Peace from Todai-ji! Pictured are Katoh School’s Harumi, Elizabeth, and Emily. GEOFF PARMENTER
After a week of early March rain, the weather finally brightened up as 81 excited Grade six students boarded the Hikari Shinkansen at Mishima City for their final school outing to Kyoto and Nara.
The annual three-day, two-night trip follows a similar schedule each year. During the days, students take in the historical sites of Kyoto and Nara, including Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkakuji, Kinkakuji, and Todaiji. On the first evening they get a chance to try Kyo-Yuzen zome (a type of cloth printing) to make their own original handkerchiefs. On the second night, students have the opportunity to witness Omizutori at Nigatsudo in Nara. Both nights are spent in a traditional Japanese ryokan, where students get to sample the excellent cuisine of the area.
Teachers’ favourite memories of this year’s trip include watching students chatting and relaxing during a seemingly non-stop schedule as they took the opportunity to use their English skills outside of the classroom.
Katoh School’s immersion program began in 1992—the first of its kind in Japan. See http://www.bi-lingual.com. — GEOFF PARMENTER
