Crescent-Koyo Exchange Programme

2006-03-17T00:16:00.000+08:00

Final farewells Goodbyes at the airport
Yui... who has been with us in Japan and in Singapore. Sob.

There's everybody... eyes red with tears.

GOODBYE... til we meet again.

LOVE
from
Gene Siow, Xiangmei, Amanda, Amanda, Jenhui, Ms Goh WS

2006-03-17T00:15:00.000+08:00

A mousedeer... so shy.

2006-03-17T00:11:00.000+08:00

More at the Singapore Zoological Gardens

This is an enclosed area so we get to see these animals really close.

A Mandarin... (a) orange (b) man with ponytail (c) duck

The sloth is not just lazy but hungry.

Cut ya toenails you slothy creature. Otherwise, Ms Goh WS will book you!

2006-03-17T00:01:00.000+08:00

Up close and personal

with one of the 7 deadly sins...the sloth!
the greedy bandit

Ooo mah sweeeet turtle

2006-03-16T23:59:00.000+08:00

Our Japanese friends cooked for us! Mount Fuji fried rice with tomato sauce... this is in Ms Goh WS's kitchen :)

2006-03-16T23:58:00.000+08:00

Presents From Japan for the host family!

More new games...

2006-03-16T23:55:00.000+08:00

I can't believe I waited 1 hour for the bus to arrive at the bus stop... Yes. We're still at Sentosa and we're DYING of hunger. SOB.
Who's Ms Piggy?
Kermit's Ms Piggy's best friend.
'Squatterhood'

2006-03-16T23:54:00.000+08:00

Did the sign say PINK DOLPHINS???
Must be a printing error...

Ah... they're pretty... pink... like Barbie dolls.

2006-03-16T23:50:00.000+08:00

Hi...Cutie... come out come out.

Ugh.!! It's huge. HUGE.HUGE. HUGE. HUGE.HUGE. HUGE...

2006-03-16T23:48:00.000+08:00

At SENTOSA

Is this fun or what???

GHOSTLY Faces in Underwater World tunnel.

Mwa Ha ha ha ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ha.

2006-03-16T23:46:00.000+08:00

MORE FOOD... Let's do a collective synchronized groan... look at the yummy food at this traditional teahouse. I'm migrating to Singapore.

2006-03-16T23:42:00.000+08:00

We are NOT in China.
This is the biggest bridge in Singapore. There are even pavilions on it... we're seeing Chinese New Year decorations going up already.

This is at Hawker Centre in Chinatown.
Yummy!
We had CARROT CAKE/ YAM CAKE/ SOYA BEAN MILK/ CHINESE KWEI--PASTRIES/ NOODLES/ NASI LEMAK/ SHUI KWEI/ HAM CHI PENG--CHINESE FRIED PANCAKES/ FRIED FRITTERS OF ALL KINDS...

UGH. I'm full always in SINGAPORE!

2006-03-16T23:38:00.000+08:00

Guess which train station this is?

Right answer gets...

NO PRIZE!!!

Our 1st train ride together with our Japanese friends

2006-03-16T23:36:00.000+08:00

We love taking photos!
We love 'monkeying/ horsing' around even more!!!

Our Friends & Us at dear old CGS

2006-03-16T23:32:00.000+08:00

This is a great dance!!! Very Japanese.
They promised to teach us if we go to Japan next time.

But it was a kawai performance ;)

2006-03-16T23:28:00.000+08:00

Wanton noodles!
The Singaporean students conducted a cooking lesson and was it good!!!

2006-03-16T23:27:00.000+08:00

At my classroom -- 3C1

2006-03-16T23:09:00.000+08:00

Visit to Crescent Girls' School

Arrival at Changi Airport

2006-03-16T20:46:00.000+08:00

Wow!!!

It's been a long long long time since we've updated this blog... but we've new happenings to share :)

26 Dec 2005: Our Japanese friends came! The principal of Koyo Junior High, Mr Shiomi, as well as a chaperon, Rino's mum. The students include Tamami Koyama, Ayami Minoba, Ayaka Futamura, Yu Omichi, Nami Kuzuhira, Yui Tsujioka and Rino Taoka.

Koyo-Crescent Exchange Programme Travel Itinerary

Day 1 : December 26th

Arrival in Singapore: 5 p.m.
Meeting in Changi Airport with host families: 6 p.m.
Dinner with Host families: 8 p.m.
_____________________________________________________

Day 2 : December 27th

Traditional Singaporean breakfast in Singapore (Chinese/ Indian with host family at Hawker Centre): 9:30—10:30 am
Botanical Gardens & Orchid Garden visit and Frisbee game: 10:30 –1 pm
Public bus to Orchard Road from Cluny Road exit of Botanical Gardens: 1:00 –1:30 pm
Lunch at Food Court Far East: 1:30—2:30pm
Shopping along Orchard Rd (from Tangs to Plaza Singapura): 2:30—5:30 pm
Train/ Public transport to Host Family: 5:30 –6:30 pm
Dinner with Host Family (traditional Singaporean meal): 6:30 –7:30 pm
Night programme decided by Host Family/ Student/ Own time: 8 pm onwards (Suggested: English Movie with Japanese student in Cinema or Singaporean movie (VCD)
_____________________________________________________

Day 3 : December 28th

Tour of School and cooking of Brunch (Singaporean food): 9 –12 pm
Singapore Zoo—Travel and Visit and Snack in between: 12—5 pm
Dinner together at Suntec City (Crystal Jade): 5—6 pm
Walk along the Marina Bay Area: 6—7 pm
Travel to Host Family: 7—8 pm
Own Time: 8 onwards (with Host family in Town for shopping trip)

_________________________________________________

Day 4 : December 29th

Meet at School for Trip to Sentosa: 9 am
Sentosa: Pink Dolphin show, Underwater World, Dinner: 9—8 pm
Own Time: 9 onwards
Packing and leaving

Arrival at the airport
11p.m.

_____________________________________________

Day 5 : December 30th

Taking off : 1:10 a.m.

Arrival in Japan: 8:10 a.m. (Japanese Time)

2006-03-16T20:42:00.000+08:00

Crescent-Koyo Exchange Programme

2006-01-03T18:45:00.000+08:00

Crescent-Koyo Exchange Programme

Our Japanese friends are here! It's wonderful. And they will be here from 26 Dec to 30 Dec. It's just on time to enjoy the holiday spirit in Singapore!

