Exchange

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■Japanese Cultural Experience (Kimono Wearing)

Place：Fukushima Prefecture Jichikaikan, Japanese Style Room
Teacher：Kinuko Nagashima

After Mrs. Nagashima gave a lecture on the way a kimono is worn, how it is made, the various styles, and how to get in to the spirit of wearing kimono, among many other things, and the participants had a go at actually trying a kimono on for them selves. Mrs. Nagashima was impressed with how well the kimono suited both of them and was happy to have passed on a part of traditional Japanese culture.

■Japanese Cultural Experience (Tea Ceremony)

Place：Tanno Sourin Tea Ceremony Room
Teacher：Mrs. Tanno Sourin

Mrs. Tanno began by explaining things like the atmosphere of the tea ceremony room and the traditional sweets and snacks, while also teaching the correct procedure of tea drinking. The participants then had a go at preparing the tea themselves and serving others. Within the serene atmosphere, the participants both got a feel for the spirit of the tea ceremony. The teacher was very happy to present dried peas as one of the accompanying snacks, which she excitedly informed everyone had been made in New Zealand, and was very pleased to have found quite by accident, while out buying sweets and snacks for the tea ceremony.

【Historical Cultural Component】


■The Aizu Samurai Training School

After viewing a video on the history of the Aizu area and the school, the participants were shown through the grounds by a guide. Both of the teachers were deeply interested in the style and history of the school as they explored the buildings. The guide explained about the style of teaching and the "10 Commandments" of the school. Afterwards, during the experience of zazen (Buddhist style of meditation) the guide explained the meaning behind such things as the deep breathing techniques and style of sitting. The participants were both able to experience traditional archery, and wooden horse riding (used in preparation for teaching students how to ride real horses), and felt it was a great experience that allowed them touch the spirit of the traditional Japanese "Way of the Warrior" in a way that nothing else can.

■Tsuraga Castle

Next we called on Turaga Castle, a piece of history representative of the Fukushima area, and toured inside the castle and the old grounds where the living quarters and tea ceremony houses were situated. Both of the participants were deeply interested in the guide's explanations of the history of the castle and the lifestyles of the people who lived there hundreds of years ago.

■Japanese Cultural Experience（Clay Pottery）［Ryumonyaki］

Next we visited Aizu's fired clay producer, Aizu Hongo area's famous Ryumonyaki、and experienced producing clay works. After listening to the professional potter's explanation、the participants used the spinning platform to create cups and bowls. At first, the difficulty of producing a convincing shape was too great, but after some help from the professional potter, both participants were able to remember some of the techniques and each produced wonderful clay works.

■Kounan Prefectural Highschool Visit

［Meeting with the Dean ・ Explanation of the School］

First we greeted the dean in the Principal's office, and after Mr. Masaki had explained about the values and history of the school、we were showed an introductory video of the school that the students had made themselves. Both of the New Zealand teachers were very impressed with the level of the students' ability in being able to make such a high quality film.

［2nd Period ・ Viewing School Facilities］

Mr. Masaki acting as a guide showed us around the school's facilities, including a specially designed library that spans 3 floors of the school with its high, vaulted ceiling(without floor structures passing through it, essentially creating a large void in the center of the school building), and a laboratory and training room designed to teach students how to care for the elderly, including how to bathe them etc… which is a rare facility among highschools. Both participants appeared particularly impressed with the forward thinking attitude of the school and the advanced technology it offered its students.

［3rd Period ・ 4th Period ・ Observing Lessons］

We were able to observe lessons such as computer lessons where students create music and art, and also an English lesson. During 4th period we observed a calligraphy class, and the two New Zealand teachers were able to take part, trying out calligraphy for themselves. Both participants enjoyed this opportunity to experience another aspect of Japanese culture and produced some wonderful works of their own.

