Host families brought students to the Sogo Bunka Centre for 7.45am on a rainy Thursday morning and we said our good-byes before moving on to Disneyland. The rain didn`t dampen our spirits and we had a great day before going to Haneda Airport to check in at the Royal Park Hotel which means we can walk from our rooms to the Japan Airlines check-in counters tomorrow morning at 9.00am to catch the 11.35 flight home.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone in Japan who has made this year`s exchange run so smoothly and and to everyone who has been following us on the Tavistock College website and twitter.
Fond farewells at the Sogo Bunka (Culture) Centre
Joe and his host family
Jordan wanted to spend another day at school rather than go to Tokyo Disneyland!
Sam with Mrs Nakamura (host mother)
Sophie really appreciated the album with all the photos of her stay with Miho
Farewell group shashin (photo)
We are all really proud of Ellie Down and so grateful for the kindness shown to her by her host family
Amelia has grown in confidence everyday
Alana and Misaki have built a lasting friendship
And to Eric sensei – thanks for being there for us and encouraging both sets of students (Tavistock and Kanto Daiichi) to make the most of this opportunity.
Thank you to all the wonderful host families at Kanto Daiichi Senior High School – we look forward to welcoming you to Tavistock in March
It was hard getting on the coach to leave…
Even in the rain Disneyland did not disappoint
All the big rides completed by 12.30pm!
Now at the Royal Park Hotel in Haneda Airport. It is 5.20pm and all the students are repacking in their bedrooms before going to enjoy the many restaurants inside the airport.
A little green tea ice-cream to finish…
Haneda Airport – Christmas lights. The airport looks brand new and is being upgraded further ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
We leave at 11.35am and should arrive in London Heathrow at around 3.45pm (Friday)
Today was our last day in Kanto Daiichi Senior High School and our deep appreciation goes to all the teachers who have made this year`s visit so memorable.Special mention to Eric sensei, Watanabe sensei, Komori sensei, Lizzie sensei and Terajima sensei and all the home room teachers who looked after Tavistock College student.
Students carefully cleaning their classrooms
All students received hand written messages from their home room students
The final group photo! A lot of mixed emotions as students left with their host students for their last night with host families. We need to be on the coach at 7.45am tomorrow morning and some students have over an hour`s commute in to Edogawa so another early start… with all their luggage complete with presents!
Joe Mulroy with students from his class
Students had 6 lessons today in all subjects. one of many group photos taken today.
Sam (in action) Taylor and Joe Shadrick played football. Conditions suited them with rain and wind most of the day!
Students used i-pads intelligently in many lessons
The traditional bon odori dancing at the sayounara (farewell) party with all members of the international club at 5.30pm on Thursday 25th November
Here are some photos taken in Saturday morning`s lessons. Students have enjoyed the weekend with their host families. Some students went to see Mt Fuji on Sunday and others went to Disney Sea World and the Sky Tree.
Japanese students giving presentations in English
With students after lessons (Ellie, Taylor Joe Mulroy and Joe Shadrick)
Listening attentively to Komori sensei
Amelia matching Japanese and English sentences
Jordan and Ellie working out the Japanese translation
Rebecca hard at work with her Japanese kanji writing
Class group photo
Selfie!
Jake France with friends
A big thank you to Komori sensei for making lessons so interactive and enjoyable this morning.
After two days in Kanto Daiichi Senior High School the students are feeling more relaxed and talking freely to each other in Japanese and English
Sam and Taylor stayed on after school on Saturday to play some football
We have had a full day of lessons in Kanto Daiichi Senior High School and many students stayed at school until 6.00pm doing club activities. Everyone enjoyed their first night with host families and appreciated the wonderful obentou (lunch boxes) prepared by their host mothers (there is no school refectory).
Taylor with Honomi san on the left in period 1 this morning
Alana made lots of friends tooday and excelled with her Japanese
Kanto Daiichi students gave expert presentations in English on all aspects of Japanese culture
Tavistock and Kanto Daiichi host students and teachers lined up for this traditional group photo
Weng`s lunch box
One of the presentations involved the boys doing the Rajio Taisou (morning exercise routine)
Sam tries his hand at shodo (calligraphy) writing Aki (autumn) with the guidance of Kanto Daiichi students
Sam gave out the marmite toast which went down surprisingly well!