2005-09-01T08:09:00.000+08:00

As an extension of our school's collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board and a continuation of our English project with Koyo, we participated in a special Postcard Project. We organized the Sec 1 and 2 students to send postcards to each individual student in Koyo Junior High School. It was truly fun for it was a mass English project during which our students use their language skills to introduce themselves and Singapore to new Japanese pen-pals.

Of course, it does not hurt that there were prizes to be won and if our friend in Japan wins the draw, he or she will get the chance to come visit Singapore.

2005-07-05T17:18:00.000+08:00

Yes indeed. I am very glad that I was given this opportunity to have an exchange programme with the students of Koyo Junior High School. Through this exchange programme, I have indeed learnt a lot about the Japanese culture and traditions like the tea ceromony and the wearing of the yukata. I must say that this long-awaited trip to Japan has proved to be a fruitful and enriching one.
After the day when we presented the 1000 paper cranes chain(which was an extension of goodwill and friendship from our Japanese friends), many people came to ask me and my friends how did we get this opportunity to have an exchange programme. So I told them that it was Miss Goh Wee Suan, our EL teacher in Sec1 &2,(and Sec3 as well) who gave us this very opportunity to mingle with the Japanese students. Many people as a result were jealous and envious of us. Hence, I must really thank Miss Goh Wee Suan for letting me have this "once in a lifetime chance" . THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

*xiangmei* T_T 3c1

2005-07-01T23:42:00.000+08:00

Here's Ms Goh WS again...

It's been one week in school and during this time, there has been much interest generated in the exchange programme, firstly as it has been quite a few years since there has been any exclusive tie-up between Crescent Girls' School and another overseas school. Secondly, Japan is a fascinating culture that is distinctive in so many years and yet still Asian... thus students were really interested in our exhibition on Thursday and Friday (30th June and 1st July) and in all the kawaii items that were on display. 3rdly, the nature of the Exchange Programmes were also presented and mulled over after my presentation to the rest of the school staff during the Staff Meeting of 28th June 2005. Indeed, many are already asking if they can participate as well. We are all certainly eager for the students of Koyo Junior High School to come visit Singapore as was seen in the enthusiastic applause of students as we presented a bouquet of 1000 cranes folded by the students of 3A and 3B and Crescent girls during the Japanese school experience in Koyo Junior High during the Assembly Period of 1st July 2005.

In more detail on the above events...

1) The staff meeting allows for sharing amongst all staff members and I had 10 minutes of air time. I presented on the genesis and aim and ultimately the results of the collaborative projects and the exchange programme... namely,

Aim of the
Programme
oUnderstand more about
each other’s cultural practices and beliefs
oExchange of ideas
oDevelop
an understanding of each other’s best
practices in teaching (for the
teachers) and in learning (for students)
oAwareness of self as global
citizens

Here we have to ask ourselves why should we have exchange programmes and why these programmes are beneficial. Certainly the continuous talk of this being a global village and the small size (but perhaps a not insubstantial stature) of Singapore is the stock-in-trade answer.

However the fact is that the open-mindedness to accepting different cultures and peoples and beliefs and behaviours etc are something that has to be continually reinforced for is it not as children that we could not see COLOURS of the surface but the COLOURS of the individuals, our friends? Is it not that as we grow up, we start adopting the prejudices that consciously or subconsciously of the society and the company we are in, and thus in a sense becoming 'corrupted'? Is it not then that we seem to abandon the ability to explore the world at large with a clear and curious mind without tredipation and fear after we 'mature'? Is it not then that we stop being civil or civilised to others?

Hence I hoped that this trip has challenged some of that mindset and that in our team of 9, we have passed on some of that hope (yes, corny... but we do hope for world peace!) to the Singaporeans we have been interacting with and perhaps with others through this blog.

2) EXHIBITION...

It was fun as many dropped by the booth to learn something about Japan and the friendship that our Japanese friends have extended towards us. There were many MATCH bottles and other vending machine bottles and drink packets as they are very colourful and certainly different from what we have in Singapore.

3) PRESENTATION of CRANES and GIFTS to the PRINCIPAL

Xiangmei read out a summary of what exchange programme to the entire school (crafted by Tania and Amanda of 3C1) and then Amanda presented the gifts/ momentoes from Koyo Junior High School and Singapore Tourism Board (for our participation in World Expo, Aichi as Student/ School Tourist Ambassadors) to Mrs Lee Bee Yann our principal.

Well, now we've 2 more stages of the 1st year of the Exchange Programme to go...

1stly, we look forward to the completion of a dual-language Japanese-Singaporean Children's story book which would be used for the raising of funds for an adopted charity or a worthy cause.

2ndly, we are anticipating a trip by Koyo Junior High School in December.

For now, this is Ms Goh WS signing out...

2005-06-28T00:15:00.000+08:00

Hello the wonderful students of Crescent School,
thanks to Lee Min, who kindly taught me how to upload a blog, now I'm putting this up on behalf of all the students of Koyo to express our heartful grattitude as we really enjoyed your visit and attendance in the classes. I know many of our students are accessing to your blogs and trying to remember the memories they shared with you.
Now, we are preparing for the Chorus Festival which is sheduled to be on the 2nd of July. We expect about 500 parents and local people to come, and so it's a big event. We wish you were here and could sing those beautiful Singapore songs again.
Thank you very much.
We hope to see you this December.
Yoshi Shiomi

2005-06-26T17:21:00.000+08:00

22.6.05

Our precious last day in Japan. We were going to Aichi for the World Expo, with our Japanese friends. I'm so sad. I don't want the trip to end so quickly! Oh man. I'm already missing Koyo. )":

Ok. Woke up bright and early at 5 am. Well...at least i think it was 5 am. I can't really remember. But, well, it's just really early. That's all i can remember. We had our last breakfast in our host family's house, and then we got ready to leave. ): She even brought us the cat to say bye to us. I wished I had given her a hug. She did so much for us for our trip there. Thank you so much. Thank you! Oh man. Saying goodbye has never been easy. It's just so hard. And it just gets harder...

When we reached their school. We were the earliest! :D Oh well, then we waited for the rest of our friends to reach school, then we hopped on the bus. Then the news: The principal wasn't coming with us! Oh man. That was another sad sad farewell to him. He did so much SO MUCH for us...THANK YOU SO MUCH! Oh well, we boarded the bus, and found out that the coach was only half-filled. Ok. Good for us! Lots of space! Anyway, as we watched our different host families wave goodbye to us, it's just so sad! I never thought that bidding farewell will be so hard!!!!!!!! *screams* I don't wanna say goodbye!

