カナダと日本の異文化理解をすすめる留学生

　本校IMコースでは2021年度4月より、カナダでの留学を再開しており、コロナ禍での留学に対するお問い合わせを多くいただいております。

　まだまだ、留学プログラムを再開している学校の少ない中、定期的にコロナ禍の留学について情報を発信させていただくことも本校の果たすべき役割であると考え、生徒に協力してもらいながら、『IMコース　留学体験記』を掲載しております。

　この様な状況下でも，海外で頑張っている生徒の様子を覗いていただけると嬉しいです。

　カナダでの留学も10ヶ月が過ぎ、現地にもすっかり打ち解けた生徒達。

　日常会話や生活は全く問題なく送れており、学校や地域でもたくさんの友人ができています。

　ホストにもまるで本当の家族の様に受け入れてもらい、あと２ヶ月で別れとなることに寂しさを感じ始めている事でしょう。

　そんなカナダの日常に触れているからこそ、少し深いレベルでも日本とカナダの違いを考え始める生徒達が出てきています。

　下記は２年生のM君が感じた、「チップ文化を通したカナダと日本の社会の違い」です。

　英語力はさることながら、日本とカナダでの働き方や仕事への考え方の違いについてまで思考を広げてくれていることに頼もしさを感じます。

　少し難しい英語には成りますが、ぜひ、ご一読頂けますと幸いです。

Hi, everyone. I am currently studying in Canada. The topic of this report was the difference between Japan and Canada from the cultural aspect. To begin, Canada is a multicultural country. Since Canada is diverse, tons of different cultures exist in this one country. Therefore, it is really difficult to determine what Canadian culture actually is and compare it with Japanese culture. However, I had thought of one Canadian culture that does not matter with race, gender, where you are originally from or wherever you live in Canada and it is the tipping culture. We don’t have tipping culture in Japan at all, so I considered this as a difference and this report would be about tipping culture in Canada.

First, I believe most of the people in Japan know or have heard about tipping at least once in their life. Maybe you might think about the United States first when you imagine tipping but it is also a big thing in Canada too.

Gratuity, a.k.a. tipping is the act to give money to someone as an appreciation for those who have provided you a service. Tipping culture originated in 17th century in England, and it is said that the culture itself was imported to North America by travelers. There are several reasons why we tip, one for sure is to appreciate the service they provide for you, and second, is because hospitality industrial workers (waitress, hotel, delivery driver, etc) are generally only paid the minimum wage, so tipping is an important income for them. Tipping makes them earn more money but at the same time, I feel tipping is distracting people to get paid better. Just as information in Canada, it is normal to tip 10 to 20% of your total and it is considered to be not polite or rude if you do not tip any money. Therefore, if you have any chance to visit Canada, it is totally voluntary to tip, but I do highly recommend you to tip some money.

Tipping was not the thing that I did in Japan so the first time I went to a restaurant, I was a bit confused. I didn’t know the logic so just when the waitress asked me how much tips I would like to pay, I was thinking in my head “ Wait, why do I have to pay extra money?, I paid for the food and they got paid, isn’t that enough?”. But at the same time I was thinking, “how much should I pay?”. Eventually, I understood the reason why we tip and how much we are expected to pay so I was able to tip the money properly. I still don’t think the tipping system is ideal but it is definitely a culture that comes from Canadian history and I am glad to experience something I would not be able to do in Japan. I only have few months to go before I return to Japan, so I will do my best to experience something I can experience only in Canada and I’ll enjoy my time left in Canada.

　異文化理解は3F（Food, Fashon, Festival）からスタートするといわれています。

　これらは誰にとっても身近で、わかりやすいものだからです。

　短期の旅行や異文化交流では3Fを中心に触れる事も大切です。

　しかし、留学で追求して欲しいのは、深い異文化理解だとIMコースでは生徒達に伝えています。

　リーダーシップの取り方、平等への考え方、時間の価値観、性別による役割の違い、幸福へのイメージ・・・

　こういった異文化を深く理解する感受性こそが、これからの変化が早く多様性のある社会でより良い社会の形成者となっていくために重要だと考えます。

　残り２ヶ月の留学を楽しむと同時に、留学を本当に意味のあるものにするために、生徒達には全力で様々なことを経験し、気づきの種をたくさん持ち帰って欲しいと願っています。