One Month of Experiencies Proyecta 10,000 Summer 2016 Group MacEwan University
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One Month of Experiences. Proyecta 10,000 Summer English Program at MacEwan University Text copyright © 2016 All participants of the Program Photographs copyright © 2016 participants of the Program Cover and graphic design copyright © Teresa Rueda Written by Nallely Anselmo, Alejandra Ceron, Daniela Dominguez, Erick Duran, Maria Luisa Flores, Yesenia Fuentes, Montserrat Garcia, Brian Hernandez, Sagrario Moreno, Jetzeida Osorio, Berenice Perez, Ricardo Robles and Teresa Rueda. Foreword by Randeep Nota No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the instructor and the students. Published by MacEwan University through the Edmonton Public Library’s Makerspace 10050 MacDonald Drive NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2B7 July 2016 Printed in Canada
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Table of Contents Foreword 7 Introduction 9 This is us 11 MacEwan Tour 22 Down Town Tour 24 Stanley A. Milner Library 26 Art Gallery of Alberta 28 Canada Day 30 Alberta Aviation Museum 32 City Hall 34 Telus World of Science 36 West Edmonton Mall 38 Mckay Avenue School 40 Alberta Legislature 42 Street Performers Festival 44 Ukrainian Village and Elk Island 46 Banff 48
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Foreword
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ver the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of teaching a group of 14 enthusiastic, energetic and curious students from Mexico who came to Canada through Proyecta 10,000. With classroom studies in the mornings, and afternoon excursions around the city of Edmonton, students were kept extremely busy exploring their temporary home. As part of these afternoon excursions, students wrote short summaries of their experiences, which have been compiled into this book and serve as a collection of short reflections to remember their time in Edmonton. The first section of the book is introduction into who the students are, their interests, and why they are studying English. The second part of the book documents some of the adventures of the students. Whether it was learning about Canada’s aviation history or Edmonton’s first schoolhouse, watching a seal lion performance in one of the world’s largest malls or street performers in Churchill Square, students revelled in their experiences. Other highlights included sampling Canadian delicacies such as poutine and maple syrup (unfortunately, the elusive beaver tails were not to be found), and taking a whirlwind trip to the mountains. This book is the culmination of the students’ hard work and dedication towards furthering their writing skills. All material, except for this foreword, has been written and edited by the students, and a result, some writings may include lexical or syntactic errors. Nonetheless, I have seen students make progress throughout the course and hope that they may return to Canada in the future to continue their journey in language learning. Randeep Nota Instructor, MacEwan University Edmonton, Alberta July 2016
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Introduction
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raveling abroad and learning about other cultures and languages isn’t easy for most of the students in Mexico, and sometimes it may seem a dream which is difficult to reach. However, sometimes the dreams come true. We are a group of 14 Mexican students who had the dream to study abroad in order to improve and practice our language skills. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to come to MacEwan University for four weeks so that we could learn and practice the language. The greatest thing is that we did not just improve our language skills, but also we learned about the Canadian culture and traditions, we met such great people who supported and guided us along the path, and the best of all is that we got a lot of new friends who were part of this amazing experience. In this book, you will be able to read about some of the experiences and fantastic moments we shared in this four weeks at MacEwan University to which we are now glad to be part of. We have tried to express how good we felt in every single place we visited. As well as some of the things we could learn during each trip. This book will let you know how enriching and enjoyable this experience was for us. Now, we can say that our experience at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada will be unforgettable. We want to give special acknowledgements to our instructor Randeep Nota, Dorte Weber, Emilio Inda and Eman Mah for all their support.
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This is us
My favorite hobby in Edmonton is to go out with my friends.
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y name is Nallely Anselmo and I am 23 years old. I am studying Informatics and Graphology. I will finish both majors this year. I have a son. His name is Santiago and is 5 years old. I am happy because I am Mormon and I have a cool family. They cheer me up all the time, specially my mom. She always helps me. When I knew that I was coming to Canada, I was excited because I love to speak English and I wanted to get this scholarship and got all the requirements needed. Now, I am in Canada and I know new people, friends and Mormons too. One of them invited me to live here and honestly, I want to live in Canada, but I am not sure of what will happen later.