［Lunch with the Students］

The participants enjoyed having lunch in the principal's office with some students from the students' association, while talking with them about numerous topics. The students were very forward with their opinions and the discussion bounded from one topic to the next, becoming an experience that allowed both the participants and the students to understand eachother more fully, encouraging the bridging of the cultural divide.

［5th Period ・ 6th Period Lecture on New Zealand］

The participants each gave a lecture on New Zealand to the entire lot of 1st year students. Adam used a power point presentation to introduce New Zealand, and explain the traditional Maori dance, "the Haka", which he then performed, to the great delight of the students, and then proceeded to teach them the words and the moves so they could all perform it together. The students, who saw the "Haka" for the first time in real life all appeared very surprised at the level of noise and feeling needed to perform the dance. The Haka proved so exciting that one of the students jumped on stage and danced with Adam in front of the rest of the students. Ana challenged the students with a quiz on New Zealand、and introduced her own school and aspects of New Zealand culture. The students participated in the quiz enthusiastically, and greatly deepened their knowledge while competing against eachother and fully enjoying themselves. It was a great experience that encouraged a lot of exciting exchange.

［After School ・ Club Viewing］

After viewing the gym where judo was being practiced, both participants were invited to take part in the Ikebana club's activities, and enjoyed arranging flowers together with other club members. After receiving some instruction from the club's teacher, both Adam and Ana were able to create wonderful flower arrangements. After this we visited the Principal's office again, and the participants spoke with the dean Mr. Masaki, the supervisor Mr. Sanjo, and Mr. Kohashi about possible future exchanges, expressing their opinions to eachother.

■Naganuma Prefectural Highschool Visit

［Greeting the Principal ・ Explanation of the School］

After arriving at the school, we greeted the Principal Mrs. Iwasawa and the supervising teachers, then received a run down on the school and its facitlities.

［3rd Period ・ Viewing Lessons］

We viewed a physical education lesson, OA (Office Automation) computer class, and historical Japanese language lesson. In the computer room, both participants were invited to have a go on the computers, and enjoyed typing up a piece of writing while racing the clock.

［4th Period ・ Lecture on New Zealand］

Adam presented a lecture on New Zealand, using power point, to the 3rd year, Room B students. After this he demonstrated the Haka, and got the students to join him in dancing it, much to the students' delight. It was enjoyed so much that the rumour spread like wild fire all over the school and he was obliged to perform it again, for other students.

［Lunch with the Students］

We enjoyed lunch with some students while having plenty of discussion. Thanks to the students' warm-hearted hospitality, the discussion was a very peaceful and productive affair.

［5th Period ・ Viewing Lessons］

We viewed the chemistry, art, and food design lessons. During the chemistry lesson both participants were very interested in the experiment that was being carried out, involving liquid nitrogen. They were invited to take part, and thoroughly enjoyed freezing various props such as balloons (which promptly shrank to nothing as the oxygen inside them condensed and froze), and rubber balls (which the teacher encouraged students to smash on the ground). The art class also proved fascinating as students created pictures using different concentrations of dots (a technique rarely seen in New Zealand). Finally, during food design, we viewed students creating Kenchin soup and Chinese cabbage salad with seasame. The students kindly prepared some for both the participants, and presented it as a gift.

［6th Period ・ Lecture on New Zealand］

Ana introduced New Zealand, using power point, to the students of 1st year, Class C. After this she carried out a quiz on New Zealand, and the students, highly motivated by a prize of New Zealand sweets, participated enthusiastically, while also deepening their knowledge on New Zealand.

［After School ・ Club Viewing］

After meeting with the Principal and the dean to discuss future possible exchanges, both participants were then invited to the Tea Ceremony club, and took part in the club activities, trying out their skills they had acquired during the cultural experience. They were served tea by one of the club members, and were even instructed further on Tea Ceremony ettiquate by the Principal, who had joined in the club activities.

