This is meant for beginners. Please feel free to change anything that sounds a bit strange to a native speaker. Thanks.
Yoko was born in beautiful Okinawa, she lived on this Japanese island with her family and had lots of friends. When she arrived in lille,3 years ago, she didn't know anyone. Her main problem was that she could not speak French so meeting people was really complicated. She could not read signs and finding her way in the city was kind of scary. she could not enjoy watching TV, or listening to the radio or going to the cinema. Even surfing the web was difficult because the keyboard of her computer was in French too. At first, She often felt frustrated and isolated, she didn't go out much. She really needed to learn French. She started a course and gradually got used to speaking and hearing French. Life became easier as she was learning but it was a slow process.
Okinawa is a subtropical island surrounded by the ocean, Yoko was used to living in the sun by the sea. In Lille, If you want to swim, you must go to a crowded swimming pool. What a difference! At first she thought Lille weather was depressing but she got used to it and even started enjoying it. The change of the seasons was a new experience. She got used to the snow in winter, to the slow arrival of Spring, to having meals in the garden in Summer. She also got used to the comfort of the fireplace when everything looks grey outside. Making her first snowman is one of her best memories ever..... Now she is really used to living in the city but sometimes when the wind blows she closes her eyes and remembers her sunny island.
In Okinawa, Yoko was used to eating rice and fish with chopsticks. She loved picking and eating tropical fruit like papayas or mangoes. In Lille was so different!.... At first, She went to markets and shops looking for Japanese food but she quicky realised it would be impossible to eat in France like in Japan. She had to try what is available in French shops. Sometimes it was fun, sometimes it was surprising. What do you do with those strange veggies called "turnips" or " raddishes" or "beetoots", How do you choose bread? How do you pick the right cheese? the right wine? There were so many things she didn't know... The worst part was preparing meat.... in Japan, the meat you buy is ready to cook: it's cut into pieces or minced, in France, you get huge bloody chunks of meat .... What are you supposed to do with them? After a while, Yoko managed to learn and enjoyed trying new tastes. Now she is a true "Chef". Her jiaozis are as good as her spaghetti-bolognese.
As Yoko is a clever open-minded young lady, she has adapted rather easily. She has learned to mix the two cultures, now she can really make the most of her new life.
