Two languages, two bridges.

In 1999, when I came to Canada for the first time,  my brain ached.


With my experience, Brain-ache is very different than the headache.


It is like over-used-muscle that aches.  




I had to listen very carefully what people are saying in English, 
and I had to understand in Japanese.
Then I had to think of what to reply in Japanese and translated 
my thought into English.




By the time when I was ready to reply to the conversation, the subject 
had moved on and I missed the opportunity to speak up my opinion.


That was the beginning of my life in Canada, 1999.

My best friend was a electric dictionary !!!

Over the years, my brain started to think in English and my dream became all in English.




But I had the same brain-ache last week while I was translating between Japanese and English.

"I remember this pain, from 1999..."

My Reiki teacher came from Japan and offer his class.  As he does not speak English, I was there to translate the entire class.


That means,
His Japanese into English,

Japanese student's Japanese into English so then Canadian students will understand,

Canadian student's English into Japanese.

It is 4 times more conversation is happening in my head !
After few days, my head got used to the unusual activity, 
so the brain-ache was gone, phew!!!




Originally, I thought this would be easy for me as I speak both language at home, and I always translate for kids and my husband if they don't understand.




But when it comes to the class, it requires lot more focus, and also I hold responsibility that I can not miss any teaching contents that my teacher is giving to his students.

In 1999, I never thought that I would do translation for anyone as I had a very little English skill.




When I came to Canada, I wanted to be a "bridge" between Japan and Canada in some way, but I did not know what I could do to be a "bridge" with having a poor English skill.

In 11 years, I think I have been building two bridges!!!

One bridge is to teach Reiki, the Japanese treatment method, to Canadians.
Another bridge is to translate my teacher's class.




Both bridges are in on-going construction and I keep putting effort to make those bridges to be strong so then many people can go across without falling!




For people who went across those bridges, 

"Thank you for your trust! Please come back again to cross the bridge!!!"