The bus trip was going to be five hours. Ok. It's even longer than travelling to KL. Anyway, because the trip was going to be long, we entertained ourselves. By playing 7-up. The game whereby you hafta say UP in place of any numbers associated with 7 or muliples of 7! :D

At first we played it amongst ourselves, with hmm....Xiangmei losing the first round. She had to say something to a guy. Oh well, i can't remember what, because she didn't say it in english. [A good tactic to use when we don't want people to know what we just said.] Then Shuzhen had to kiss the window!! Ok...

After that, we decided to our Japanese friends! :D SO COOL RIGHT? Ok. They played with us. Well, the first person who lost was Jenhui, and she had to stand on one foot. :D Anyway, then this Japanese friend of ours lost. Well, our forfeit for him, at first, was to stare at Christine for one minute without blinking. Well...at first, he was really sporty, and walked daringly to Christine's seat. But then, he decided that he couldn't bring himself to do it! Ok. Then...we decided to be really kind to him, and let him choose:
1) Hold Christine's hand for 30 seconds.
2) Say I love you to Christine.
3) Stare at Christine for one minute.

Well...he chose the second option because it was short. :D It was really fun to see him struggle with saying it. OK. I'm being really mean...AHH well. After that, they didn't dare to play anymore. ): Oh well, we all decided that we were tired, and for some reason, we all didn't feel so well. So we slept for a little while!

Anyway, I finally managed to get a picture of their vending machine!!:D

Ok. I'll continue blogging the next time. Because if i blog anymore, i think i'm gonna cry. )":
Sorry. )":

2005-06-24T16:45:00.000+08:00

Me and Ke Jia...KOYO!!!

2005-06-24T15:52:00.000+08:00

Tea-ceremony

Looks fun rite? Yeah... go to Japan...

This is TAO KE JIA with her giant cake... But the cake tastes GREAT!!!

Every class is a choir... so fun... can even have SYF for only a school...

The Principal and Miss Goh... Holding a thousand of cranes... so touching... The students folded them for us...

By: Tania

2005-06-24T15:30:00.000+08:00

Well... This is my 2nd post but the first one... gone.
Back to Singapore... I used to think that Singapore is sooooooooo green, but there, well is greener. The place is so clean and the air is practically unpolluted. I like it soooo much there, even the dustbins. They have 8 different dustbins... so do please be careful to throw ur rubbish into the correct one. The people there.... well I can't really describe them... coz they are too sweet and nice. I really really think that people like us should learn more courtesy and sincerity from them. For example... my 'class'. They RAWKS!!! 1A is really a fantastic class, the students are sooooooooooooooo warm and nice. You noe wad, I really cried coz they insist to hug me one by one. I was so touched. The family too... The Mother is really a GREAT cook and they gave me presents practically everyday! I just hope that my wish I put on the wishing tree there will come true that i can stay there forever!!! I really think I should be born there...

My host family... and my class...

missing them...Tania

2005-06-23T14:11:00.000+08:00

Ms Goh WS... reporting from the Land of the Rising Sun

A final goodbye to Shingu for all the lovely things that it has given to us...

We and the Koyo students had been having lessons on making paper cranes but simply had no idea...

Our FAREWELL photo. The Principal of Koyo Junior High School, Mr Shiomi, is holding up a beautiful garland of 1000 cranes that the 3rd graders of 3A and 3B had been working on over 2 days. This is a much treasured gift expressing their friendship and warmth and well-wishes.

THANK YOU! ARIGATO GOZAIMASU! Koyo Junior High School, all friends and families whom we've met in Shingu, Wakayama-pre, Japan.

2005-06-22T13:13:00.000+08:00

Ms Goh WS reporting from Japan...

A very emotional day for everyone in school, for today is our 2nd and already last day in Koyo Junior High School.

Morning: 2 lessons with our different form classes, 1 lesson on Traditional Japanese Games/ Toys, Presentation to entire school of Singapore and Crescent Girls' School, Exhibition of Crescent Girls' School and Singapore.

Discovery
no. 1) We sang but did not impress. There were no Ayumis amongst us but the students of Koyo were very polite in listening to us. I think the songs were very lyrical and they enjoyed the small singing presentation which was based on Singapore songs used for NDP 2005 (there're 3 choir girls involved in National Day Parade in our group of 8 students). I must say that the Japanese students were not very enthusiatic about shouting 'Hoi!' but the teachers get A1s for their support. Arigato!!!

no. 2) They enjoyed the Uniquely Singapore commercials which were indeed very witty. However, some explanations were needed to explain what the adverts were about first... Hence are the commercials a success? Yes for Singaporeans... and people who have lived in Singapore... but foreigners??? I'm not sure.

no. 3) They enjoyed our Collaborative projects and our school's anime short firm. But they did find the premise of the story of the animation short rather 'gigglie'. I wonder why. Perhaps it is because they are all 15 and below and the short film is about BGR--boy-girl relationship. Which of us in our painful adolescent years not find the concept of teenage love most exciting but almost secretive and illicit in nature?? Another question to ponder over ;)

no. 4) They really don't like Durian Cake! But the Dried Mango Strips, the Bak Kwa (BBQ meat), the Kaya (coconut jam) were MOST POPULAR. Some kids came by 3 times for a try ;) We're glad that the exchange went well.

no. 5) We're INCREDIBLY Lucky!!! According to everyone, it rains practically every day in Shingu during summer, but guess what? It rained NOT AT ALL during our trip except at night and when we were travelling... Talk about blessings from the Gods.

Anyway, we appeared in the City Newspapers and the National Newspapers, so we were glad that this exchange was viewed so favourably. Certainly, all expressed hopes that it would be continued...

This afternoon, we were invited by Koyo Junior High to attend a class in a cultural centre on (1) wearing of the Kimono (2) scent (3) Japanese green tea.

We are in yukatas -- summer form of kimonos. Here's us in our varied splendour.

Note that we have a butterfly/ ribbon obi belt to our kimono. This is the easiest and the most basic kimono wearing tie that every girl learns from young in Japan.

We had great FUN wearing the Kimono. But it is indeed an ethnic costume that is very distinctive. We all started wishing that Singapore has something as ethnic as well that is part of everyday culture/ life.

