[Six International students, attending a violin summer school in Toronto, go on a day outing to the CN tower. They are:
Bonnie: school representative from Canada
Rose: from Hong Kong
Anne: from England
Mi-Hae: from Korea
Gita: from India
Maria: from Italy
Bonnie: Toronto is the capital city of the province of Ontario.
Rose: Oh, then what's Ottawa?
Anne: Ottawa is the capital of Canada, isn't it?
Bonnie: Yes, that's right. Do you study Canada in school?
Anne: A little. My father went to Canada once.
Gita: In India we never studied Canda but we did study Great Britain and the United States.
Mi-Hae: Well, I don't know very much about Canada, but I am really happy to be here. Toronto is a beautiufl city.
Maria: And there are a lot of Italians here. Maybe 350,000.
Mi-hae: That must be like one of the biggest cities in Italy!
Rose: There is a Chinatown here too that's really growing. All the street signs are in Chinese there.
Bonnie: Yes, Toronto is a multi-ethnic community. But really, Vancouver is more Asian. Maybe 50% of the people are Asian in that city of 2 million.
Gita: Sydney in Australia has a lot of Asians. And look at Singapore. So many people there are from Asian countries but they all know a little English. In India, English is the language of government. It's very important.
Anne: London England is becoming a multi-cultural city too, and not everybody speaks English there, just like New York city.
Mi-Hae: I heard that two thirds of the people in the world who speak English don't have English as a mother-tongue.
Rose: Anyway, it's great to be in a place where you can meet so many different people. You know what it's like in Korea Mi-Hae. Everybody looks the same and speaks only one language.
Mi-Hae: You're right about that. Korea has a strong culture. But we are very open to American culture too.
Bonnie: I think what you call "American culture" is just a part of the Global culture.
Maria: Yes, the world is more open today. There are many international citizens.
Bonnie: Ok, everybody, here's the CN tower.
Anne: Wow! It's so tall!
Mi-Hae: How high is it?
Bonnie: I think it's 550 meters.
Maria: I heard that the CN tower is the tallest free standing structure in the world.
Rose: Hong Kong has tall buildings, but not one like this.
Gita: We will get a great view of the city from up there, but I must tell you, I am a little scared of heights.
Anne: And it's a sunny afternoon. We will be able to see very far.
Bonnie: Here's the elevator. Let's get in.
[ the six students get closer together and go into the elevator]
Mi-Hae: Hey look down there! I can see a baseball game!
Bonnie: That's the Sky Dome.
Maria: I don't know the name of the stadium but I know the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. My brother was a big baseball fan back home in Italy.
Mi-Hae: Is that right, Maria? Baseball is really popular in Korea too. Do you know Park, Chung-Ho?
Maria: No, who's he?
Mi-Hae: He's a Korean pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's very famous in Korea.
Gita: Is that an airport?
Anne: Yes, but it's very small. I don't think big 747's go there Rose.
Rose: There's Toronto Island! Look at the sail boats, they look so small.
Bonnie: And there's Harbour Front Center. We will go there tomorrow afternoon.
Maria: Bonnie, can we go to Toronto Island too?
Bonnie: Sure we can. We have lots of free time in the afternoon after our classes.
Gita: Anybody scared of heights like me. I feel a little sick.
Mi-Hae: Are you OK Gita?
Gita: Yes, just fine, but I'm not sure I like this glass windowed elevator at all.
Bonnie: Then don't look down through the glass floor space they have up there.
Gita: The floor is made of glass?
Bonnie: Don't worry. No, there is only one small window on the floor.
Anne: Here we are. Everbody out.
Rose: What's our plan before lunch Mi-Hae, do you remember?
Mi-Hae: Bonnie said we will eat lunch in the revolving restaurant at 1:00. We have time to look around before then.
Rose: I'm glad it's not windy. I would hate to be in here if it was shaking.
Mi-Hae: Me too. I think this tower is as strong as rock. Where shall we go?
Anne: I don't think there are many places to go are there?
Bonnie: There's an observation deck. It looks like a space ship. It's up using another elevator.
Gita: No more elevators for me please. I hope I can keep my breakfast down.
Rose: It's incredible up here. I feel like I'm in outer space. Where's that glass floor? I want to look down.
Maria: I' ll go with you.
Gita: Bonnie, I think I just want to go and sit down. Can we go the restaurant now.
Bonnie: Well, it's a little early, but I think it may be all right. Don't forget everybody. Meet at 1:00 o'clock at the revolving restaurant.
Mi-Hae: Come on Anne. Let's follow Rose and Maria.
Anne: Ok. I want to get some souvenir post cards too.
[all exit and then return to sit on chairs at a table]
Maria: Are you feeling better now Gita?
Gita: Oh much better. I'm gettting some motion sickness from the revolving, but it's nothing much.
Bonnie: I gave her a pill we use when we get car sickness.
Gita: I can eat something I think. What's on the menu.
Rose: Hmm, doesn't look like an Asian menu.
Anne: It looks kind of expensive too.
Mi-Hae: Your Dad can afford it. I'd like the salmon dinner.
Maria: So do I.
Gita: I think that sounds good too. And you Rose?
Rose: Canadian salmon for me.
Anne: Oh, it sounds delicious doesn't it?
Bonnie: Wonderful! That's six salmon dinners. This will be expensive you all know?
Mi-Hae: And we know that you know we can afford it. What does your father do in Hong Kong Rose?
Rose: Well, now we live in Vancouver and Hong Kong. He's in real estate and banking, like Anne's father.
Anne: Actually, it's life insurance. He's the vice-president of a big company in London. My mother is a university professor.
Gita: My father produces movies in Mombay, India.
Maria: No kidding! My father is an executive with Fiat motors overseas. When he's not in Rome he's travelling all over the world.
Mi-Hae: And did any of you know LG stands for Lucky Goldstar?
Bonnie: What does you father sell then, VCR's or televisions?
Mi-Hae: Well, he doesn't sell them, he designs them.
Bonnie: Terrific. I'm very happy you could all come to Toronto for the summer violin school. And I must say, I don't think I've every seen a group of International students who spoke English so well, except for Anne of course, who is English.
Rose: How's the stomach now Gita?
Gita: When I get back on the ground I'll tell you.
ALL: laugh
End