My favorite hobby in Edmonton is to go out with my friends. I have attended church on Sundays and met a lot of people like me. Our hobby is reading the Mormon book. It is perfect for practicing and understanding more English. In summary, I can say that I have learned more vocabulary and can talk to more people who have invited me to go to parties, to bowling and to different places. I have improved my English level and learned informal and formal English. I can say I LOVE Edmonton and I do not want to come back to my country because I learned a lot of things. Canada teaches me that there are people who love me and people who do not. 11
Now that I am here I can say that it is like a dream come true.
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y name is Maria Alejandra Ceron Hernandez. I am 39 years old and I am originally from Mexico City which is a huge and an amazing place to live in. I was born on November 24th 1976. I majored in Tourism at the age of 20. Nowadays, I am studying a Bachelors’ Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. At the age of 20, I got married with the best man in the world whose name is Roberto and who is the same age than me. We have three children, Melissa, Jacqueline and Daniel. Melissa is the oldest one. She is an intelligent and independent 19-yearold girl who is currently studying the second semester at University. Jacqueline who is 14 years old, is a very lovely girl that enjoys taking care of street dogs. She is studying the second grade at junior high school. And Daniel, the baby of the family who is 10 years old and is a handsome little boy that enjoys playing video games. He is studying the fifth grade at elementary school. My family is the biggest treasure I have in my life. I love spending time with them listening to music and watching movies or series such as “The Walking Dead”.
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When I was 25, I got a job at the airport in Mexico City and worked there for a couple of years. I used to enjoy working there because it was very common to see a lot of famous people. During the time I was working there, I got a lot of national and international celebrities’ autographs. And because of my job, I needed to learn English well, so I took an English course at a language center near my house. As soon as I graduated, I was offered a job as an English teacher in the same school. It has been a long time since I started teaching English and even though it was not my plan to become a teacher, it is currently one of the things I enjoy doing the most. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to the United States in order to take a course and I was sent to the Illinois State University in Bloomington close to Chicago where I stayed for a couple of weeks. But also, I had always wanted to come to Canada because one of my dreams was to know Vancouver, The Rocky Mountains and the West Edmonton Mall as I have seen many pictures of them in the textbooks I use for teaching. And now that I am here I can say that it is like a dream come true.
English is very important for communicating with colleagues from other countries.
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y name is Daniela Dominguez Mercado, I am from Mexico, I am 20 years old, and I am a student at Universidad Estatal del Valle de Toluca. I study Chiropractic and I love it. My favorite hobby is walking in the park and I like to see the sky, the moon and the stars; also I like going to the cinema. In my major, knowing English is very important for communicating with colleagues from other countries, so this time here is of great importance
to me. I’m very grateful for the opportunity that Canada offered to come and study here. I think it is incredible to learn and it is also a fun place. Also, I would like to invite people of Canada to go to Mexico so that they can know the customs, traditions and above all the flavor of Mexican food. People are very polite and friendly. I think I will probably return someday during a holiday or maybe to work, why not?
I am participating in this program so that I can improve my skills in the language.
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y name is Erick Duran. I work at Universidad Politecnica de Cuautitlan Izcalli, a public university which has a bilingual, Spanish-English, educational model. I work as Head of the Vinculacion Department. I am not so sure about the name of this particular department in English, even though I have researched about it. Somebody told me it is called Liason, but I am not convinced of that. I live in a neighbor municipal entity not far from Cuautitlan Izcalli, called Tultepec, which is famous for the making and selling of fireworks. I like football and soccer; the latter, I used to play, but it has been a long time since I played for the last time.
As for food, I like eating everything. I am really keen on Italian food as well as Mexican, but what I really enjoy is pasta and breaded chicken breast with lettuce salad. That makes my stomach happy! I am participating in this program so that I can improve my skills in the language, and although I have a wife and a five-year-old daughter and will be away for some weeks, I could not refuse the opportunity to use the language in a country I had not visited before and that I find interesting and far different from the US people. I find Canadians friendly and helpful and you can see the way different ethnicity and cultures blend into one. It is a really nice place to be in!
This is the second time I visit Canada and I think it is a beautiful country.
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y name is Maria Luisa Flores. I’m the oldest of four siblings. I studied a degree in Business Administration and a Master in Business Administration.
