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A long good-bye for a nicest people, Canada (4)
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The End

# by tetsu95jp | 2008-03-02 08:12 | 28.Leaving Canada
A long good-bye for a nicest people, Canada (3)
The following morning, I found tony had emailed me. It says that because he has a very early-morning shift after my arrival time he wouldn't pick me up. When I met Tony, at first he looked avoiding speaking to me busily talking on his cellphone. And then, he apologised me that he mistook the day of my arrival as tonight. However, as opposed to what he mentioned in his email, the next day he didn't get up early for his shift.
For several days whenever I met him in the apartment, he was always using his cellphone busily. However, at last he accosted me to report about the travels each other. He confessed that his trip to Beijing was to meet a girl and her family, who were introduced to him for his marriage. It was totally different from what he said previously. He said that since before the travel they exchanged their photos and had correspondence. He looked very happy. I just couldn't believe it.
Soon he requested heating and lighting expenses I used from November 2004 to January 2005. Days later, he mentioned Mr Komada and his family would move from Japan to Richmond at the end of this March. I replied, "How speedy they are!" He said, "You don't know? They bought a house on the No,4 road in Richmond." I was merely surprised, but never expected that Mr Komada used my room.
My absence home was around 8 weeks. Before my departure, Tony asked me if I want to rent my room during my travel. I flatly denied that I want to keep as it is as my address is this place; I already paid one year rent for the first place. However, when Tony brought Mr Komada home in front of me in the living, he opened his speech with hesitation, "Ya, ya, Mr Endo, I was using your room...ya, ya." After that he entered straight washroom." He didn't express any gratitude to me.
What? I was at a loss. I returned my room without words over Tony there. He did it in spite of the fact that he had been told not to. I trembled with rage feeling that I was looked down on by them. Since then I have never never opened my mouth to Tony. Some evening, Tony chased me grinning and said, "Are you all right?"
"Are you kidding on me? I told you I wouldn't allow you to re-rent my room!" He changed colour in a moment, "I didn't re-rent it. He stayed at living at first but implied your room, and I couldn't reject it." "Then why didn't you tell me about that after my return? Or, you even could ask my permission on email, could you?" If Komada didn't confess the matter, I should never be able to know the fact; this man might have been doing everything I can't know behind me. "I was thinking you are my family, I don't think you are others. So I thought you shouldn't care such a small thing." What a weird man he is! Tony and I were merely share-mates, not family. The more I got furious, the more his anger got fired.
Of course, Mr Komada stayed this apartment for free; I doubted Tony's common sense that feel sympathy to such a person as rich enough to buy immigrant status and moreover to buy a house! He should have been able to stay at a hotel paying rent; however, he used my room for free! He used to say that living alone is not bearable for him, and he usually had kept opened the door to his third floor!
I cried out, "I have privacy! Didn't you give it a thought?" He talked back, "I have no privacy. I exist for others. So should you." What he did sounds always right. This man always changes what he said on the spot upon his own convenience; I no longer can believe in him. I become to think their divorce was mainly caused by him no matter how Mei have deficiencies in act. Now I needed his honest attitude in documents, not talks.
I requested it in emails, but he tried to speak out with me again and again. While I ignored what he talked to me, he mentioned his Japanese friends would come to this apartment to stay for a while. Soon, he pressed me for a discussion knocking my room's door, and finally showed his true nature. "This is My place, My place!" His angry voice continued outside, "If you want to stay more in My place, if you want to stay more in My place," "It's Ours, Not yours," "IF YOU WANT TO STAY MORE IN MY PLACE..." After that is not able to remembered, but soon after he came to my door again, and spoke in Japanese, "Such a thing is not good thing for us living each other under a same roof, let's have a talk." What a weird man! I'm not his family. Enough's enough. Some kids must have their own way, and he was.

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Meanwhile, Charlie and Peter gave me a last chance for me to stay Canada: they introduced me single ladies with a view to get married! Having shown my ad. works and career in Japan, Yilin, an esthetician, said she would introduce not only a single lady but also a job to me. Although the lady she made arrangement wasn't fond of me, Yilin offered me that she would become a role of sponsor on a paper. However, soon it appeared that she wanted money in return of giving me the status. I flatly declined, because I never have to pay for such a status with my skill and experience. They had to buy me, instead. I thought that putting a cart before the horse is very usual in Canada.
