Community Profile: Misaki
Misaki is currently in one of our Advanced level classes after completing the Intermediate class. Thank you for sharing your experiences and recommendations with us, Misaki!
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Misaki, and I’m from Japan. I moved to Canada with my husband almost half a year ago. Before settling in Vancouver, I spent a few months in Toronto.
I started attending MOSAIC classes this spring, and I really enjoy learning English with amazing teachers and classmates!
How do you spend your free time in Vancouver?
Needless to say, I love the beautiful nature around the city. I wasn’t much of a hiking person back in Japan, but the blend of nature and city life here encourages me to go out more often. Now, I walk or jog every day and go hiking on weekends. As my first summer in Canada approaches, I’m excited to enjoy even more outdoor activities.
I also love trying international cuisines. Vancouver has so many global restaurants, and I’ve enjoyed tasting foods I had never tried before.
What are some challenges you’ve faced with moving to Canada?
Getting used to a new environment has been one of the biggest challenges. I had to build a new lifestyle from scratch in a place where I couldn’t communicate fluently—like signing a lease or getting a driver’s license. Fortunately, people here are so kind and friendly, which helped me manage these tasks.
Another challenge has been job hunting. The current job market is tough, and it’s hard to find a role where I can fully leverage my professional experience, especially with limited local knowledge and language fluency. However, I believe this experience will make me stronger in the long run.
Which place would you recommend to someone visiting your country?
Of course, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are popular destinations—but I’d like to recommend visiting Japan’s small islands. If you look at a map, you’ll notice Japan is surrounded by ocean and made up of many islands—more than 400 of them are inhabited. Each one has its own beautiful ocean views and unique culture.
One special place I recommend is the Ogasawara Islands. You can only access them by ship, which takes 24 hours from Tokyo. Although the trip is long, it’s totally worth it. The ocean is breathtaking, and you can discover many rare species and beautiful nature.
What are you hoping to achieve during your time at MOSAIC?
I have two goals. One is to improve my English to a professional level. The teachers are fantastic, and learning with them is fun and encouraging. Many of my classmates are also navigating this new environment and job searching, which motivates me to keep studying.
The other goal is to meet new people. I’ve made friends from many different countries, and we often hang out and share useful information as newcomers to Canada.
From both a professional and personal perspective, MOSAIC is the perfect place to grow my community. It truly makes my life in Vancouver more fulfilling and joyful!