I have liked sports since I remember, I do biking. I like the History of Mexico and other countries. I like to read and to learn a lot and this has helped me to have great culture.
I have a daughter who is studying Psychology.
I worked as chief of staff and lately as a teacher of subjects such as Economics
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and Finance. I love teaching although I am a bit strict and I like that students are disciplined.
all the states in Mexico and this is the second time I visit Canada and I think it is a beautiful country.
I also love traveling. I know almost
This is part of who I am.
I have found out that Canada also has lots of beautiful and amazing places.
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y name is Yesenia Fuentes Ruiz. I am 21 years old. I live near Mexico City, in Temascalcingo. My favorite hobby is listening to music. I love it! I like my home because in it, I usually spend time with my family. Also food in it is very delicious. Mexican food has a very special taste because it is made with love. Furthermore, in Mexico, I can do many things such as going to the cinema, going out with my friends,
practicing sports and whatever I want to do. In conclusion, Mexico is a beautiful country because there are many nice places to visit in which are beautiful views landscapes, and I have found out that Canada also has lots of beautiful and amazing places where I would like to be. This is a great opportunity I have in order to know about a different culture and so far, Edmonton is a really nice, clean and friendly place to begin with.
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Coming to Canada is a great opportunity for me to challenge myself in the use of English.
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y name is Yamairani Montserrat Garcia Cervantes. I am 23 years old. I am a student of Industrial Hiring Process, and I like all of that environment. I am working in a warehouse called Centro de Distribution Marti with an administrative job. My favorite hobby is sleeping on Sunday or going to the cinema and the reason of this is that my job is quite tiring and I need to rest the whole weekend. My favorite food is a Mexican dish called “Enchiladas de Pollo”. My family is my mom, my sister
and my dad. My dad separated from my mom and in spite of that, he is always looking after us. My mom’s name is Adriana and she is in charge of a convenience store called OXXO; my dad is a school professor and my sister is the mother of a one-year-old girl and she lives with her husband in Hidalgo, another state in Mexico. Coming to Canada is a great opportunity for me to challenge myself in the use of English, which from time to time is a bit difficult to use, but day by day I feel more comfortable with it and Edmonton’s friendly people.
I had the chance to come to Canada for improving my English in a summer course.
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y name is Brian Hernandez Gonzalez. I am from Michoacan, Mexico. I was born in 1981. I have lived in Zitacuaro with my family for a long time. I studied elementary school, high school, preparatory in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, then I continued studying in UAEM Toluca, Estado de Mexico. I played basketball for around 4 years with the Local Team “ZITACUARO”. I studied Design as a hobby. I learned how to play the guitar, the piano, and the bass by myself in my free time, later I tried Soprano Saxophone.
My first job was as a computer programming teacher, which I really liked a lot. Later, I became an English teacher by accident in an elementary school named “Leonardo Da Vinci” where I worked for around seven years. Then, I got my position in College as an English teacher in “ Instituto Tecnologico de Zitacuaro (ITZ)”. In addition I got my elementary school base in Zitacuaro, near my home. Now, I’m working in Estado de Mexico in “Universidad Mexiquense del Bicentenario”, therefore, I had the chance to come to Canada for improving my English in a summer course.
I am here because, I want to improve my English and it is a great opportunity
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y name is Irma Citlali Macedo Enciso. I was born in April 3rd 1989. I am 27 years old.
I work for UMB Tlatlaya as a Computer Science professor. I am from Estado de Mexico. My favorite activity is being with my sons Zaid Lopez and Martin Lopez, they are everything to me and I love them. I love being with my friends, too.
I love my family. It is small and generous. I am here because, I want to improve my English and it is a great opportunity I have gotten of being here at MacEwan University learning a little bit every day and using it around the city in all the tours we have had.
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I am happy and lucky to be here because it is a wonderful experience.
