steveのご両親が快く同居をしてくださったのは本当にラッキーでした。おいしいご飯に、快適な暮らしにと随分甘えさせていただきました。手作りのマフィンが時々むしょうに食べたくなる感覚もこちらで覚えました(*^_^*)
Since coming to Canada, we have been really fortunate to be able to stay with Steve's parents! We could spend lots of time with Steve's family (one of the reasons we moved to Canada!) and we were also spoiled daily with delicious home cooked meals and loving hospitality. It gave me wonderful insight and understanding in getting to know Steve's family (as well as a craving for home-made muffins once in a while!)
ということで、引っ越しでバタバタしていましたが、新しい家で私たち元気にしています。
だいぶ落ち着いてきたので、ブログもまた再開します(^O^)／
And so, we have been busy with moving but I am happy to say we are Genki and doing well in our new place. We are settling in nicely, so I hope to update this blog more often(^O^)／
