Folks, it was mentioned on another thread that there are a number of Albertans on the RTK forums these days. Generally being from arubaata-shyuu means that you're from either Calgary or Edmonton.

So, which is it? And, would you like to meet up for study in your respective city?

I'm currently in Calgary (my forum name still claims 'Japan' mostly out of nostalgia), and have attended a few of the Japanese Conversation Club and Japanese Cultural Center events here. I'd love to get a group of people together for random Japanese study (JLPT, Vocab, RTK drill-a-thons, whatever) at a public library on weekends or weeknights.

As far as Edmonton goes, I went to Uni there a billion years ago, and there *used* to be some decent conversation clubs kicking around, though I'd be hard-pressed to remember any of their names...

Anway, self-identify as you will.

-ang

Hm .... I grew up in Edmonton, went to U of A and Grant McEwan, did my drunks in Old Scona, RATT and HUB, lived in Medicine Hat for seven years working for their paper and I've been through every part of the province except Ft. Mac. Unfortunately, I'm a West Coast kid now, though they haven't got the prairie out of me yet. I hear you guys get something called snow? Anyways, I'd be curious to know what's going on there and you never know when I might swing back through town.

Well, I live in Edmonton. Not much to it. If anyone know any good Japanese resources(stores that have books, places to meet people etc), I'd love to know.

Re: the UoA

I'm a student here (finished major & minor, just working on general credit and a translation certificate now). As mentioned earlier there are a few Japanese clubs on campus. There is the Japanese Student Association which is really just meant for students with Japanese heritage, but I do end up getting invited to many of the events. There is also the conversation club which meets every Friday for 2 hours. Neither of the clubs advertise, in an effort to keep the anime-otaku rabble away (it's for speakers of Japanese, not fanboys).

You can also take the JLPT at UoA. (With a much more convenient and hightech application process compared to taking it in Japan)

There is also the EJCA (Edmonton Japanese Community Association) which has events a few times a year but I've never gone to one. Grant McEwan also has a Japanese conversation club that I've heard about but I don't know how active it is currently.

In terms of food (that's a resource), there are a few authentic places, but they all serve the same things. Unless you go buy some Japanese groceries from T&T and cook for yourself that is. Wasabi is probably the most authentic place in Edmonton. (I know the son of the owners). Kobe is also decent (I know some of the employees). Yokozuna is also good (The owner is a friend of a friend. You can tell that the Japanese community in Edmonton is pretty small huh). We actually just held a nomikai at Yokozuna last night.

For books, UoA has the 2nd biggest library in all of Canada and I believe the largest Japanese library. There are a ton of books on&in Japanese, but most of the beginner level stuff is kind of old. A lot of them are more academic in tone, and I know how afraid people on this forum are of authoritative sources.

timcampbell: I don't know why that's unfortunate. BC > Alberta (In every way, but especially for access to Japanese things/food/people)

note: I'm not an Edmonton native and I completed most of my degree in Japan, not UoA.

I was in Calgary 6 years ( hence the name ) but left just under 2 months ago, now I live in Kelowna, BC again. Kelowna is awesome, what just happened to the economy is NOT awesome ><

I don't know how universities work. Can outsiders use the library?
The public library(particularly one downtown and the childrens' section at Whitemud) have some books in Japanese.


By the way, most of the staff at Japanese Village are not Japanese.

yukamina Wrote:I don't know how universities work. Can outsiders use the library?
The public library(particularly one downtown and the childrens' section at Whitemud) have some books in Japanese.


By the way, most of the staff at Japanese Village are not Japanese.

More like none of the staff. I've only been to one in Edmonton once (for teppan-yaki) but the staff when I was there was all Filipinos and Koreans. Except for the cook, who was a fat white guy. The food is decent, but there is nothing even remotely Japanese about it (unless you goto the sushi bar instead). The comedy act during the cooking is pretty obnoxious too, especially if you've been to a JV more than once (every chef uses the same jokes in the same order, nationwide).

Yes outsiders can use university libraries. I'm not sure how checking stuff out works for them, but you'll probably need to get a card.

Jarvik7 Wrote:More like none of the staff. I've only been to one in Edmonton once (for teppan-yaki) but the staff when I was there was all Filipinos and Koreans. Except for the cook, who was a fat white guy. The food is decent, but there is nothing even remotely Japanese about it (unless you goto the sushi bar instead). The comedy act during the cooking is pretty obnoxious too, especially if you've been to a JV more than once (every chef uses the same jokes in the same order, nationwide).

Lol. Yeah, I used to work there. I probably know the guy who served you. None of the teppan cooks are Japanese, but apparently a few sushi cooks are(I never met them).

Anyone can take out library books from any library in Alberta, pretty much. google for "The Alberta Library Card" there are a ton of networked libraries, and they'll bring books from wherever to your local library. Really sweet stuff!

In calgary, most of the staff at Globefish speak Japanese, and same goes for Muku, the ramen place next to the Kensington globefish. Good places that I've been to without Japanese staff are: Hibiki, Shikiji, and Oishii Village.

so... I take it no one is interested in a study club, then? Sounds like people already have their own things going, which is totally cool.

-ang

amthomas Wrote:so... I take it no one is interested in a study club, then? Sounds like people already have their own things going, which is totally cool.

I don't study well in groups, and I'll be moving back to Japan in a few months anyways.