We also learned that Japanese culture includes the appreciation of scents that comes from igniting a small sliver of scented wood e.g. pine from Sumatra in a pot of incense. Deep inhalation allows for tasting even of the scent (sweet, spicy, musky, etc) at the back of one's throat and has potentially various healthy benefits.

3rdly, we tasted Japanese Green Tea, learning how to use a brush (akin to a shaving brush but the bristles are made of bamboo) to beat up the tea powder into the hot water to create a bubbly smooth texture. Again, this requires a ceremonial approach that encourages reflection, engages the senses in a most focused way and the aesthetic sensibility that has been cultivated in Japan for more than 1000 years! We were very priviledged as Singaporeans of a 40-year-old country to learn from this ancient culture.

2005-06-21T21:55:00.000+08:00

Now, a good friend too... Mrs Hiroko Ishikawa. A lovely cook, a warm and gentle lady.

2005-06-21T21:53:00.000+08:00

Here's my host family...

2005-06-21T21:34:00.000+08:00

Great Receipe to
try:

Mrs Ishikawa's Cheese
cake

Ingredients:
Sugar - 80g
Flour - 60 cc
Eggs - 3
Whipped Cream - 200 cc
Cream Cheese - 200g
Lemon Juice - 15 cc
Salt - pinch
Vanilla Essence - a few
drops

1) Mix all gredients above together in a
blender
2) Stop the blender occasionally to ensure the
floor does not stick to the sides of the blender... ensure a smooth
mixture
3) Line the cake pan (18 cm across) with
paper.
4) Pour mixture into the cake
pan.
5) Warm up the oven for 10
min.
6) Bake the cake in the oven at 180 degrees
celsius for 40 minutes.
7) Let the cake cool down and then finally
place it in the refridgerator.

Voila! A scrumptious and easy-to-make Cheese
Cake!
Thank you, Hiroko! (Ms Goh WS's host family)

2005-06-21T18:02:00.000+08:00

oh my god, today is our last day in koyo!!!! i am going to miss it so so much. it is one of my favorite places in the world. boohoo... i don't want to go to the world expo thing! i want to stay here!!! i know so many people who think the same way as me. i wish the trip was longer. hai... i will really miss this place. the people here are so nice and fun to be with and the scenery is gorgeous and the air is practically unpolluted! i love my class 3B! not that everyone was super friendly, but ithey were really cool to be with. i want to come back again!!!! i am gonna cry....
AMANDA THE SUPER CUTEST PERSON IN THE WORLD,hahaha...

sigh. today is the last day that we are going to spend in koyo and with the family. i am really sad that this day has come. *=* today we had japanese culture class and it was really fun. when wearing kimono or yukata, it is left over right whether it is for males or females, while in singapore, it is right over left for females and left over right for males. anyway, we had dinner at yui's house and it was delicious. after that we played fireworks. it was very fun except that the fire went out really fast so were quite irritated. hmm... i have so much to day but no words can decribe what i really feel at this moment. i want to keep this moment 4eva! SAYONARA JAPAN SHINGU!
xiangmei. ^-^

yup xiangmei, its the last day for all of us! you know what? Ｉ am already missing those grade one-ers!! they are so cute! tonight, we ate a lot of delicious japanese food. yah, and xiangmei asked me to type faster, so i decided to keep my entry short.
ｓhuzhen(:

2005-06-21T15:57:00.000+08:00

21/6
leemin reporting from Japan! :D

Last day spent in school with them. I'm so sad. ): It's too soon!! I'm gonna cry! ):

Ok. The day started with breakfast! :D They breakfast's always lovely, because they always feed you with lots of food, and then YOUGURT! :D We ate pizza bread :D Thought it tasted delicious. That's because our host family have a great cook! :D YIPEEE! Then, well...the twins walked us to school again! :D They are so sweet. :D So willing to bring us around!

Anyway, when we almost reached the school, we requested to take a picture with them! They were so excited to take a picture with us!! this is the one we took!

Cheese! :D

ok! We reached school five ten minutes early than yesterday, and we werent the latest! HOORAY for the twins! :D

For that day, we were gonna have TWO periods with our class. So cool right? Anyway, their first period was music. :D Their teacher tried to get me to play guitar/piano for them. Well, the problem was that 1) I have not touch my piano/keyboard for about three months, thus i'm a little rusty at piano. 2) I cant remember my chords for guitar!!! *screams* So sad ok. Finally, i get a chance to touch a guitar!!! Then...i can't remember my chords. ):

Oh well, we were suppose to have the next period with them as well, but there was this switch, and we were gonna do our collaboration project with the secondary three friends again. Ok, well. Since we discuss about the story yesterday, Shuzhen, Christine, Jenhui and I were gonna try out their traditional toys and try out origami. :D

The games weren't easy. I got close to being able to put the ball back on it's stand, but...it wasn't good enough. Shuzhen got CLOSER to winning, but apparently... that thing needs us to practise more. Thus, we decided to try out origami, with the GUYS! It's surprising that the guys, were able to fold the paper cranes nicer than all of us…girls. Anyway, they also thought us how to fold paper cranes, because we were not very sure of the steps to take to make them. As they go step by step in making it, they seemed so well-trained into making these stuff!

OK. Soon, I think we exasperated those guys, because we got lost following them making this cute-looking thing which looks like a windmill! Ok, later, when I asked them to help me re-make it, they decided it seemed so wrong that they just can’t get it right for me!!

Nevermind. When they come to Singapore, I’ll make them teach me again. *evil laughter* HAHAHHAA.

OK. After this really fun time with them folding paper cranes, it was BACK TO LESSONS.

My class was having P.E. lessons then. I was a little surprise by them because 1) They have P.E. lessons separately from the guys. 2) They do somersaults for P.E. lessons, and their warm-up exercises were very different from what we usually do in Singapore.

After which, we got ready for the assembly! :D

WOOOOooo..

Swiftly, we changed into our ethnic costumes, with Kejia and I in Malay costumes. Tania and Jenhui in Indian costumes, Shuzhen and Amanda in Chinese costumes!

Anyway, well, Kejia wore the baju kurong the wrong way. :D And no one realized it until hmm…she took it off. Oh well. :D

When we sang the Singapore Songs for them, I don’t really know if they enjoyed it, but it was fun like just bring a part of Singapore to Japan…I especially like the song, Home, because it made me think of my home, my Singapore. (for that short span of one min when we sang that song).

After the song, we showed them some advertisements of Singapore, and the manga that was created by Crescentians. Also, we showed them bits and pieces of our project. :D Ok. I admit: it is embarrassing to hear what I said for the videos.

