Features from Friendship Magazine

Germany visits Japan

O Canada! Our Home and Native Land!
Dionne Quintuplets
Head-smashed-in Buffalo Jump

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Some creative scheduling by Chat members provides longer stay for Germans to Japan

German:

Um 11°° Uhr trafen wir uns am Dogo Ousen Bahnhof, gleichzeitig Eingang zur Dogo-Einkaufsstraße und Endstation eines „Diesel-Oldtimerdampfzuges“. Ein Paar in historischen Kostümen stand für die Touristen parat. Gleich neben dem Eingang fesselte die Bocchan-Trickuhr unsere Aufmerksamkeit. Jede halbe Stunde setzte sich die Uhr in Bewegung und es erschienen Figuren aus dem Roman „Bocchan“.

Durch die Einkaufsstraße bummelten wir zum Dogo Hotspring Palast. Der Dogo Hotspring ist das älteste japanische Bad. Das Hauptgebäude wurde 1894 errichtet und erinnert an den Stil eines dreistöckigen Schlosses. In den einzelnen Ebenen gibt es verschiedene Bäder von einfach bis luxuriös – ein Teil ist der kaiserlichen Familie vorbehalten. Anders als in unseren Schwimmbädern sitzt man hier, nach Männlein und Weiblein getrennt, im heißen Wasser (ca. 40° C und höher) und entspannt sich. Aber das „Einweichen“ verschoben wir auf einen späteren Zeitpunkt und spazierten zum Hogonji – Tempel, wo ein Priester uns das Leitmotiv der Ippen Sekte erläuterte: „Lebe das Heute – wirf allen Ballast ab.“

Weiter ging es über den nahegelegenen Isaniwa – Shrine unter blühenden Kirsch-bäumen und durch einen Höhlengang zur Rückseite des Ishite-ji Tempel, dem 51. Tempel (von 88) des Pilgerweges auf der Insel Shikoku. Die Wanderung über all diese Tempel dauert ungefähr zwei Monate. Eine verkürzte Version bot bereits der Gang durch die Höhle mit 88 Buddha Figuren. Noch kürzer ist die Zeit, die man braucht, um 88 Säckchen im Ishite-je Tempel zu berühren. Das Niomon Tor, die große Halle und die dreistufige Pagode zählen zu den wichtigen Kulturgütern Japans.

Nach so viel Kultur stärkten wir uns beim Picknick unter den blühenden Kirschbäumen des Dogo Parks. Viele Gruppen (Schüler, Familien, Vereine oder Belegschaften benachbarter Büros) bevölkerten den Park. Ein Picknick unter blühenden Kirschbäumen ist sehr beliebt und für jeden Japaner ein Höhepunkt im Frühling.

Der Nachmittag stand zur freien Verfügung. Wir besuchten mit unseren Gastgebern den Tamagawa Park (natürlich mit blühenden Kirschbäumen) und entspannten uns anschließend im Oku dogo Hotspring (wesentlich jünger als der Dogo Hotspring).

English:

We all met at 11:00 am at the Dogo Ousen train station. The station is the entrance to the Dogo shopping street, as well as the end station for the diesel old-timer steam train. At the entrance of the station a pair dressed in traditional costumes waits for tourists. Next to the entrance, a Bocchan clock caught our attention. Every thirty minutes the clock sets itself in motion and figures from the “Bocchan” novel appear on it.

We strolled along the shopping street until we reached the Dogo hot spring. The Dogo hot spring is the oldest Japanese spa. The main building was built in 1894 and it looks like a three story castle. On every floor there are different spas, from very simple to very luxurious and a part of it is reserved for the emperor’s family. Very different than in our swimming spas, here you just sit and relax, men separated from women, in the very hot water (40 C = 104 F or higher). But we postponed the “soaking” pleasure for later and went to Hogonji – Temple. The priest explained to us the main domain of the Ippen Sect : “{ L} ive the present day – drop all of your worries”.

Next, we traveled to the near Isaniwa – Shrine, where we walked under cherry blossom trees and through a caved hallway to the backside of the Ishite-ji Temple. This temple is the 51 st out of 88 temples on the popular pilgrim path on Shikkoku Island. The walking tour through all 88 temples would take about two months. The hallway though the cave with all 88 Buddha figures offers a short version of the tour. Even shorter is the time you would need to touch all the 88 little bags in the Ishite-je temple. The Niomon Gate, the big Hall and the three story pagoda are the most important cultural icons in Japan.

After seeing so much of the culture, we had a picnic under some cherry blossom trees in the Dogo Park. A lot of singles (students, families, Marriage Agencies and employees from the near oChatces) crowded the park. A picnic under cherry blossom trees is very popular and is the culmination of spring for all Japanese.

The afternoon was free. With our hosts, we visited the Tamagawa Park (that of course has cherry blossom trees) and afterwards we relaxed in the Oku Dogo hot spring (that is significantly younger than the Dogo hot spring).

