Today we went to the kindergarten where we had to go to a room where there were drawings of Japanese cartoons that I didn’t recognize. Then we danced with the kids and played a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. The loser had to give the winner a back massage! Then we told the kindergarteners our favorite food. I said pizza. I gave a Maine calendar as a gift to the kindergarten. Then we went back to school and Seiwa had a welcome ceremony where they gave us gifts and did a cheerleader dance and karate demonstration. Then we went to an afternoon activity with a Japanese harp. We played a traditional Japanese song. Then we went to Japanese archery, but I could not finish the activity because my host mom came to pick me up. It was a very fun day!
On Wednesday, we first went to the tatami room and Rex taught me how to tie a tie. I presented first period because the social studies teacher wanted to see my Maine geography presentation. Everyone presented period 2 at the Yakushido Campus and then we headed over to the Mikamine Campus. We made different types of sushi with the Japanese students’ aid in the culinary arts room. Next, we met many small groups of Japanese students in a room. We chose a group and presented to them. After our presentations, we went to the school library and worked on calligraphy. We each chose a kanji to draw with the Japanese ink brush and stone, and then we drew the kanji on a fan and paper lantern provided to us. We wrote wishes in Japanese on special paper called “tanzaku.” We went to a bamboo tree in the school and tied our wishes to it. Then we went back to the Yakushido Campus and made flower arrangements using sunflowers, baby’s breath and something similar to palm leaves. After school, I went home and went to an Italian restaurant. Finally I went to bed!