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y name is Sagrario Moreno Zamudio. I was born in Cosamaloapan, Veracruz on March 15th, 1993. I’m 23 years old and I’m studying a major to get a B.A in Gerontology at the Universidad Estatal del Valle de Ecatepec. My favorite hobbies are doing exercise, listening to music and traveling. Some years ago I used to practice Tae Kwon Do which is one of my biggest passions, because I practiced it during 11 years and I got to win the 2nd place in the National Tournament. Also I love reading novels and playing music. My boyfriend and I used to
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play in a garage band called “Wild Wild Rabbits”, but the band split some months ago and now we just sing and play the piano like a hobby. I love to play with my dogs and have a long walk with them at night. My family is the most important thing that I have, they are lovely people and always help me in everything I need. I am participating in this program because I got good grades, and I am happy and lucky to be here because it is a wonderful experience and not all students have the opportunity to travel to another country to study and to increase their knowledge, and in the future, it is going to be helpful for life.
My son is our beautiful baby the most important person in our world.
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y name is Jetzeida Osorio Campuzano, I am 26 years old. I was born in a town named San Pedro Limón, located in Estado de México, I work at a university and I have an administrative fee, one activity that I realize is make discounts to staff that work in this unit including me. I think this is a big responsability because I have to check each of the punches of the staff perform and compare it with it´s schedules to deduct the amount to discount. My work Schedule is from 7:00a.m to 4:00p.m sometimes I finish my day verry stressed. I have a motocycle to go to my work I love it a lot becase I don´t like to walk I consider it a good friend, because it takes me every where and I never get tired. When I was 17 years old my father died, it was a bad year but a good year too when I was this age.
I knew Sergio he is my husdand, I got married with him when I was 19 year sold 2 years after, now we have a son his name is Sergio Emmanuel, Sergio because of his father and Emmanuel bacause in the Bible Jesus is named Emmanuel or Miguel too but at home we call him just Emmanuel. My son is our beautiful baby the most important person in our world he is going to be 3 year old on August 5th so I have to bring him a present from canada. My mother lives in Mexico, now she have another couple I have 4 sisters and 7 brothers but from mom and dad we are just 5. My favorite hobby is to listen to music and my favorite Singer is Shakira I love to spend my time lying on the bed listening and singing her music and songs I hope one day I could see her and take some pictures.
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Being in Edmonton can help improving my English, which is crucial for my major.
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am Nohemi Berenice Perez Ortiz and I am twenty-one years old. I’m from Mexico, I was born in Toluca, a little city of Estado de Mexico.
is a very humanitarian occupation and I really love it. Being in Edmonton can help improving my English, which is crucial for my major.
I have a big and amazing family, made up by my parents, three brothers, two sisters and twelve nephews. It’s good to have people who love you and give you support.
I am vegetarian because I think it is way in which I can help animals and the world. Also I do this for my health.
I am studying Gerontology, it is the science that studies the aging process and how to get old in a healthy way. It
I believe that the best food in the world is Mexican food; it has a wide variety and all dishes are delicious, but what I really love are the enchiladas.
Coming to Canada is the best experience in my short life.
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y name is Ricardo Robles Romero and I come from Mexico. I live in Toluca.
Currently, I am a student of Gerontology at Universidad Estatal Del Valle De Toluca (UNEVT). Gerontology is a science that studies the aging process in all its aspects biological, psychological, social and spiritual and this knowledge is applied in benefit of the old people. It is a new science, at least in Mexico. I love my major because I like helping people; so my favorite hobby is going out to parks with my pet; its name is Hachi.
My favorite Mexican dish is called “enchiladas”. This consists of a plate with tortillas and green sauce with chili. It is really good! My family is small. I only have 2 sisters, Rebeca and Romina. My mother is a beautiful woman her name is Carolina and my father’s name is Ricardo, like me. Coming to Canada is the best experience in my short life. It is the first time I am out of my country and to be honest, I am nervous.This is a little part of my life. I´ll show more and more of my life.
I know this program will be a great life experience for me.
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y name is Maria Teresa Rueda Hidalgo, but most of my friends and family just call me Tere or Tete. I was born in Mexico City and I live in State of Mexico. My parents are Teresa Hidalgo and Jesus Rueda, I have one brother and one sister older than me, they’re married and had given me five nephews and nieces. Since I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer, so when I got into university I studied that. Life has
challenged me in my career because right now I’m working in a different area, I was promoted in the university I work at, which was a great opportunity but it meant to leave the design behind. The job I have now is to be in charge of the Cultural and Sports Activities Department. I like to go to museums, dance exhibitions, concerts, and the movies, I also like to eat outside and hang out with my friends. I’m a dreamer, a little diestracted person, Greenpeace member for the last ten years, dog lover, collector, and shy. I know this program will be a great life experience for me. 21
During the tour we watched the computer area, which we liked a lot, because it is very large and well equipped.