Charlie and Peter then also had a Japanese share-mate for their apartment. When I first visited their place, they guided each room for me. The guy was away at that time like I had done, but they didn't show his room as if as a matter of course. Later I knew he hadn't paid his rent during his absence; nevertheless they kept his room as he left.
During this series of mess, the arrangement with PRA person to move to the Philippines quite went well. The people I met in the Trans-Canada tour occasionally gave me emails, asking what the photo-works I did on the travel was going. I then explained my situation honestly with adding what I learnt in Canada. They, however, are not necessarily with me.
Some admitted the serious loss of identities for First Nations people these days, but some condemned them on their attitude turning from 'Share' to 'Possess.' However, it was brought by Western people to this continent. In Asia as well. What I came across at my final stage in Canada, the right of a shared apartment, was ironically just like the relationship between First Nations people and Canadian people.
Between two different values, however, whether one side is right or not is not important. Rather whether one side have kept a promise or not is important. In my final destination, the Philippines, should be more mixed-up situation in regard to 'promise' among people with its complex history as a country. Still, I want to keep promises with them to contribute and further contact with native people and things. I believe our happiness only exists in Nature, which Canada told me.

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# by tetsu95jp | 2008-03-01 07:15 | 28.Leaving Canada
A long good-bye for a nicest people, Canada (2)
Even though I had already abandoned pursuing an advertising career path in NYC, to know NYC seemed necessary for me as ad. creator as well as photographer. I flew to New York City for the first time, on the way returning back to Vancouver. New York was rougher than Canada.
Upon my arriving at the hotel/residence in Manhattan at night, the front-desk man said I had no reservations there despite the fact that I did by email in advance with telling arrival time. He told a rate per month, which was US$500 higher than they showed in a email. I asserted that it was different than what they had said. He excused that his boss in a different location should have received my reservations and that his is Crazy. If I want a negotiation, he said, I have to go another hotel/residence 10 blocks northwest.
I didn't want to concede due to being a Japanese who was unfamiliar with NYC. So I took a taxi with heavy stuff carrying and explained my situation to the driver. He kindly helped me calling some appropriate hotels, but appeared that the hotel I made reservations was by far cheaper. Then getting to the front-desk for the boss, an ugly-looking Black guy was on the phone; he was Patrick I corresponded in emails. He looked very busy in contacting customers even late at night. I asked him for confirming an email for my reservations on the computer in front of him. He got furious; he insisted on the price the other guy said and pressed me a sheet of unreasonable document printing out on the spot. I besieged him with further explanation, which prompted him to fire. His face was as if a demon. "You take it, or leave it!" The moment he said, he closed the door in the back room.
I had the taxi wait for me. "I don't like his attitude apart from the price," said I. "I understand your feeling, but this is New York where requests money everywhere and the price they offer can't be compared with others," he advised. I didn't have supper yet and it is becoming later, so I had no choice than returning to the hotel/residence. When I tipped him, he complained saying I should pay such and such. It was the first time for me to be required the amount of tip. This first experience of New York induced me to believe that I need to show written evidences in any case in this 'money-is-everything world.' Later, the Patrick asked me for shaking a hand with me, though.
As I mentioned, Mr Saito never emailed me this time. The due date of the submission, 7th February, has already passed when I was in Tokyo, and in Tokyo where he resides I had no contact him. It turned to March, but New York have been having snow almost everyday.
When going out, I had to watch my step for frozen snow as well as melting snow. Black people overwhelmed the towns. Everything in towns were expensive; I regarded Tokyo as No,1 expensive place in the world but NYC. There had all kinds of restaurants like Vancouver, but almost all of them were rough and expensive. The streets and houses, many of them were old high-rise buildings, were not comfortable with overcrowded people. I wondered if New Yorkers were really enjoying their life.