Joe and Taylor battling it out with the sumo wrestlers
The girls enjoyed chatting to Sophie in English and Japanese and looking at her photos from home
Weng loved the conversations this morning
Girls judging one of the final presentations
Jake has been gaining in confidence throughout the day
Another full day leaving the NYC at 8.45 by coach and going across Tokyo to Edogawa where we enjoyed walking round traditional gardens at Gyosen park. The mayor of Edogawa welcomed us at the city hall after lunch and then we spent a couple of hours at one of the main community learning centres in Edogawa. The students met their host families at the Green Palace Hotel and are now spending their first night with them.
Rebecca Banks with the Tomoko Mimura and her father after dinner out last night.
Students who hosted this summer were greeted by the Edogawa Youth Wings Programme leader, Mr Tajima, in the Funabori Community Centre
Eleanor Down and Rebecca Banks at Gyosen park
Group photo at Gyosen park
Sam and Rebecca gave the opening speeches at the Edogawa city office
Mayor Masami Tada with our gifts alongside Taylor, Weng, Sam and Rebecca
Joe Mulroy liked the blue Edogawa top (gift from the mayor)
Jake receives his present from Mayor Tada
At the Edogawa city office with mayor Tada and officials
Rebecca Banks with the five leaders her family have hosted since 20043. Jake receives his present from Mayor Tada
Weng with the mums and toddlers at the community learning centre
Sophie proved a natural with the under twos
View of the area of Edogawa where Kanto Daiichi Senior High School is located (this is where will be from tomorrow). Photo taken from the top of Funabori Tower
View of the area of Edogawa where Kanto Daiichi Senior High School is located (this is where will be from tomorrow). Photo taken from the top of Funabori Tower
Final group photo at the community learning centre 5.00pm Thursday 19th November
Autumn colours in Gyosen park
One for the family album
Ever-cheerful Jordan making friends with everyone he meet
A big thank you to Chieko san, all the PTA members and teachers at Meisei primary school who put in so much effort to make today such a success. Everyone is in dinner now (6.00pm) and will then start packing for tomorrow`s early departure to Edogawa ward in the east part of Tokyo.
Playing handball in the school grounds at break time -a dry sunny morning
Joe, Sam and Taylor outside the entrance to Meisei primary school at the start of a memorable day. We received a wonderful welcome from the principal Takijima kouchou sensei, teachers, students and members of the PTA who had made every preparation
Playing handball in the school grounds at break time -a dry sunny morning
Jordan marking students` work in a year 4 maths lesson
Joe Shadrick spent 30 minutes checking and marking maths classwork
Sophie, Jordan and Joe sat at the front of the class and were entrusted with writing feed back in English about students` maths classwork
Joe Mulroy learning the lines for his japanese haiku
Participating in lessons
Participating in lessons
Participating in lessons
Taylor managed to keep in time with the help of his students
Japanese teachers complimented Jake France on his attention to detail marking maths fractions
Ellie Down mastering origami
Rebecca Banks had to understand Japanese instructions to put the facial parts in the right place with the Japanese students encouraging her
Can Sam make the string house?
Joe matching the Japanese students with his kendama skills
Sophie playing the traditional Japanese counter game
The students served us lunch in their home rooms (tutor rooms)
Rebecca joined her Japanese students for yakisoba lunch in the claassroom
After lunch we were treated to a fabulous performance of Okinawan dancing in traditional dress
After lunch we were treated to a fabulous performance of Okinawan dancing in traditional dress
It took ages to get the costumes on but well worth it! Take a good look at the new Okinawan dancers
Rebecca having the head dress put on
Alana and Weng will be taking up Morris dancing on their return home
Final group shots of the newly-formed Okinawa dancing troupe
Final group shots of the newly-formed Okinawa dancing troupe
Final group shots of the newly-formed Okinawa dancing troupe
Final group shots of the newly-formed Okinawa dancing troupe
After a birthday party for Jordan, the students took the Odakyu sen train back to the olympic centre for a good night`s sleep in readiness for Wednesday`s all day visit to Meisei primary school. Everyone doing well and sending lots of messages home.