MacEwan Tour  22
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irst thing we did during the tour within the university, was meeting at the area where we got a picture taken to get an ID that we would use during our stay. Then we went to know the different buildings. During the tour we watched the computer area, which we liked a lot, because it is very large and well equipped.
After that, we went through the main entrance and looked at the clock that distinguishes the university, we noticed it is huge and beautiful one. We liked it so much. Later, they took us to the area where the pool and gym are, as well as other areas, we noticed it is very equipped. Next, we walked and arrived to nursing area, the place was so beautiful, there are three floors, and had many glasses around. Another area that we saw was the cafeteria, there are many tables and chairs, it is so big and clean. In conclusion, this tour was very illustrative, and we think that this university has quite efficient processes, and it is at a very high level of quality as well.
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We walked the route of the red road that used to take people to the Old Fort.
Down Town Tour
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n June 28 the group was taken on a tour around Edmonton’s downtown where there were lots of historical and contemporary places everybody was delighted to see and know about.
The tour started on 104 street which was full of different stores, some of them doing business for more than a hundred years ago. We passed through Charmichael Park. We walked the route of the red road that used to take people to the Old Fort. We stopped at the Freemason’s Hall and while the
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guides were explaining about the building’s architecture and masons, an old lady expresed her opinion on masons’ practices. We crossed Veterans Park and got to The Journal. We passed in front of Alberta College, the TELUS Building where the first telephone company was established and we stopped at Rivervalley to look at the Saskatchewan River. We took lots of pictures of the haunted MacDonald Hotel, we looked at the WTC, the Westin Hotel and the piece of the original clock tower that stands outside. We passed through Churchill Square, the heart of downtown’s art district, and saw all the different activities taking place. We entered City Hall and could see many students getting their graduation pictures taken on the main staircase of this building. We had a chance to see the bricks of the walls that contain some fossil traces. The tour took us to Alberta Art Gallery, the Citadel Theatre, the Public Library and finished at the Welcome Center where we could take a better view of the River and its bridges. Then we came back all the way to MacEwan and had another chance to look at the city and walk through its streets and have a general overview of where we would be walking for the next month. 25
There is also a place to edit photos and pick any background you want; futhermore, there is a studio as well, where you can record and play your CD.
Stanley A. Milner Library
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he building of the library is a large one with a comfortable atmosphere. It has the following areas:
MAIN FLOOR: A children´s place, which is a very colorful area where you can find a space with big magazines. We suposse it is one of the most interesting areas.  26
The Markerspace, it´s an area where you can do different activities like, using computers for playing video games, use them for editing videos or music. There is also a place to edit photos and pick any background you want; futhermore, there is a studio as well, where you can record and play your cd or upload it in youtube.com. Also, there are two 3D printers which you may use to print whatever you want. SECOND FLOOR, it has an audiovisual aboriginal collection, English language learning, heritage room, newspaper, non-fiction, world languages , writer in residence. THIRD FLOOR, there are the following areas: chef executive or office, human resource services among others. FOURTH FLOOR, here it is an executive director, strategy and innovation, a digital library, initiatives and web service. FIFTH FLOOR, where you can find the corporate accounts payable, corporate accounts receivable and COE projects. SIXT FLOOR, there is the non profit centre where the Alberta Book Fair Society, Edmonton Service Office Society and the United Cultures of Canada are located. 27
Presto Lumo was our favorite section in the art gallery because you can see many pictures in its walls of differents colors.
Art Gallery of Alberta  28
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n our opinion the Art Gallery of Alberta is interesting if you like the paintings, if you don’t like them, maybe your visit will be boring. In the first floor you will find the section called “Presto Lumo”, in the second an exhibition of aboriginal of first Canadians artists.
Presto Lumo was our favorite section in the art gallery because you can see many pictures in its walls of differents colors such as green, yellow and red but you must use different colour filters to see all the pictures in to the room without forgetting that you should stand in marked point on the floor to get a better view of the paintings. The visit to the gallery is something we will never forget.