Ways and anyways. After that, one of our Japanese friend, came out and spoke to us, and we were presented gifts each from the school. [Thank you to the both of you guys]

With that, our farewell assembly was over. I couldn’t help but wanted to cry, I didn’t of course, but it was so sad. We only managed to join them for such a short period of time! We didn’t even get to know their names well! *Sniff* So sad. Then, we went to buy food and took pictures with our classmates, then, we had the last bit of our exhibition, and then we left for the cultural school.

Outside the school, we could see from their windows, the guys and girls waving to us. Oh man, that made me really sad, and I really thought that we’ve spent so little time with them. Even though my classmates were a little shy and hesitant to talk to me, but they gave me a really precious memory, that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you all so much. :D

At the cultural school, the ladies greeted us with grace. They were wearing their traditional costume, the kimono.

WOOOOOOOoooo.

I felt so excited because we were going to be able to wear them! As we watch them demonstrate how we should wear the yukata, I couldn’t wait to try it on myself!! :D

When we tried it on, I realized that it isn’t easy at all to wear. Especially since, I have no idea where’s left and right. The yukata is supposed to be worn left over right!! :D So cool! :D

Anyway, after wearing the yukata, which is the summer version of the kimono, I realized that it is not easy to walk around the place anymore, but…it was looser than the baju kebaya that I wore. That’s because at least I can kneel down in the yukata, but I can’t even kneel down when I wear the kebaya!! Oh well, then we had the tried smelling the scent. The proper way to do it, is to first pick up the scent container, then, turn it twice so that the image is facing the front, then sniff it three times, deeply, then turn it twice again, so that the image is facing yourself, then put it down. [Due to allergy to some scents I dared not breathe it in deeply. OH WHAT A WASTE!!]

OHOHOH!! We got complimented by the teacher because we didn’t drop the container!! YOOHOO!!:D

Ok. Then we tried the green tea!! :D Before that, we tried this really really sweet cake, that has red beans in it. At first, I thought I was eating sugar, because it was too sweet for comfort. The green tea’s a powder form at first, then it is made into the drink. The proper way to drink it? Turn the cup twice so the image is facing the front, drink it, then turn it twice again, so that the image is facing yourself, then put it down.

Then after that, we went shopping!! I bought stuff for my mum, dad, and SISTER (I’m shocked that I actually am so kind to my sister), something for the house, and for myself. :D

After that, we went back with our host family, and were fed with delicious food, something that we could cook ourselves, which was really cool! Then, we went out shopping! We toured the whole of Shingu, and then went to JUSCO. There’s Jusco in Malaysia too! Except that there’s none in JB, but a lot in KL and Selangor area. :D Oh well, I bought this really cute bag for my mum and myself, and this scent thing, which I have no idea what it’s used for…I bought it because I like it.

After that, when we reached back home, we presented our gifts to our host family. It was really sad because it was something that I didn’t want to do so soon. Seriously, how can time pass so fast? *Sniff* So sad. I don’t wanna leave yet. Also, they presented us with some gifts. I felt really bad accepting it, because they hosted us, and they even present us with gifts. That’s really sweet. Oh man, I’m starting to miss them. )’:

That night, was hard to fall asleep. I didn’t wanna leave Shingu the next day. NOOOO!! I really don’t wanna leave. I love that place. I love my friends there. I love their sincerity. I love the fact that, it’s such a cozy place, not many high buildings that seems to intimidate you after a while. Mountains and greenery that I seldom see in Singapore. I love it there. I love it so much… AND...i love my host family. They are so kind to us. Thank you. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

MY HOST FAMILY! :D

2005-06-21T13:23:00.000+08:00

Ms Goh WS... reporting from Japan

20 June 2005; 3rd day of Crescent-Koyo Exchange Programme
I have this incredible experience cooking in Japan! Mrs Hiroko Ishikawa, the mother of the host family I am staying with, is a very experienced cook and she was very helpful... I think her faith in my cooking made it turn out especially well. It is obvious that cooking takes thought, time and heart... only then the food you cook turns out oishii.

My curry was to all intents and purposes a success despite its spiciness (no, I did not use a lot of curry powder) and the fried rice (I did not use any store-packaged seasoning as it was already a meal with overpowering tastes) turned out wonderful, just the right texture. Indeed, the clue is cooking the rice the night before, refridgerating it before stir-frying it the next day. The use of garlic (they use garlic paste from a tube in Japan) certainly helps with the fragrance.

It has been a wonderful day thus far and this night culminates it.

In the afternoon, I had just realised that clothes or the lack thereof has taken on a cultural significance. The public baths/ hot springs in Shingu are not an experience to be missed, even if you are squeamish about your body/ body shape/ lack of body shape. The natural acceptance of nudity comes from a recognition of the natural state of the human person within the world/ environment. This is where watching 'Nip/Tuck' while in a public bath may bring about new heightened awareness of what CULTURE/ CUSTOMS is and what NATURE is.

Thus, I went as naked as the day I was born into the public baths (sorry, cameras are not allowed, and any of my students who are reading this... remember the saying, 'When in Rome, live as the Romans do'). Anyway, it was a most relaxing experience and I had the illusion that I'd lost some pounds (or maybe my brains got cooked in that HOT spring). Okay, so I too despite my 'philosophising' have 'hung ups' about such issues as weight and image ;) I hope my
students will add in some thoughts about their experience in the hot springs too; I promised not to tell.

PS. Shingu area here has apparently one of the more famous natural hot springs.

2005-06-21T09:39:00.000+08:00

20/6

MONDAY!

LEEMIN IN.

Monday!! It's monday!! WooHOO. We went to their school today! We woke up bright and early at about 6:30 am, to have breakfast! The breakfast was TUNA...[CATS love FISHES] Anyway, the same cat got really excited with Jenhui's food, but lucky for Jenhui, there was this...hmm....this...clear plastic that was wrapping the food, so the cat couldnt get it's paws on the food. [sorry, kitty!] Breakfast was once again, extremely filling, but i got to think about it as it's a good way to start the day, with plenty of FOOD.

okok..

Anyway, this pair of twins came and walk us to school!! They are so cool! At first, I didn't think they were fourteen years of age because they looked really small sized. They tried to speak to us in Japanese, but soon realised that we CANT speak Japanese. So, they tried English. Simple words like, Hello! Then later, they started asking if we play sports! They seemed really fasinated when we told them we DO play basketball! It turns out that one of them playes basketball!!