Only place I got fond of was the lower east side where Jazz spots remains. However, I found those cultural places were in the grip of crisis, with some places being torn down, because of the rising rents; I felt Japan became the country where people can't sustain their quality life without money, but New York appeared more significant. Music, pictures, and that sort of culture activities are originally apart from economic activities, and even pure truth which has no application whatsoever has been elevating life; however, these days even art demands economy or profitability.
Walking about art galleries, I saw some were closed and no vibrant life and energy. I had no feeling that here is the centre of the art scenes of the world, which had seemed common sense before 9.11 at least. I thought I am eye-witnessing the ending of the materialism that America developed.
Turning eyes to publications, the famous "LIFE" magazine which reissued recently converted into a comforting brochure for American families distributed by inserting in newspapers. America is becoming something out of America, without roots without originalities; they looked like becoming inorganic matters like robots. NYC was cold in both people and climate. Thus, I made up my mind to leave for Vancouver before completing the one-month-rent, buying the cheapest ticket to and from Manila via Vancouver.

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I emailed to Tony to tell the date and time of my arrival, since he told me he would pick me up; it was early March. He had told me before I left Canada that he would trip to Beijing. "Because," he said, "it was the only major city he didn't visit in the world." Even though, until the time I emailed, he was supposed to return home, he emailed me that he was still in Beijing and that he would email again about picking up. Even though I checked emails until the very departure day, he never emailed me again.
When I reached Vancouver airport, it was around 1 am 16th March. As I couldn't find Tony, I took a taxi. His kind way of speaking made me feel relieved. "Have a good sleep at your home," he said. I was very tired and couldn't count the appropriate tip for him with mixed up as NYC. But, he actually didn't want any tip from me! Oh, I lived Vancouver and the area.
The room light of Tony was still on when it was 2 am. Even though he usually noticed the door sounds when opened and closed, he didn't make his figure and I got into my bed soon. However, I found something was strange in my room. First of all, a clock I didn't use was on my desk with a booklet of Richmond City, and each my stuff was put differently as if someone had checked one by one.

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# by tetsu95jp | 2008-02-29 07:08 | 28.Leaving Canada
A long good-bye for a nicest people, Canada (1)
Having seen the bright town lights of Vancouver, I was feeling I got back home. Across Canada I sometimes couldn't feel at ease because there were no similar-looks persons; however, in Richmond I shouldn't be conspicuous in crowds. Other than that, it was sure that Richmond was the most active and rich economically among residential cities of Canada for Chinese and other Asian.
Rusted cars were not very rare in countryside of Canada, though in Richmond they seemed to have to drive new cars. Moreover, the half of the cars in Richmond maybe new MERCEDECS; to such extent, unbelievably many luxury cars are seen and almost all the owners are Chinese. However, their selfish ways of driving annoyed me after knowing Canadians' good manners to pedestrians (except in Québec).
I wonder the tendency to insist on materials is a peculiarity to Asian people; they want to identify themselves to brands and their greedy desire for goods seems endless like an ape. They are not happy even though they have everything they need. I can hardly find in Richmond happy and lovely smiles I saw every rural area in Canada especially Indian reserves. There has to be more to life than earning money. I knew it during my travel.
Until before the travel, I had ambition succeeding in my career of advertising director to contribute to sell goods, not only in Canada but in the USA. However, Canada told me it is in vain. Artificial happiness brought by materials, and natural happiness with wild; the latter exceeded by far. Probably many natural lovers including fishers should know this matter, but I have to say the people from developing countries cannot realise it being absorbed in modern technologies.
My business idea has been able to be outlined: I would try an 'Ecology Advertising' in economical way establishing a kind of bridge between Asia and Europe, as well as First Nations and Canada. My hope to immigration getting larger and larger.

When I arrived at my apartment in Richmond at night 16th November, 2004, Tony was watching TV with his son on the sofa in the living. He could expect my return because Mr Saito, my immigration consultant, frequently emailed and requested me to phone to Tony to tell where I was during my travel. Somewhat he didn't want my emails to him; he seemed to have been emailing with Tony.