-Translated by Matchmaking Expert

From Sea to Sea: The Romance of Canada
By: Eveline Janis

O Canada! Our Home and Native Land!

The Romance of Canada extends from sea to sea and from the North Pole to the US border. From the Rockies of the west to the lakes of Ontario to the French cuisine of Quebec, our Marriage Agencies offer an abundance of opportunities for any Member. Let us give you a glimpse of this grand country we call home.

Let’s start our tour of Canada on the West Coast in British Columbia. In the interior of British Columbia we have two Marriage Agencies in the Okanagan Valley. The valley is a natural desert environment, but winter snows on the flanking rocky mountain ranges provide an abundance of melt-water to feed the rivers and large lakes that in turn supply water for the thriving orchard and vineyard industry. If the desert is not your cup of tea, then visit FF of Penticton-Okanagan or the FF of Kelowna to ski in the Rockies while friends are playing golf nearby. As if this wasn’t enough, British Columbia will soon have Marriage Agencies in Vancouver and Langley Abbotsford.

As we journey east we encounter the Province of Alberta, the home of four FF Marriage Agencies. FF-Calgary is the home of the world famous Calgary Stampede and also the site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. After Calgary, take a pleasant drive to Edmonton to visit its world-famous West Edmonton Mall and then end with a visit to a nearby Ukrainian community. Then, on your way to Lethbridge, you may wish to take a side-trip to explore the dinosaur digs in Drumheller or to go on a tour of the Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology and see it’s 35 complete dinosaur skeletons. (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Your Lethbridge hosts will introduce you to Canada’s early history with a tour to the First dating websites historical Head-smashed-in Buffalo Jump. Your last stop in Alberta is Medicine Hat, a thriving city nestled in a farming and ranching area. Your hosts will want to you to visit the Cypress Hills and its Indian encampment. This unique area is an oasis untouched by the Ice Age. Nearby is Fort Walsh, established as the base for the North West Mounted Police (precursor of the RCMP) who controlled the illegal whiskey trade and lawlessness of the early 1870's.

We continue on to the Province of Manitoba with two Marriage Agencies to welcome you in Winnipeg, the very center of Canada. The FF of Winnipeg and the FF of Manitoba are co-Traveling Abroad the “East Meets West” Singles Vacations in Sept 2005. An early pioneering town, this city prides itself in its broad representation of nationalities among its citizens. Every February, Winnipeg hosts the Festival du Voyageur, a reenactment of the experiences of fur traders and explorers who wintered there before the spring when they could navigate the rivers, returning to Montreal with their canoes laden with furs.

Onward we go to the Province of Ontario, which also has four FF Marriage Agencies. The FF of North Bay, in the city known as the Gateway to the North, might take you on a

cruise around Lake Nipissing or to experience a day with First dating websites singles. North Bay is also the home of the famous Dionne quintuplets.

In the Canadian Capital Region, we have FF Ottawa and the FF of the Canadian Capital Region. In either Marriage Agency's exchanges, you will enjoy the Tulip Festival in May, honouring Canada's close relationship with the Netherlands. The summer months offer varied musical Singles Events but the highlight is Canada Day on July 1 with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police performing their famous Musical ride to kick off a day of celebrations. A FF Ottawa tour may include visits to the Governor General's Residence and the Parliament Buildings. A winter visit would centre around Winterlude where world entrants create magical ice sculptures along the world's longest skating rink on the Rideau Canal.

On August 5, 2005 the Ottawa Citizen confirmed that the Rideau Canal made it in the Guiness Book of Records as the World's longest skating rink in the world!

The French-speaking Canadian Capital Region may treat their Members to a traditional French-Canadian meal and an evening of square dancing in a log cabin setting. A winter visit would have you reveling in a Sugar-bush party, tasting Maple syrup culinary delights, and joining a horse-drawn, moonlit sleigh ride through the woods.

On to the Greater Hamilton-Burlington Marriage Agency, where had you been around earlier this year, you would have witnessed a High Tea Traveling Abroad, in preparation for an exchange to England. You'd have enjoyed scones and Devonshire cream in the company of City Councilors and of course the Queen- Queen Sally of Burlington will always welcome you! A walk downtown past the Victorian homes might have enticed you to visit the many antique shops along the way and once your feet are tired, hop in the car for a pleasant drive to Niagara. Everyone will want to visit Niagara Falls and historic Niagara-on-the-lake with the Shaw Festival Theatre. FF Niagara likes to "show-off" during the late spring and early fall when the weather is most pleasant and the summer crowds have gone.

