WHEN WE HIT JAPAN!!! Post 3

INZAI JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Red eyed and wet we arrive to Inzai to drop off our bags. Were taken out for lunch before the assembly and where would you take 14 people from Australia for their first meal in Japan? Why to the local Italian restaurant of course. The food in Japan has a real quality that is difficult to explain, oh and restaurants like to display their dishes in a glass cabinet. The restaurant had some of the most famous Italian masterpieces carefully wallpapered all over the place. Also Japan is one giant comic book with everything explained in little diagrams that anyone could understand.

Assembly at Inzai displayed a level of respect and courtesy from the students that would make any principle in Australia enviously. We proudly marched into the hall with the Australian national anthem played by the School band. The Harmony of the students singing the school song was phenomenal. I can safely say that I understood at least half of the Assembly, gifts were exchanged and greetings by the Lakeside crew were delivered in broken Japanese however the effort was commendable. The students were treated like rock stars where a simple thumbs up from one of the boys would get the girls at Inzai jumping up and down with excitement. After the assembly the students met their host students and went off to experience life as a Japanese student. The average class size at Inzai is about 32 students. Inzai is also the school that the Japanese pole-vaulting champion attended.

4 pm couldn’t of come quick enough, as it was now a good day and a half we have been up without getting any sleep. The students and teachers were distributed amongst their host families to get a little rest, have a long overdue shower or bath, unpack and get ready for the welcome dinner, which was the official opening to the Lakeside – Inzai Exchange.

EON MALL

The official opening of the exchange program, the students looked superb in their kimonos and the host families were beaming with pride as they showed off their guests to the others around. We called a COMPAI – which is a Japanese Cheers, and toasted the safe arrival and the beginning of the 20th year of thf]]e Inzai – Lakeside exchange. There were more speeches made and we shared a spread of tasty Japanese cuisine. Both schools represented the official gifts and the families with their guests were introduced to the crowd. The highlight was the English speech that was given by the two young boys in grade 2 and 5. The night was concluded by the Lakeside group wearily singing the national anthem of Australia, Waltzin Matilda and I am, you are Austalian, followed by the Inzai school song. To conclude the night I bought what has at this stag1e turned out to be the most important purchase to date. A Japanese phrase book. With an early start tomorrow for our trip to Mt. Fuji we all headed home for a well earned sleep.