While my absence, Mr Komada, the applicant for investor immigration, stayed in the living room, Tony said. Taking shower in my bathroom, Tony's bath-towel occupied the bar and several toys and his face-towel were lying around the bathtub. When I tried to pay him heating and lighting expenses which I used before departure, he said, "You don't have to. We are benefiting from you enough with having this apartment." Surprisingly enough, he converted from a Moslem to a enthusiastic Christian in order to sublimate his adherence to Mei.
The long journey with little plane tastes prompted me to Sakae Japanese Restaurant nearby, which used to be my favourite. I told the chief cook over the counter that the tastes of Sushi in Vancouver area was the No,1 in Canada explaining my exploration. I wondered why Sushi chefs in Canada didn't use rich freshwater fishes. He said that it was a common question for him but they can't use because the freshwater fish have bugs; a Steelhead in sea, for instance, is OK, but once getting into a river is NG. "We can't offer freshwater fish in raw for hygiene, but can offer after cooked with vinegar," he said.
6 days after my arrival, 22nd Novemver, 2004, Mr Saito emailed me with CC: Tony. He printed out to me. Now, I can suspect the timing that things have come to this pass. Mr Saito wrote as follows: "Please be advised, the Canada Immigration office (CIC, Seattle) requests you the updated IELTS score sheet, the employment certificate and the etc. by February 7th, 2005. It means, if you are able to submit the IELTS score meeting with score as 7.0 for each category or an additional TAF score sheet of FRENCH to cover up for the IELTS, the interview will be probably waived. I appreciate it if you would consider over the above points so as to take an action, and let me know of your idea."
Come to think of it now, the timing of his advise was too timely to believe that he got that information just before telling me. Actually, he didn't tell me the date he received the letter. Clearly, he emailed me after knowing I returned home. Then, why did he frequently confirm where I was in travel? I, of course, asked him to tell me immediately if anything was needed with regard to my immigration. However, he didn't mention such things at all through his emails. He only wanted me to phone to Tony.
Although I had been fully confident with my English to communicate with Canadian people including business matters, as proved in my achievements in travel, I was not confident enough to get IELTS 7 all score yet. Because I knew the ability to communicate is one thing and the ability to the test is another. Other than that, I had still difficulty to hear out in Canadians' ordinary conversations. I replied to Mr Saito that I shouldn't reach but would sit in for IELTS test once more at any rate with saying I won't insist on Canada knowing a lot of hidden aspects of Canada. This remark came from my confidence to contribute to Canada regardless whether I have IELTS 7 all score or not, and I thought even when I couldn't submit the score the interview should be carried out for Mr saito told if I submit the IELTS score the interview will be probably waived. I was convincing that I would be able to ace the interview.
I was supposed to have the test at Downtown in December. It was the morning the day before test day that I stood at an entrance of public library. However, even though it went over 9 am it didn't open the door. Instinctively I asked to a passer by, "Is it Saturday today?" "Sure." Oh, no! I missed the exam! It starts at 9 am, so I can't make it already!
The library opens at 9 am Mon-Fri and at 10 am Sat and Sun. Why did I mistake? I thought I adjusted the date when it changed from 30th November to 1st December; however, it indicated the day before Saturday! While travelling, I frequently had to adjust to the time zones on top of date and something was wrong this time! The IELTS test in December was the last chance to make it for the dead line set by the Immigration Office since Mr Saito notified it on 22nd November.
I reported this to him immediately; then he consoled for me that those things happen and never mind. Since he didn't mention anything else, I believed that the immigration interview should take place. Meanwhile, Christmas vacation came. I was surprised that even though Christianity is not the national religion of Canada all of the public facilities took a long vacation, though I replaced my Japanese drivers licence to Canadian one believing in my possibility of immigration.
A new year came. However, Mr Saito didn't send me a new year greeting email as he did previously. However, he called to Tony's cellphone, and I realised it was him. I emailed him to tell me when the interview would occur. He returned saying that the possibility of interview was almost dim because I don't answer their request.
I lost all of my words reading this, but asked him to send a petition for the interview by the due time. I opened my business idea of Ecology Advertising Business developed in and by traveling all over Canada and its people, and insisted that at least such a plan is to be spoken out. However, he rejected saying that it is your freedom if you do yourself; rather, he recommended me to withdraw my application this time in that I would be able to have another chance future since the IELTS all 7 is not very difficult given a certain preparation course as he repeated endlessly. If he repeat that it is easy, he should sit in for it just for try.