On the way to school, this girl came along with us to school! :D Ok, that makes it three people. OH! i forgot to mention their uniform!! OK. It's very typical, because they have a white blouse, and dark blue skirt/pants. Ahh well. The Japanese girls have their socks soo high up! And what do we like? Ankle socks. Big difference!!

Ok. So, at about 7:50, the girls ALL stopped at this road junction to wait for two other friends. They completely freaked us out by stopping because, SINCE Jenhui and I do not know exactly what time the school starts, and what time we are supposed to reach there. We THOUGHT about walking ahead of them, but then we realised that we do NOT know how to get to their school by ourselves.

When we finally reached the school, it was 8:10. Ok, and that was when Jenhui and I found that 1) We were supposed to meet them at 7:45. And 2) School doesn't start till 8:15 am.

:D

Anyway, we found out that we were gonna be in the same class as each twin! Namely, Jenhui to 2A, and I was going to 2C! WOOhooo..We had this really sweet assembly from them, where they welcomed us! Then, we went back to our own classes, for a short round of introduction. Ok, the class was rather enthusiatic in asking me questions, even to a point: Draw out how Malaysia is like on the map.....

LUCKILY, THEY take geog, so it's easy, they took out their textbooks, and it was done. Oh well, but the teacher forgot to draw Sarawak and Sabah...ahh well.

Then, we had Japanese lessons!! Some of their students came along to help us! OKOK. And it was the principal that taught us Japanese. [LEEMIN apologises because till now, i still don't really know how to speak Jap, and the only thing i've learnt is: WATASHI-WA leemin desu!]

At this point, we were supposed to interact with the Japanese students in Japanese! :D OKOK.

Let's see....

This guy took a huge step, and started talking to us. [Later we found out he's the president of student union or sth like that.] Ways and anyways, after he started talking to us, slowly, the other guys started talking to us as well. Ok. So, this guy, decided to try talking to us. He started talking to me!! *Screams* Ok. The conversation in Japanese was OKAY, at first... But after that, he asked me if i like Tom Cruise and i went like, Iie [meaning NO]. And couldn't continue the sentence. HAAHAH. I couldn't remember how to reply someone if I wanted to say No, i do NOT like Tom Cruise.

Anyway, i think i exasperated him, because he dared not talked to anyone else after that. [To HIM: SORRY! I seriously couldn't remember how to reply!!]

After that, I had JAPANESE lessons. They went through a test paper. AHH well...i started doing two A. Math sums because i didn't understand a WORD they were talking about. BUT...i do have a copy of their exam paper! :D

Oh well, after that, we went to do this collaboration project with this particular class..should be 3A. Tania, Kejia, Xiangmei and Amanda went to fold paper cranes with some girls, and we told them the story of SINGAPURA, about How the name came along! :D

At first, they thought Singapore was shaped like a lion, but after a few rounds of repetition and drawings, [Thanks, MsGoh!] They FINALLY got it! Then they told us their story of PEACHBOY. At first, i heard it as BEACHboy. Then I was wondering why a Beachboy...until they wrote down the title of the story on the paper!!

After that, we had lunch with them[THEM as in our classmates]! :D Then, we fed them with our food as well because there was too much food. Ok, after that, we went to do up our exhibition. :D

They get to try the food. They liked the the what-do-you-call-that- hmm...the bbq chicken thing. I cant remember what it is called. Anyway, they also like the dried mango. They didn't like the durian cake. I don't either, becaues it tasted hmm...different from usual ones. [To all my Jap friends: COME. COME TO SINGAPORE, AND TRY BETTER ONES!]

Anyway, then we left for hot springs. It was weird. That's all I'm gonna say.

Then we went back to cook a Singaporean dish for our host family! Oh man. I forgot to mention that I have not cooked for over a year!!!

Ahhhh..the curry was not bad, and the fried rice...well...it wasn't the easiest to cook either. :D And then, the cat came to disturb us. It ate something. Scaring both Jenhui and I. Anayway...we started off with the curry, because it is the one that needs the most attention. The chicken refused to defroze, so what i had to do, was to wash it under cold water. Oh well...

Then, we cooked the fried rice. Jenhui brought along luncheon meat to spice up the food more! You go Jenhui!

Then we did the satay! Then it was dinner!!! :D Surprisingly, the food tasted OK…I am shocked. For someone who has not cooked for like over a year, that’s something incredible! :D

Ok. Enough of self-praise. Let’s praise Jenhui instead! :D She did a lot of the cooking ok! SHE ROCK! :D

Ok. NVM me.

Anyway, then, we were really tired, so we bath and slept.

Our singapore delight!! :D
Jenhui and I with our host family. :D

2005-06-21T09:34:00.000+08:00

19 June 2005: Exhibition of Singapore and Crescent Girls` School... Trying Durian Cake... Ah what a FRAGRANCE!!!

2005-06-21T09:27:00.000+08:00

19 June 2005: Japanese Lesson... `Watashi-wa Singapore-jin desu.` (I am Singaporean).

2005-06-21T09:24:00.000+08:00

19 June 2005: GOOD MORNING!

2005-06-21T09:23:00.000+08:00

NIGHT... time to sleep and all is well with the world.

2005-06-21T09:17:00.000+08:00

Rubbing the belly of the Laughing Buddha for prosperity

2005-06-21T09:15:00.000+08:00

To pray... Ring the bell, 2 bows, 2 claps, 1 prayer, 2 bows.

2005-06-21T09:14:00.000+08:00

Famous Shrine and Temple on Nachi Mountains (Unesco World Heritage Site)

2005-06-21T09:11:00.000+08:00

Tallest waterfall in Japan---Nachi Falls

2005-06-21T09:03:00.000+08:00

And our hosts enjoying themselves too. The udon is oishii.

2005-06-21T09:02:00.000+08:00

Yeah! Time to enjoy our hand-made noodles... udon by the sweat and toil of Crescent girls (and the many senseis)

2005-06-21T09:00:00.000+08:00

Step 3: Another teacher cooking the udon... it`s HOT!

2005-06-21T08:58:00.000+08:00

Step 2: Sensei cutting the noodles

2005-06-21T08:51:00.000+08:00

Step 1: Jen Hui rolling the dough

2005-06-21T08:46:00.000+08:00

19 June 2005: Udon making class

2005-06-21T08:37:00.000+08:00

Talk about a Healthy Lifestyle! Japanese students come to school on SUNDAY for a vigorous friendly volleyball match. They may be small but they are `Powerpuff girls`.