■Homestay

Both Adam and Ana stayed with the same host family, who lived in a large house with their elderly parents and 3 young children, in a small village called Tenei, high up in the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture.
During their homestay the family held a welcome party, to welcome them in to the family. They were also invited to the area's pre-school field day, which became a great experience for them to interact with the local people.
Also, Tenei Village's Yumoto Intermediate Kendo club invited them to join in its weekend activities, and both Adam and Ana were taken for a tour around places such as British Hills (a high-class English training center and hotel) and Regina Forrest (a spa resort) by a teacher from Yumoto Intermediate.

■Visiting Ouchijuku

We visited a place known as Ouchijuku, high up in the mountains of Fukushima. It is a small town with traditional houses, shops, inns, and a temple kept in excellent condition since the Edo Period (also known as the Samurai period spanning from the early 1600s to the late 1800s). It was an inn town that served many samurai and travelers as they moved from one major town to another along the main route through Fukushima. It is now one of the major tourist attractions of this prefecture. Both participants viewed the historical buildings with fascination as they wandered through the main street. Adam stopped at one of the inns that was serving soba (Japanese noodles) and enjoyed a dish of "negi ippon soba" (noodles flavoured with one stick of spring onion), while Ana enjoyed some traditional snacks being sold along the roadside, including miso dango (mashed rice that has been shaped in to balls and boiled, then flavoured with soy bean paste), and roasted chestnuts.

■Traditional Japanese Inn Experience

Then it was back to Tenei village, to stay at a traditional Japanese Inn called Yuguchiya, situated at the source of the Yumoto hot springs. The participants enjoyed staying in this traditional style building with a thatched roof like those from Ouchijuku, while also enjoying the untouched natural hot springs straight from its source, full of skin improving minerals, and traditional Japanese meals such as spit-roasted fish, and many other local delicacies, served at a low table surrounding the roasting pit in the center of the floor.

■Tenei Village's Yumoto Intermediate Visit

［1st Period ・ Calling on Yumoto Primary School］

We were guided to Yumoto Primary, situated next to Yumoto hot springs by the dean Mr. Usui, and were able to observe the 1st and 2nd year students' 1st period lesson. We were then all invited to play a game of "fruit basket" (an adaptation of one of the many switching seats games, where someone calls out a fruit, and everyone who has a certain kind of fruit on their little hand out card has to run to and sit down on another seat before someone else gets it - leaving one hapless person in the middle to call out the next fruit). It was a very enjoyable exchange for everyone involved.

［2nd Period ・ Meeting the Principal］

After arriving at Yumoto Intermediate, and proceeding to the entrance, we were greeted with a beautiful handmade banner that the students had meticulously created and written personal messages on. After this we were invited to the Principal's office where we met the Principal Mr. Ogawa. We were greeted once again by handmade national flags that decorated the table. Both Adam and Ana were very moved by such a warm welcome.

［3rd Period ・ 4th Period ・ Viewing Lessons］

We were able to view many lessons, including English, historical Japanese language, calligraphy, and music. During the English lesson both the participants were invited to participate in the practice dialogues being carried out by groups of students in front of the class. Both participants were also invited to take part in the calligraphy class, and enjoyed creating further masterpieces to add to their growing collection. During the music lesson, the entire school gathered together and performed a song that they had sung during a choir competition. Both Adam and Ana seemed very impressed, and moved.

［School Lunch with the Students and Teaching Staff］

During lunch time we were invited to have lunch with the entire school and teaching staff. Lunch was prepared and served with the help of those students on duty. Both the participants enjoyed exchanging opinions and talking with the students while enjoying their nutritious school lunch, complete with a glass of milk!

