静岡英和女学院 中学校・高等学校

As a girl growing up in Canada, I always looked forward to February. In elementary school, we had a Valentine’s Day party every year and exchanged cards with friends. One year we had a contest to design the most interesting ‘Valentine’s Day Mailbox.’ I made my mailbox out of an old washboard that we had at our house. (Long ago, before washing machines, people in Canada used washboards to wash their clothes.) This is a photo of an old washboard in a bucket.

As we got older, Valentine’s Day became connected to boyfriends and dating. In high school, we looked forward to the special Valentine’s Day dance in February. Couples often went on a date before the dance, going out for dinner. Girls are very lucky in Canada. If you have a boyfriend, he will give you chocolates or flowers on Valentine’s Day, or maybe a special gift like a necklace. I was very shocked when I came to Japan and found out that Japanese customs are very different, and that girls do not get a special present on February 14. Recently, however, girls in Japan often celebrate Valentine’s Day by making chocolate for their friends. I think that that is a wonderful thing to do (but maybe a bit tiring!)

Every week this month, on the wall outside the English café, there will be an English quiz question connected to Valentine’s Day. I hope the students will have fun trying to answer the questions. We wish all of our students a very happy month full of friendship and good times!