Pakuranga Intermediate Japan Trip 2024

We left school to enjoy fabric painting. This is a very old traditional form of art and we were instructed by a master who has produced work for two Olympic games. Although he met his match with my artistic ability. 

We enjoyed visiting the last of our school students today. They all looked like they were having a great time at Sambu Junior college. 

We were reunited with many of our studewnts today, as we visited 3 of the four schools. We heard great stories of the adventures that our students got upto with their homestay families. They are certainly being looked after well. At the schools, students are engaging in lessons and learning how Japanese schooling works. It sounds like they have made lots of great friends. Tomorrow it is back to school for the morning. Then we reconnect as a group for some sightseeing. Tomorrow will be the last night with home-stays. There are lots of photos of students in their various schools in this post. If you child is missing , it is because we will see them tomorrow.

We have visited out first school. Our students are having great fun playing volleyball and making friends. 

After a great day at Seaworld, we returned to Sammu City Town Hall for the official welcome.  As the bus arrived, the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Educational Board members and families awaited with flags flying.  Once we disembarked and unloaded the bus, we all went to the Town Hall for the official welcome.  Although warned, I don't think our children realised how many people would be there.  The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Education Board superintendent, Deputy superintendent, and a Sammu City student representative presented speeches.  Rhys, who was probably the best speaker of the night, and I replied.  Our ākonga then did a beautiful waiata and enthusiastic haka; our hosts enjoyed both. Sammy City responded with a beautiful choral item. Ourbervousstudents then introduced themselves in Japanese.  Our students then met their host families, too, with lots of flag-waving and photos. The host families were very excited to meet our students, and whole families were t...

And this is why our kids are wet. 

This is what happens when you get close to the orca. 👍