The Whole Erk Catalogue Tales of a Geek Abroad

I was asked to give a brief speech to the school today, about some topic pertaining to my winter break. I gave the speech in alternating slow, careful English and as quick and clear of Japanese as I could manage; the goal was not to challenge the students' English levels, but to give the school a chance to hear what sort of stuff I think about and do when I am not at work. I think it was a pretty big success, and helped to remind some of the teachers that I speak Japanese and it is ok for them to talk to me: a lot of teachers have had brief conversations with me already since I gave the speech.

Here it is, in both English and Japanese for those interested in either!
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In many countries, many people don't like winter. So, during the long, cold, dark nights of December, we think of festivals and feasts to have. In Canada, the biggest tradition is Christmas. I was very surprised the first time I saw Christmas in Japan! I did not think there would be any Christmas at all here, because Christmas is not traditional in Japan. Even so, Japanese Christmas is very different from Canadian Christmas. For us, Christmas is much more like Oshogatsu is in Japan.
色んな国に、たくさんの人々は冬が好きではない。だから、十二月と一月の長くて暗くて寒い夜の間に楽しいでんとうとかごちそうを考えてみます。カナダには一番大切なでんとうはクリスマスです。初めて日本のクリスマスを見たとき、すごいおどろきました！クリスマスは日本で伝統ではないから、ないと思いました。それからも、日本のクリスマスとカナダのクリスマスはぜんぜん違います。カナダのクリスマスはきっと日本のお正月と似てます。

This year was my first chance to spend Oshogatsu in Japan. I am glad to see it! At first, I was a little depressed by Christmas in Japan. In Canada, Christmas is a very important time. We visit our friends and families, and eat delicious traditional food, and decorate our houses in traditional ways. Everyone has a similar Christmas experience, but most families have special traditions of their own as well. For example, in my family we try to disguise the presents we give each other as something else. Everyone must guess what their presents are, but it's very difficult because we work so hard to make them hard to guess.
私は今年日本で初めてのお正月でした。本当に喜んだ!去年、日本のクリスマスは私を少ししずんだ心にしました。カナダでクリスマスはそごい大切なきせつです。みんなは家族や友達と遊んだり、伝統的な食べ物を作ったり、家を伝統的にかざります。みんなのクリスマスは似てるけど、べつな家族はたいてい自分のとくべつな伝統があります。例えば、私の家族にプレゼントを包むとき、想像できない用に覆います。プレゼントを開ける前に「なんなのか」を想像しなければならない。でも、よく覆うから、想像する事は難しくて面白い。開ける時、よく驚けます。

Last year, I could only see Christmas in Japan, and I was sad. Here, it's nothing like the Christmas I think of. Christmas in Japan is mostly in stores and malls, and it seems to me to be more of a festival of money than a festival of family and love. Because I couldn't see Oshogatsu last year, I didn't know that Japan had its own tradition that is so strong. I think Oshogatsu is as important to Japanese people as Christmas is to Canadians, in a similar way. During Oshogatsu, I met many of my Japanese friends. They spent time with their families, and ate traditional food and had fun. I was very glad to see this kind of tradition. It's very Japanese, but the heart is still very similar to our traditions in Canada. In the world, wherever one goes, I think one can find such similar feelings.
去年日本のクリスマスしか見なかったから、ちょっと悲しかった。私か思ってるのクリスマスとぜんぜん違うから、ちょうホムシックになった。日本でクリスマスはたいていモールと店の中しかないので、お金と買い物の祭りの用です。カナダで家族と愛の祭りですね。去年、いなかったからお正月見えませんでした。日本の冬のやさしさも見えませんでした。お正月はカナダ人にとってクリスマスと同じくらい日本人にとって重要だと思います。お正月の間に、私は日本人の友達とたくさん会いました。みんなは家族と一緒にあそんだり、伝統的な食べ物を食べたり、楽しんだ。この伝統をみたから、そごい喜びました。もちろん日本の伝統だけど、冬の間に温かい心はカナダの伝統と似てます。今年、美しい冬の心を見ましたから、ホムシックではない。地球にどこに行ってもよく似てる気持ちがあると思います。

In these two years in Japan, I have had a very good chance to learn more about Japanese culture and traditions. I'm very glad I could see one of the most important festivals, and I am glad my friends here could show me more about how Japanese people celebrate Oshogatsu.
日本でこの二年間くらい日本の伝統や文化を習うのいいチャンスですね。この重要な祭りを見たから、とても幸せですね。名取の人々は日本人のお正月を見せましたから、とてもうれしかった。