After this correspondence in early January, 2005, I have been had no contact with him. I was at a loss literally. Tony and his friend advised me how to remain Canada for immigration. A guy brought a camouflage-marriage for me to get a resident status paying money, but I instantly declined because I do not want to immigrate unfairly. Tony told that if I paid and enter some institutes automatically my status approaches to immigration thus finally I can immigrate; in Canada to have Canadian certificates is must to do anything and I have to know 'Canadian system,' he said.
I already knew it; that's the way of Canada. However, in such a way there shouldn't appear outstanding or innovative businesses or achievements since the graduates from the institutes must be tamed and averaged students for the eking-money-education industry. The government pushes it; however, I have already enough education and enough occupational experience in Japan. If the government of Canada didn't appreciate it, I wouldn't be needed by them. Tony also brought a business talk to invest to a restaurant which his friend was interested in buying, but I flatly turned down saying it's not my area.
I wondered if Canada want leaders with a certain backbone with skills or average solders with good English ability. Someone said no, they want rather instant money. In this country, or in this world, we have to take action and stick it out to the end by ourselves if really want. As long as depending on someone, you can't achieve what you want; in reverse, you have to take any accountability to what you do. This way, I began to think that such me as choosing Mr Saito to rely on was wrong.
I had become to know Canada so closely and deeply by my exploration that I no longer could insist on participating in Canada. If I can't expect immigration, why do I have to spend money for this country paying the expensive taxes? I had another choice as for immigration; more precisely, wherever was OK provided that I can use English as a means of communication, since I regarded English as lingua franca regardless of the background in this world.
Thus, I was changing my destination to the Philippines. I had a friendship with several good Filipino and Filipina in Tokyo, and they said that foreigners can easily get a permanent resident status and living cost there is very inexpensive. Actually, I considered the Philippines as my migration place; however, at that time I had still ambition in my business. Fortunately or unfortunately, Canada told me that living in natural is the happiest thing on earth. Now, I don't care whether I can success economically or not.
However, because I promised Tony having the apartment paying full-rent till June, 2005, I decoded to do away with my stuff there and to close my Canadian life within the contract. After telling Mr Saito this in the asking email for a petition to the Immigration Office, such a man as worry about everything in my travel even hasn't been contacting me at all.
In any case, I had a return ticket to Tokyo when the extended visitor status expired in January, 2005. I didn't want to return to Japan, though I utilised this opportunity as a business research trip via New York to sell my photos as I knew with my visitor status I can't be allowed to in Canada. Thus, before leaving Canada on 20th January, 2005, I declared to Tony and also Peter and Charlie that I'd be back in March, 2005.
The prices I had in and around Tokyo for the first time in a year were expensive; especially the foods were beyond imaginations of Canadians. I thought Japan became such a country as people cannot continue to live without earning big money. The photo market was that just as I expected; rather established works by established photographers in Japan than newer ones were wanted by publishers for their shrinking market. As for photographers themselves, both established and newer photographers seemed becoming more and more superficial. Even having a Buddhist memorial service held on an anniversary of my parents' deaths, one month stay was enough for me. I thought my decision on abandoning Japan was right.
During that time, I exchanged emails with the Philippine government's PRA person (PRA: Philippine Retirement Authority). As a Filipino said to me, the fee for a permanent residential status was far less than that for the investor to Canada, besides it is issued in several days after applying! And what is more, the fee is taken as a time deposit so you can withdraw upon finishing a certain term for your life in the Philippines; whereas, in Canada the extravagant investment is never to return.
While in skilled worker category Canada requires high English ability skills, it never ask any English ability skills and level of the person provided that you buy the status paying a lot of money. Who are you, Mr federal government? You are merely using other people's land, prohibiting me to work with visitor status! Are you gangster merchants with two faces or mercy disciples?

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# by tetsu95jp | 2008-02-28 06:56 | 28.Leaving Canada
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# by tetsu95jp | 2008-02-27 09:01 | 27.Back to BC
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