2005-06-21T08:35:00.000+08:00

The School Library... there`s Harry Potter in Japanese! And our favourite-- Doraemon.

2005-06-21T08:34:00.000+08:00

Hallo! Koyo Junior High School here we are!

2005-06-21T08:32:00.000+08:00

Our 1st sight of `civilisation` ;p

2005-06-21T08:27:00.000+08:00

At Changi Airport, Singapore

2005-06-20T12:27:00.000+08:00

Ms Goh WS... reporting from JAPAN

9 am: A lovely start to the day with a Western breakfast on a leisurely Sunday morning. EGG, GRILLED HAM, SALAD, JAM, BUTTER, TOAST, JUICE. (Note how the egg is important? It is like the sun on the plate smiling at you ;)

10 am: Tour of the School. and HOT STUFF... we've 3 reporters tailing us.

11 am: Udon-making... Exciting Fascinating
Here's a rough idea to how to make Udon--
Step 1) Tie a towel around your forehead
Step 2) Take a deep breathe and roll the dough (the dough was already made... much like a cooking show.
Step 3) Cut the noodles (with a fascinating chopping device which via a spring mechanism, allows you to pivot the blade up and down to achieve even strands of noodles)
Step 4) Boil in hot water
Step 5) Scoop Udon into cold water
Step 6) Rinse Udon in Hot water once more and SERVE (in japanese pretty bowls with fishcakes, seaweed, miso soup) Yummy!

12:30 pm: Nachi... Shrine (Shinto) , Temple (Buddhist) , Waterfalls (tallest in Japan). There is an aesthetic value essential to any religion that has managed to propagate itself anywhere. And often, this aesthetic value also communicates some element of its philosophy. In Japan, the shrines are set strategically that allows you to feel at one with Nature and through its design therefore to achieve a state of mind conducive to inner reflection. This is where in a world where noise is a constant, Silence is the New Zen.

3:30 pm: Shopping. Need I say more?

6:30 pm: HOME. DINNER.

Omelette: Rice, Shrimp, Pork, Egg. Oishii.

8 - 11 pm: ??? Really, none of anyone's business and interest... SLEEP

2005-06-19T16:13:00.000+08:00

19/6

Sunday!

Usually, in Singapore, my whole sunday's usually dedicated to God, meaning, my whole sunday is usually spent in church. Since, I'm in Japan, i can't go to church. So, we went to see their place of worship instead, as well as the tallest waterfall in Japan. The Nachi Falls.

Ok. Well, we didnt just do all that. We had a tour in their school first, and we made udon!

Woke up bright and early that day, at about 6:30. Imagine, it's only 6:30 am in the morning, and it's bright outside! So cool right? Then we had a filling breakfast, sandwiches, and yogurt, and a glass of orange juice. :D Ahh well, the sandwich was stuffed with stuff! It had this BIG leafy vegetable, and this HUGE piece of egg, and some other stuff. Cant remember, thought it really doesn't matter, all i needa know is that it's filling. The yogurt was delicious. It's aloe vera flavoured!! :D It tasted great!

Then, we were driven to school, and from there, we toured the school!! :D The school's not very big, because there were only nine classes in the whole school!! Three class/level. Anyway, before we can enter the school, we have to take off our own shoes, stuff it into a shoe locker, then wear their slippers! No wonder the school's so clean! As we walked around the school, we noticed that all the classrooms signs had two signs, one in jap, and another in english! :D They are so kind to us!

When we reached their gym, we were surprised to see that there were still people practicing volleyball. And though they look small in size, they were able to hit the ball really hard and really HIGH!

After that, we learnt how to make udon!! The cookery teacher taught us how to make it! We were even able to try to make it ourselves! :D Ok. Let’s see if I still remember how to make it!

1) Pour out starch flour.
2) Spread out the dough
3) Roll it to make it spread into a really big piece
4) Cut it
5) Cook it
6) Eat it

Ok! I can remember all of the steps!!! :D The cutting of the dough is NOT easy. Ms Goh was asking me if I did cut the dough or not, or am I cutting at the same spot…Not my fault that I didn’t know I had to lift that thing up higher. Anyway, Xiangmei made this really really thick one, which is so cool, because it’s just…different from the rest that we made! :D

Nevermind…

Then we had lunch, which was what we cooked. I was still full from breakfast!! Oh well, I finished my udon anyway. It tasted yummy. Must be because we made it ourselves. :D

After lunch, we set off for the Nachi Falls! First, we went up to the temple. Oh. The temple was high up in the mountain, so we had to jump the steps. [Four hundred over steps, right Kejia and Tania?] Aww…anyway. It was fun walking all the way up. I think we walked too fast! We overtook a lot of people on our way up!! HEeEEE. :D

Anyway, the temple was fun, it was fun seeing how they pray there. One bow, two claps, another bow! :D Next, we walked to the waterfall!! OOoooOOO. Oh well. It was a terribly long walk…with lots of steps. Ahh well. I swear I was gonna trip..so Tania and I walked together!! :D

OH well. It was beautiful. Oh, and that was when I first decided to go try the vending machine. They have really cute bottles! :D And that was where I tried the green tea ice-cream. It teasted great!! :D

Then, we went shopping! :D First, Tania, Kejia, Jenhui and I took neoprints…then we went shopping. I didn’t buy a lot of things, because there weren’t much to buy, and there weren’t enough time… ):

At night, we had our first dinner with the host family. It was awesome to see what they usually eat. Just this simply small plate of rice, and other food stuff…didn’t eat a lot because I didn’t felt like it. [Missed Singapore’s food, and besides, I didn’t know what to eat]. Then we had fruits, their watermelon’s really sweet!! :D

Oh well, after that, since we could not teach them Singapore games, they taught us one of their card games. It was fun to see how different cards are used in different places. Anyway, it was a THINKING game, and well, I didn’t think a lot, I just threw out the cards when I felt like it. :D

Anyway, then we bath and slept.

Note: see we always bath late at night.

leemin OUT.

2005-06-19T13:30:00.000+08:00

Ms Goh... reporting from Japan

THE FIRST CHAPTER
It's a great start to our long-awaited trip to Japan. As our hosts in Koyo Junior High School say, "Finally you are in Japan, in our school!"

