Japan Study Tour 2015

Friday, May 22, 2015

Our Last Day - Cooking with our Homestay Hosts

Today is our last day in Japan. After a wonderful time in Japan and with our homestay, we are heading home to Hawaii. Today, in Keiai's temple, we performed our hula and exchanged gifts. At lunch, we got to cook curry and sweet potato bread with our homestay host. While the curry was cooking, some of the teachers were in the back of the kitchen, trying to figure out how to work the blow torches. It was cool to watch because as they adjusted the knob on the back, the flame got bigger or smaller. When our curry and bread was done cooking, we went to the back counter where the teachers melted cheese on top of the curry, using the blow torches. In the end, the curry and bread that we cooked was delicious.

After lunch we headed to the library to grab our bags and to say goodbye to our homestay. As we were leaving, it seemed like the entire school lined the hallway to the bus, to say goodbye. Although it was sad to say goodbye, we were finally heading home after ten, fun and diverse days in Japan.

By Cameron Gillespie

Visit to Keiai Elementary School

After leaving Kokura Station Hotel, we boarded the motor coach for a 30 minute ride to Keiai Elementary School. When we arrived at Keiai Elementary, the students were waiting for us with a welcoming sign and warm smiles. We first had an assembly and some cultural exchange and then we separated into groups for some fun activities with the fourth graders.

One of the first fun activities was Karuta. Karuta is a Japanese card game where someone says a hiragana character and you have to be the first to pick the right character up.

The second activity was a tea ceremony. The fourth graders showed us how to make green tea and the proper tea ceremony etiquette. They served the green tea in beautiful china with a yummy little cake.

The third and last activity was origami folding. We folded many items, not limited to sumo wrestlers, cranes, and flowers. After the origami folding, it was time to say goodbye and be on our way to Keiai Junior High.

By Kacie Moku

The Origami Helpers

The Card Game

Tea Ceremony

Keiai 4th graders

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Homestay Reflection

Homestay was so much fun! My host family was super nice and generous. On the first night of homestay, we had a dinner party at the Shohakuen Hotel. At dinner, we performed our hula, ate bunches of food and talked story with each other. When dinner was over, my host family and I went to a gas station and bought some drinks and our Space World tickets for the next day. Once we reached their house, I showered and went right to sleep.

The next day I woke up early and got ready for a long, fun day at Space World. Once I was ready and packed, we left the house at 9:00 and went to Mojiku Station. We got on a train to Space World and arrived at around 10:30. At Space World we ran into many other familiar faces and met up with many of the Keiai and Hongwanji students. We explored Space World in our big group going from ride to ride. It was so much fun! Once we were done with the first half of the rides, we all decided to sit down and have lunch at KFC. When we finished eating, we hung out for a little while and started riding more rides. My favorite was Venus.

After Space World, we all walked across the street to Aeon Mall and looked around. Once it was time to get back to my homestay host's house, we left, said our goodbyes, and rode a train back to Kokura (where she lived). For dinner we had temaki sushi. My host family set up a DIY sushi bar with various sashimi, vegetables, and other sushi fillings.

Once I was all stuffed and full, they took me to a bookstore to buy various mechanical pencils and pens. Next, we went to a supermarket to buy a bucket load of snacks and goodies. After we got back, I took a shower and crashed out. We had such a long day, I was so tired.

The next morning, I woke up at 6:30 and got ready for school. Before we left for school, they gave me Omiyage filled with many snacks and Japanese souvenirs. We left the house at 7:45 and got to Keiai Middle School at 7:55. On our last day with them, we went to their homeroom and did attendance. We then went into a classroom and made curry with them. It was really fun and delicious. Once we were done with our meal, we said our goodbyes and thank yous, and before we knew it, we were gone.

I had so much fun with my homestay family, they treated me so well. I hope to see them again.

By Amber Tomihama