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Early in the morning, in the Legislature Building we enjoyed a good breakfast with pancakes, watermelon and coffee.
Canada Day  30
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n Canada Day, we arrived early in the Legislature Building and enjoyed a good breakfast with pancakes, watermelon and coffee.
Before that, we took some pictures together pictures with some people who had really funny outfits. We stayed there enjoying and learning about the canadian customs, also we could see some people playing the bagpipes. Those were our morning activities, we were very excited and looking forward to the fireworks at night.
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For us the most awesome airplane was the “Vickers Viking”
Alberta Aviation Museum 32
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n July the 4th, we visited the Alberta Aviation Museum it had three airplanes in the entrance they looked so interesting and maybe if you like airplanes it will be a great experience to you.
For us the most awesome airplane was the “Vickers Viking� because it was the first amphibious aircraft created after the first world war. The guide told us this airplane was used to make the maps of the Yukon territory up in the north. Is interesting today because the idea of this airplane has remained over the time and in our opinion one of the few planes that has kept its essence since its creation.
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In summer, children and adults play in the fountain that is found in front of the building.
City Hall
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he building is a very valuable by their age, its structure in the shape of a pyramid, is very outstanding from all the other buildings in the center of the city. The materials with which it was built are thousands of years old, in addition to have encrusted some real fossils, these bricks have a brilliant touch thanks to fragments of crystals that are found in them.  34
Within its architecture has a great historical value due to the important characters that are embodied in its walls and who have carried out acts of legendary that marked the history of Edmonton, Alberta. This building, today, is used for different meetings, events and civic ceremonies as well as meetings of government leaders. It can also be used as a public place for various celebrations, for example graduations or conferences. In summer, children and adults play in the fountain that is found in front of the building; in winter this freezes and is used as a skating rink City hall is a great place to visit in Edmonton, because it has many of the characteristics of the canadian constructions.
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The Canadarm is a contribution that Canada has made to NASA.
Telus World of Science  36
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he Telus World of Science is a place where science and fun join to bring knowledge to people, specially to children. It has four main exhibitions: Space Place, The Body Fantastic, Science Garage and Environment Gallery.
For us, the funniest exhibition was the Garage of Science because we had a good time playing in the Kinetic Dance Floor, which is an interactive floor that gets energy from the dancers to provide charging for cell phones. Something interesting we saw was the Canadarm which is a contribution that Canada has made to NASA and the pictures of the first Canadian astronauts.
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There are very large stores like Sears and Simons and very expensive ones, like Tiffany’s.
West Edmonton Mall  38
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e visited West E d m o n t o n Mall. This tour was a great experience because it is a place where there are many stores. There is also a beach, an ice rink and a place where the sea lions and penguins do acrobatics.
We all were happy at the Mall, especially women; we like to buy many things: shoes, clothes, souvenirs, and so. There are very large stores like Sears and Simons and very expensive ones, like Tiffany’s. There are also smaller shops and a cheap place to eat but also one expensive. This tour was very entertaining and we all liked it.
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This Little school house was built for the residents of the Edmonton settlement. It opened for instuction on January 3rd, 1882.
McKay Avenue School
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elcome to the Edmonton (1881) School, the first free public school established in the Alberta District of the Northwest Territories.
This Little school house was built for the residents of the Edmonton settlement. It opened for instuction on January 3rd, 1882.  40
The Hudson´s Bay Company donated two building lost for the school site with the tacit understanding that the cost of erecting and maintaining the scholhouse would be borne by resident of the settlement through voluntary pledges. The first Edmonton School served the children and residents of the settlement for over 20 years. In 1888, a large one-room addition was attached to the Little schoolhouse.Three years later, the two-room unit was expanded further into a three-room structure. In 1980 the City of Edmonton purchased the converted schoolhouse-residense from the Mawhinny family and sold it to the Edmonton Public School Board for the sum of $1.00. As a major centennial Project, restoration of the Little school commenced on Junuary 15, 1982,One of the most difficult aspects of the restoration process was the elevation of the Little school so that it could be securely undergirded with constructions timbers. Another wasthe removal of much of the siding which had suffered the ravages of the 1915 flood. 41
The province was named after Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, the Princess Louis Caroline Alberta.