［5th Period ・ 6th Period ・ Lecture on New Zealand］

The entire school and all the teachers, including the Principal, gathered to watch the presentations. Adam and Ana both introduced many different aspects of New Zealand using their power point presentations. Adam then introduced a Maori greeting called the "hongi" and the Maori dance - the Haka! All the students and even the teachers took part in practicing the Haka together, everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Ana then carried out her quiz to deepen the students' knowledge of New Zealand, but now the teaching staff, who were thoroughly worked up after the Haka, were eager to participate also, and it turned in to a contest between students' and teachers' groups, fiercely competing for the highly coveted prize of some New Zealand sweets and other exciting goodies.

［After School Meeting with the Principal ・ Students' Yosakoi Performance］

Both participants discussed possible future exchanges with the Principal and the dean who were both very enthusiastic about the prospect. The students then performed a traditional Japanese dance called "Yosakoi" in the school gym. Both Adam and Ana saw the amount of effort that each and every student had put in to welcoming them so warmly, and were deeply moved by the experience.

■Japanese Cultural Experience（Ikebana/Flower Arranging）

Place： Fukushima Prefecture International Association
Teacher： Mrs. Masako Ono

Mrs. Ono, from the Ogasawara School of Ikebana, gave both of the participants a lecture on the history of Ikebana, along with a description of the basic principles behind the practice of Ikebana, then got them both to have a try for themselves.
Both Adam and Ana created their wonderful works of art while taking advice from Mrs. Ono about how to make the flowers and leaves bend at a more natural angle, the importance of the way each piece faces eachother and the intersections it creates, and how to capture a miniature slice of real nature in a vase. The end result was some beautifully impressive displays that Mrs. Ono was impressed to have been able to teach them in such a short time.

■Meeting with the Senior Policy Administrator

Place： Prefectural Office, West Wing

During the afternoon we made a visit to the Prefectural Office to visit the Senior Policy Administrator. He was kindly filling in for the Governor who had unfortunately been unable to attend the meeting. The Administrator, Mr. Fujiwara, asked both of the participants about their impressions of Fukushima, and was answered with the enthusiastic response "It's a place full of beautiful natural sights, and I was able to experience such hospitality here, the like of which I've never had before". Mr. Fujiwara then expressed his desire for Adam and Ana to act as a bridge of international understanding between New Zealand and Fukushima Prefecture. After the meeting had been concluded, Adam and Ana were presented with an International Relations Goodwill Badge in memory of the occasion.

■Koriyama City's Daiyon Intermediate Visit

［Meeting the Principal］

After arriving at the school, we were seated in the Principal's office and greeted by the Principal and the supervising teachers. The school and its facilities were also described to us.

［2nd Period ・ 3rd Period ・ Viewing the Lessons］

We were able to view such lessons as Home Economics, Wood Technology, Physical Education, Music, and Science. Both of the participants seemed particularly impressed with the level of skill students demonstrated during the woodwork and home economics lessons.

［4th Period ・ Lecture on New Zealand］

Adam presented his lecture on New Zealand in front of the entire lot of first year students. All of the students listened enthusiastically as Adam presented on New Zealand, and joined in the Haka dance with great gusto.

［5th Period ・ Lecture on New Zealand］

Ana then gave her presentation on New Zealand in front of all the 2nd year students. After introducing various aspects of New Zealand using power point, she carried out a quiz, allowing the students to deepen their knowledge of New Zealand in an informative, yet fun environment.

［6th Period ・ Viewing Lessons］

We visited many different classes, but because the mid term exams were just around the corner, many of the classes were explaining about the procedures and study points relevant to the coming exams. However, both of the participants found this a particularly interesting point, and wandered around taking in copious amounts of information. Then in the final class we visited, Adam's Haka had again become particularly famous, and he was obliged to perform it once more on request of the students, who reacted with awe and surprise at the power of the dance and at the amount of noise he could make.

［After School Meeting with Students & Teachers］

Students who had been selected from each year level meet with both Adam and Ana in the Principal's office, and came prepared with questions, to facilitate discussion between everyone. They even came so prepared we carried out the meeting in English. Both of the participants were very impressed with amount of effort the students had gone to in their preparations.