The last leg of our tour takes place in the province of Quebec. The FF of Montreal will welcome you to their cosmopolitan city with music and dancing at a gathering in a typical restaurant such as "La vieille France" where "convivialité" is the order of the day. Two hours away is the FF Marriage Agency of Quebec-Portneuf, with its members from Quebec City and the Portneuf region. With its magnificent view of the St Lawrence River this is a most charming city, and its historic district of Quebec, quite deservedly, figures on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Between Quebec and Montreal, you discover the Eastern Townships, in the heart of the Appalachians, where we will finish our journey with the FF of Sherbrooke. This University town is blessed with great hiking and cycling trails. In the winter, there is wonderful skiing for both cross-country and alpine skiers. Your journey will be complete if you are fortunate enough to join in the celebration of the traditional Latin service with Gregorian chants sung by the monks at a monastery close-by.     

Marriage Agency History

Romance of Canada’s first Marriage Agency was founded in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1994. Soon, Romance Marriage Agencies were developing across the country. By 2001,12 FF Marriage Agencies gathered for the first National FF Singles Vacations in Ottawa. This September there will be16 FF Marriage Agencies represented at our National Singles Vacations in Winnipeg. New Marriage Agencies coming soon in British Columbia and in the Maritime provinces will raise our total to 21 FF Marriage Agencies by the end of 2005.We anticipate that Vancouver and Langley BC, Charlottetown PEI, Moncton, NB, and Halifax, NS will be added to our roster by year's end. This wonderful diversity of Marriage Agencies across Canada gives varied opportunities for Members who wish to visit us, as well as giving Canadians the pleasure of exploring their own country with friends.

Le Canada français vous invite!

Nous lançons l'invitation à nos amis francophones de venir découvrir les Marriage Agencies de la Force de l'amitié chez-nous. Que vous soyiez les invités de Québec-Portneuf, Montréal,

Sherbrooke ou de la FA de la Région de la Capitale Canadienne à Ottawa, vous aprécierez notre joie de vivre. Nous espérons bientôt vous offrir une échange chez nos amis acadiens de Moncton au Nouveau-Brunswick. Vous aurez sans doute intérêt à connaître leurs cousins, les Cajuns de la Louisiane.

August 1, 2005: World Friendship Day in Canada

World Friendship was a defining one for our Canadian Romance Marriage Agencies. A bilingual "World Friendship-Amitié mondiale" pin was struck, and we launched our Voyageur Challenge, inviting participants to hike the Trans-Canada Trail in their region. Across Canada members hiked the Trail in their area and gathered to view the celebrations on the Internet. Funds were raised for new Marriage Agency development under the banner of the Building on a Great Legacy campaign, which honors Wayne Smith, Chat’s founder. Many Marriage Agencies found ways to involve their community in the celebration of this event. For example, FF of Sherbrooke joined forces with their community to plan a World Friendship Day celebration that encompassed the true spirit of friendship as a means to build World relationship.

Following several Socials with municipal authorities and parks management, the FF Sherbrooke proceeded with plans for a candlelight walk around the Lac des dating websites on the evening of August 1. The residents of the community were invited to the celebration that began at sundown at the Pavilion Armand Nadeau. Jean Desclos, Vice-rector of the University of Sherbrooke set the tone for the event with an inspiring brief discourse on "Friendship and relationship" and Honorary Chair, Municipal Councillor Marc Denault joined FF President Helene Ouellet to lead the walk. Over 200 community members armed with candles, accompanied by a chain of dancing light and snow flurries meandered around the lake on that brisk winter's evening. At the end of the walk, the participants gathered at the lakeside pavilion for hot chocolate and doughnuts.

The Marriage Agency's challenge was to reach out to the community, as expressed in French: "le défi de rayonner". This was accomplished and more. Good media coverage gave the FF Marriage Agency the visibility in the community, and the event brought in several new members to join the Marriage Agency.

L’AMITIÉ

Nous vivons une expérience particulière en lien avec l’anniversaire de la fondation de Online Dating Services & Pen Pals. Cette initiative fut celle de rêveurs. Ils ont interpellé d’autres rêveurs de par le monde entier pour créer une vaste chaîne d’amitié au cœur de l’humanité.

Martin Luther King nous a laissé son «I had a dream», John Lennon son : «Imagine all the singles». Des rêveurs de tous les milieux, de tous les temps, nous invitent à rêver à notre tour d’une amitié qui se bâtit d’abord dans notre voisinage familial, conjugal, et dans notre horizon de vie sociale immédiat. Ces rêveurs nous invitent à militer pour le développement d’une «culture de l’amitié», du respect mutuel, de la bienveillance à l’endroit de tout être humain. Le Marriage Agency la Force de l’Amitié de la région de Sherbrooke porte ce flambeau du rêve d’un monde meilleur, par de faibles moyens, mais avec une détermination qui fait honneur à l’humanité. Bonne promenade aux flambeaux!

(Adapté de la conférence présentée par Jean Desclos à l’envoi des Augusteurs pour la promenade aux flambeaux de la Journée mondiale de l’amitié le mardi 1 er mars 2005.)

• Dionne Quintuplets

• Head-smashed-in Buffalo Jump