Alberta Lesgilature
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n Tuesday July 12th, we visited the Alberta Legislature, an amazing building with magnificent architecture. As soon as we arrived, the tour guide, who was very kind and patient, took us on a tour through the history of the building. He explained that Alberta became a province of Canada in 1905 and that the Legislature had been built two years later from 1907 to 1912 on a site which is very close to Old Fort Edmonton.  42
Something we found really interesting was that the Greek symbols at the top of the pillars of the building represent democracy and the masks the first nations. The fountain was built in 1959 to mark the first official visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the province was named after Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, the Princess Louis Caroline Alberta. Then, we went upstairs, and saw the main doors of the Legislative Assembly Chamber. We also saw the portraits of the Alberta’s past Lieutenants, who represent the Queen and who grant royal assent to the laws passed by the Legislature. Suddenly, we got really excited and impressed when we saw on the wall the portrait of John Walter Grant MacEwan who took office on January 6th, in 1966. On the same floor, the tour guide showed us the “Mace” which is a symbol of authority in the Legislative Assembly and the ceremonial “Sword” made of pewter and steel. After that, the guide took us to the Legislative Chamber and explained that the elected members sit benind the desk on either side of the Chamber and that the table in front of the speaker’s Chair is where the mace is placed during the meetings. Probably, one of the best parts of this tour was the film we saw at the end of the tour which narrates Princess Louis Caroline Alberta’s life in a very entertaining way by using images and sounds that catch your attention from the beginning to the end making this experience something incredible. 43
We had the chance to witness how some comedians, artists and jugglers performed their show.
Street Performers Festival  44
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ast July 14 we atended Churchill Square to see the Street Performers event that takes place during the second week of the month.
We had the chance to witness how some comedians, artists and jugglers performed their show before lots of people who gather around them in order to see what they do. These peformers informed the audiences that they travel around the world doing what they do for a living. At the end of each performance, they ask for money so that they can continue traveling to different places spreading their talent. We had the opportunity to see a comedian who said lots of funny jokes and performed a trick with a catapult and a volunteer from the audience using a lettuce. Quite hilarious! There was also this couple of acrobats from somewhere in East Europe who did a bit of amazing juggling and then requested volunteers from the audience to help them holding a swing in which both performed a great set of acrobatic movements which made us feel terrified and excited at the same time. Great shows with great artists for a great city. 45
Going to the Ukrainian Village is a travel in time, the place is a recreation of how it was Edmonton in the late 1800´s and early 1900´s.
Ukrainian Village and Elk Island
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oing to the Ukrainian Village is a travel in time, the place is a recreation of how it was Edmonton in the late 1800´s and early 1900´s when the first ukrainian immigrants came. We could see the inside of the houses and important buildings in the community such
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as the school, the church, the store, the hotel and the smithy where the blacksmith gave us a good luck horseshoe. Our guide who was a nice ukrainian lady, picked up a horse cart ride for us, it was really fun and the horses so big and beautiful. As we went visiting the buildings we could talk with the role players who prentended to be people of that time living the way they used to. So we met a lady who had come with her husband and four daughters, they lived in a small house made of wood. And a girl who was planting vegetables to feed her family. The visit to the village was amazing and unforgettable, all the buildings had their special charm. We liked it very Much. After that, we went to the National Park Elk Island where specialists take care of the bisons in a handling facility. The work they had to do was remarkable because they brought back this magnificent animal from near extinction. We were lucky to see one bison in our way back near the road, it was awesome. 47
Without a doubt this was an incredible trip and the landscapes we saw will always be in our memories.
Banff  48
I
n the last weekend we spent in Canada we wanted to go to a place that some people told us we had to go, because already in Alberta is a “must see” place: The Rocky Mountains. So we rented two vans and early in the morning left the residence bound for Banff, since the very moment we arrived to the National Park we were astonished with the landscapes even tough the weather wasn’t the best, it was cloudy and drizzling. We went to the town which is located among the mountains and couldn’t do nothing but stare at the great image that represented the buildings and landscape, it looked like a postcard. To finish our short stay at Banff we went for a walk in the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead, after 15 or so minutes of walking in the wood we reached the top of the mountain, by the time the sky was cludless for a moment and the view was spectacular. Without a doubt this was an incredible trip and the landscapes we saw will always be in our memories.
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