More Pics From Yesterday

A few more pics

Oshino Jr High School and 8 Ponds

Hi all,

Sorry for not posting yesterday, but I had no access to the internet. The big news of course is that technically, the kids got to experience their first typhoon. It kissed the west coast of Honshu and is now making its way North West. Of course we were only on the outside of it so it was cloudy with a little rain! Went running this morning and as the sun came up, the cloud burnt off, so it is roasting hot again.

Yesterday we visited our first school. Oshino Jr High. They were extremely welcoming and hospitable. We got a performance from the choir, a judo demonstration (including some of our boys taking part), made cranes, sat in on a music and english lesson and had lunch together. We performed our songs and our now rather famous haka.

Had to laugh when the so-called king of the school and Judo champion, who was 15 years of age asked how old Quaid was. I don't think he like the idea of a 12 year old being a good three inches taller than him. After school we visited the local fish museum, better known to you all as an aquarium. There were loads of massive sturgeons, which managed to occupy the kids for an hour. We then went to 8 ponds where the kids did some more souvenir shopping... Some of you are going to be very lucky people! Anyways, have attached another lot of photos for you to have a look at. Only 2 days left in Fujiyoshida, then off to Tokyo for a few days!

Welcome Ceremony

Over　the　weekend　we　have　stayed　with　our　host　families.　We　got　together　on　Saturday　night　for　a　meal　at　the　foot　of　Mt　Fuji.　We　had　a　great　night,　with　about　70　guests　in　total　attending　the　occasion.　All　the　children　were　asked　to　speak　and　they　did　very　well.　The　Japanese　were　able　to　understand　every　word　they　said...　with　the　help　of　Kosuke!　It　was　also　the　first　time　we　performed　our　cultural　items,　and　the　group　did　brilliantly.　The　boys　also　did　a　stirring　rendition　of　the haka. I spoke to all the kids tonight and they have all enjoyed their day and are having a good time. Tomorrow we will be attending the first of three schools. Hope everyone in NZ is doing well.

Batcave and Glass

Had another busy day today. We began at the Fuji Visitor Centre before heading off on a 2 hour bush walk through a forest that is 900 years old. The forest is formed ontop of volcanic rock spewed from Fuji-san and the tree roots have a 20m radius as there is less than 10cm of soil on the rocks. We made our way to the Bat Cave. Much to the kids disappointment, there was no Bat Mobile, but the cave network was excellent. Luckily the Japanese are overly cautious when it comes to safety and the kids were decked out in hard hats - good job as every five seconds you'd hear a thump and an accompanying 'Owww!'.

Afterwards we had lunch served to us by a restaurant owner who came over to NZ on an exchange with Tawa Intermediate many years ago. We tried a type of traditional noodle - the name escapes me at the moment, but it was not udon or soba.

We then went to a glass factory, and many of you may be in for a nice treat when the kids get home. Students had the option of designing artwork for a glass ornament then sandblasting it, or creating a piece of glass jewellery. The kids did a great job and put my rather average effort to shame.

We then had a visit to a rather strange museum. Their was no explanation, but the theme was about a book series involving cats. Kind of like a Japanese Beatrix Potter. Then we headed down to one of the Fuji Five Lakes before heading off to our host families who took us out for sushi.

Part 3!!

After the meditation and calligraphy lessons, we made our way to Fuji Sengen Jinja to witness the close of the fire festival, which also signals the end of summer and the climbing season on Fuji-san. The closing ceremony was a very colourful and energetic affair with the kids getting to take part in it. When the goddess and fuji are returned to the shrine, the kids got to chase the procession with bamboo branches fashioned with origami, a bell and ribbon, designed to guard the goddess and fuji from evil!

Part 2!

After the amusement park we travelled by train to the Zen temple Ms Bray-Burns and I are staying at. Our host and Zen monk, Yoshi (right picture in background by the sliding door), introduced the children to meditation and taught them some traditional calligraphy. Students learnt how to write their 'favourite' word and then how to spell their name using the phonetic Katakana alphabet. Yoshi was most impressed with their work!

Roller Coasters, Meditation, Calligraphy and Fire - Part 1

Our busiest day yet began with Fujikyu Highland, an amusement park. Home to 3 world record roller coasters, including the highest closed circuit coaster, the fastest closed circuit coaster and the most inverts (14 - pictured on the right). I am pleased to say that all the kids conquered their fears at least once! I was witness to and heard about many acts of bravery. Laura-Jane, who was sat next to me on the invert coaster, with the assistance of the other girls, nearly perforated my right ear drum with her screams! She did brilliantly as she was convinced she was not going to be able to go through with it. MJ has the distinction of braving the 2 hour que to ride the fastest coaster in the world and then was as cool as a cucumber when he road the highest coaster in the world with me. He was like Iceman out of Top Gun! Quaid rode the highest coaster not once but twice and Braeley, who initially did not go through with the highest coaster, duly took the long walk back to the top of the stairs and conquered the coaster they call Fujiyama - 70m high! All the kids had a ball and did a great job of getting stuck in.

Fire Festival

Had a great day today, kids played tennis with a local group of children and visited the Fujiyoshida Museum of Local History. Lunch was a real novelty for the kids as they tried traditional 'flowing noodles' - A bamboo flume is set up on a set of tripods and water is poored down it. Boiled soba noodles are then added, forming a kind of noodle waterslide. The kids then (successfully I might add) scooped the noodles out with chopsticks and put them in a bowl of soy sauce, water, spring onion and wasabi. The girls and boys then separated as the girls went to prepare for the Fire Festival by dressing in full kimono and the boys went for a swim at Tomo's gym.

The Fire Festival is an annual tradition that is to do with satisfying the goddess of the mountain that there is enough fire and that the mountain needn't erupt. Thousands f people walk down streets that have huge pyres burning. There are lots of stalls around.

The plan was that Yoshi (my host), Lou and I would meet the kids, Tomo and the other host families at a set time and place. Everyone met together except one person... me. Somehow, on a straight road, I managed to separate myself from Yoshi and Lou. By the time I finally found them, the kids and the host families had moved on! So,I wish I could show you some photos of kids in kimonos at this time, but it will have to wait until I see the kids today to maybe upload some of there shots.

Today we go to an amusement park which, I don't know about the kids, but I am definitely looking forward to!

Arrived Safe and Sound!

Hi everyone,
We arrived safely in Japan last night after a long flight. The length of the flight was quite a challenge for some of the kids. I think we were an hour and a half into it before I got the first 'How much longer 'til we're there?' comment. But they arrived in good spirits and we got to Fujiyoshida at around 9.30pm. We were greeted by our host families and headed off for a good nights rest. Plenty on the cards today. Will try to keep you up to date with what's happening.

One more sleep

Looking foward to taking off tomorrow morning. See you all at 5am!!!! Yeah!