This is “Nova Scotia” in katakana. This is the province of Canada (カナダ) in which I live. While largely the same latitude as Japan, it is a world away, with a 13 hour difference between Atlantic Standard Time and Japan Standard Time. This difference becomes an even 12 hours during daylight savings time.

Incidentally, I live (住む、sumu) on the coast at a point between Digby and Yarmouth in the South-West part of Nova Scotia.

Like Japan (日本、nihon/ “nippon”), Nova Scotia has four seasons (四季、shiki). Winters are mild due to the action of the Gulf Stream ocean current; summers are also milder in temperature. Nova Scotia experiences a high amount of wind (風、kaze) and has frequent shifts in weather (天気、tenki). The humidity is also usually quite high, which is a major downside to living here.

Nova Scotia is often hit only partially by major storms and hurricanes. My area, the District of Clare (unofficially known as the French Coast), while economically poor, has the distinction of having an uncanny ability to miss the worst of storms, mainly due to the effects of the Bay of Fundy on local weather and an accident of location. Perhaps this is our reward for living in such a depressed area.

経済が悪いながら天気があまり悪くない。

(The economy sucks but the weather isn’t all that bad.)

湿度除く。

(Humidity excepted.)

Nova Scotia’s beaches are rocky; there is a minimum of sand (砂が少ない). There is an abundance of forests, but they look very similar and getting lost is very easy without trails. So stick to the roads and trails.  森が迷子安い。そのため、道を外すしないで下さい。

Population density is not high. 人口密度が低い。

The main “city,” Halifax, is like a very big town. マインな「都市 」Halifaxは大きい町みたい。

It doesn’t feel like Tokyo at all. 東京と全然違う雰囲気。

Unlike most areas, my district contains a high percentage of French speaking Canadians. French speaking communities are scattered across Nova Scotia. Overall, it’s really not a big deal.

I speak French too, but not everyone does. 私も仏語を話すだけど、それが全般的じゃない。

One thing to mention: Peggy’s Cove is a pretty place, but don’t be an idiot. The signs are there for a reason. Don’t get swept away by the waves by getting too close.

Peggy’s Coveは奇麗な場所だけど、馬鹿しないで。危ないから、海に近づけないで。

Last year another idiot got swept away because he ignored the warnings. Every few years another person or two gets the same treatment because people don’t want to pay attention…

旧年はもう一度の馬鹿が海に命を落とした。警告を無視しただから。無視はだめです。

But it really is a pretty place. With a little caution, it’s a great place for memorable pictures.

本当に奇麗な場所だけど。注意しながら、いい写真を撮るスポットだ。

OK, that’s all for now. I gave my Japanese a shot. – J