Indeed, this trip is the culmination of a project that started in late 2003 and ended in early 2004. It was a project involving 1C1 of 2003 when they created webpages that show aspects of Singapore and Japan, and in the comparisons, they are to find synergies through which they can thus create a product or a concept that contains elements from both countries. To find out more about Japan, students were teamed up with Japanese students from Koyo Junior High School to communicate via email for more information.

2 groups distinguished themselves in their research, their webpages and in the creative product they came up with. 'Neolantra' explored the popular films made in Singapore and Japan and did a travel video of Sentosa for Japanese tourists. 'Musical Bluez' created a fusion cuisine combining Japanese and Singaporean food culture. They were both voted highest amongst the 8 groups which worked on the project and thus were given the opportunity to go on an exchange programme with Koyo Junior High School.

And that is how a satellite of 8 students and 1 teacher ended up in Miwasaki, Shingu city, Wakayama-pre, Japan, 5 hours away from Kansai airport (near Osaka).

2005-06-19T12:36:00.000+08:00

HELLO! LEEMIN's here.

ok, let's see..

18/6/04

We reached Japan at about 3:30 pm Japan time. The six-hour plane ride had finally ended, and we were in Japan! :D At the airport, it was our first experience of the toilets there. There were really clean! As we walked out of the hall, amanda dropped her luagguage in front of this security guard and scared him! :D Outside, the principal of Koyo Jr High was waiting for us! Ooooohh. The first thing that was different there, was the weather. Even though it was summer, it was cooler than Singapore!

After which, we boarded the cars and set off for Shingu, where Koyo Jr High was. It was going to be a four-hour ride. Though it was long, we were all very excited as we watched the roads sped by us. The car had this really awesome tracking system, and alot of cameras to show us how the different blind spots! Oooooo...technology!

Anyway, the trip around the Japan was awesome because we were all really excited about seeing our counterparts in Japan, especially since after a two-year wait. What struck me most about the place, was the mountains and the greenery that surrounds the whole place! It is so beautiful, something that we can't see in Singapore. Also, the tunnels were really cute, they were like this little holes on the road! :D

We had dinner in a sushi bar, and the food was really different from what we have in our sushi bars. They have a lot of raw fish dishes, and they are not as expensive as that of Singapore's. Awesome! :D We wanted to try alot of different food, so Kejia, Tania, Jenhui, Ms Goh and i, we splitted the food into different sizes and tried it! :D It was also then, that Jenhui and I found out that we are living with the principal! At first, we were shocked because we thought we will be living in the students' house, but we least expected that we will have to stay with the principal. He warned us that his place is not near the school, and we will have to walk to school. I thought, maybe just a ten-minute walk or a maxinum of a twenty-minute walk, which is similar to that of walking from Redhill MRT station to school.

After dinner, we went back into the car, and had another one and a half hour drive to their school. We finally reached! :D There, there were like a sign that reads :"Welcome to our school!!" I thought that was so sweet of them to do so for us. :D From there, we all went with our host family back to their house.

On the ride back to the house, the Principal told us that there were six cats in the house!! WOOOHOOO. CATS! :D My fave. animals! But, there was one problem: I'll get a terrible block nose with animals around. And jenhui doesnt like cats that much. Oh well, but we both decided to give it a try, living with the cats! :D When we reached the house, it was pretty! :D As least prettier than mine, because it looked so much cozier. I think it's because of the low ceiling. When the ceiling of the house gets too high (like mine), It gets too spacious, and not that cozy anymore. Oh well. We got introduced to his son and his wife. :D His son showed us how their family name is in chinese characters. it is yanjian. :D aha. At first i couldnt read the jian because it didnt look like anything i've seen, then i realised it was a traditional character. :D So i wrote my chinese name for them as well! In traditional characters. Then, it was easier for them to pronounce my name. :D

After the small round of introduction, we bathed, and slept. :D

2005-06-19T02:30:00.000+08:00

Ms Goh WS... reporting from Japan

I never imagined that travelling can be so tiring even though we thoroughly enjoyed the movies on SQ. This is the 1st time that I did not manage to watch 1 movie every 2 1/2 hours during a flight. A chronoically isomniac person in the air, somehow my dreams do not take off mid-flight. However, my good humour was still irrepressible for finally we've fulfilled our dreams of an exchange programme in Japan. Very Exciting, no?

The students with me say the funniest things... like:

Japanese guys are very kawaii because they are cute and lean. What can I say but to encourage them in considering a professon in nutrition or plastic surgery?

What about "if the plane is going to crash, Ms Goh can throw her Tablet PC out of the window so that it will not crash"? What can I do but to reassure them that my Tablet PC (Fujitsu T4010... yes, an endorsement fee is in order) does not crash?

Wait, listen to this... "Ms Goh, are you going to censor our blog postings before we put them up?" Ok, here Sensei Goh gives her the 'evil eye' and growls, "Do I look like a one-eye, narrow-minded gargoyle to you? I trust you to know that you will write the most fascinating blogs without stepping on anyone's toes for you are not an inconsiderate person, no? And wait till you read my blog, then you will understand... you will achieve nirvana."

By the way, if you want to muster the greatest capacity for air-phobia or plane-phobia, please read John Nance's stories... very interesting read before your flight.

Anyway, after 6 hours by plane from Changi airport Singapore to Kansai Airport Osaka, we are received by Mr Shiomi, the Principal of Koyo Junior High School. While I have nerves of steel, I am well aware of the pains of diplomatic stalemate, i.e. "what language you speak? No? You do not understand my question? Ah... Ah... Ah..." Mr Shiomi is an open-minded and energetic principal who has studied and taught in Britain before, so I've struck the potluck again! We had a lovely chat for the 5 hours ride, in between which we discovered that Japan is so clean that the toilet floors SQUEAK!

3 hours into ride... Their sushi bar concept is the father of the sushi bar/ conveyor belt chain so common in Singapore. Another instance of clever importing by Singaporeans from another country, and this interestingly is also an idea learnt from the Japanese -- learn the best from others and make it as good and of course better! We had a nice repast courtesy of the principal of Koyo at 'Black Tide Sushi'. Arigato!

Finally, Koyo Junior High School. Here we split into different families for our HOMESTAY. Very ENERVATING! But having become a teacher, you are basically innured to all but the worst of nerves (All commandoes kindly apply to MOE, Buona Vista). More on my lovely host familiy, the Ishikawas...

Japanese lesson of today:
1) Before you eat, say "itadakimasu"
2) After you eat, say "gochisosama"
3) While eating, say "oishii"