Thank you!

This is my last entry.

I am very glad that the program was over without any problems.

Dear my students,
Thanks all students for your contributions.  We could not complete this type of program without your sensitive behaviour.  I am so glad and proud to see your efforts to understand Japanese culture and learn Japanese language.

I am also very impressed to see how students build up friendships with Japanese students through this program.  I really appreciate all supports from the Senshu University and friendships which our students received from people around them.

Muhamad created the following video already.  Please click this when you have time.
https://youtu.be/2nB1JZdvjHk

Dear all,
I am now in my hometown to spend sometime with my family.  I will head back to Calgary on Sunday, June 14.

Thanks for reading my blog!
I hope to see you again on campus or somewhere in the world!

Have a wonderful summer!!

Akiko Sharp

See you again _ June 6

I was late to go downstairs, I think.  When I went there, some students have already left.  

The lounge looked empty.  I am sure that many felt the same.  

Completion Ceremony and Farewell Party _ June 5

I could not believe that thirty days have passed since we came to Japan.

Boys in Yukata.

Kabuki _ June 4

We went to see Kabuki.
http://ourtriptotokyo2015.blogspot.ca/2015/06/kabuki-tsubosaka-reigenki-story-of.html

Ninja Restaurant _ Wednesday, June 3

It rained in the morning but cleared in the afternoon.

We went to "Ninja Restaurant" today.  I attended one of graduate seminar classes in the morning and I used up most of my energy therefore I gave up going to Roppongi Hills.

I arrived at the restaurant about 6:40pm.  When I got there I noticed something open between buildings..  The sky.  It is almost for the first time for me to see the sky in Tokyo.  The restaurant is right next to Akasakamitsuke station, and the area, Akasaka, is next to the imperial palace, which are surrounded by the green area.

I heard that students visited Akihabara, Shibuya or Roppongi before coming to the restaurant.  - I am surprised that they still have energy to walk around Tokyo...  I think that I am a little worn out.

Our meeting time was 6:50 and we booked a room from 7:00 to 9:30pm.  Since this is a theme restaurant, we can not be late.

Ikuta Park _ Tuesday, June 2

Senshu University is located in the Ikuta Ryokuchi Park.
Professor Wang (Wang sensei) took me for a walk around the campus today.

http://www.ikutaryokuti.jp/hp/forein_en.html

Presentations_Monday, June 1

These are photos which were taken just before the presentation.
Students looked so serious because they were going to present their research projects in Japanese today.

Weekend_Sunday, June 31

This is the forth Sunday in Japan.

I went to Ariake for another conference. I saw Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Centre) for the first time. I took this photo on Sunday, at 9:00am.

However, the same place looks like this when there was a popular event. 

I am so glad that the conference did not attract many people like this....

Weekend_Saturday, May 30

I heard that RAs organized a BBQ party on Saturday, May 30.
I asked a couple of students to ask to send me some photos but I have not received any so far.  I will post some photos once I get them.

Extra Calligraphy class _ Friday, May 29

Professor  Kyoji Nakagawa invited U of C students to participate in a special calligraphy practice session in his studio on campus.

Elementary School Visit _ Thursday, May 28

Students visited Higashi Ikuta Elementary school on Thursday, May 28.
They walked to school - it took about 20 minutes from the dorm.  -  We have been walking a lot since we came to Japan.

Orientation - Leaving the dormitory _ Wednesday, May 27

Students had a meeting this afternoon - "Leaving the dormitory" orientation.

Coffee and Cake with Japanese Students (Dr. Itasaka's class) _ Tuesday, May 26

Dr. Itasaka (Professor of Japanese Literature) invited us for coffee and the UofC students met 22 Japanese students at Cabin (cafe).  Dr. Itasaka and graduate students organized this gathering and students from both Universities had a good time together. Thanks to Itasaka-sensei for her time and effort for this meeting!

Quiet Day _ Monday, May 25

I spent all day near the university today.
Students also had a quiet day, I thought.  However, many went out somewhere.

There was an earthquake about 2:30pm. It was magnitude 5.6.
I went to the dorm to see how students were doing.

I only met two students there.  Many students were out already.  Later, they told me that they did not feel anything!?? They noticed there was something wrong when they heard warning sound from cellphones from the Japanese people around them.

Home visit _Sunday, May 24

Students came back to the International House sometime in the afternoon.

Home Visit _ Saturday, May 23

Students spent all day with their host family.

Home visit _ Friday, May 22

The Home vist program started on Friday, May 22.  Students walked to the Senshu satellite campus near Mukogaokayuen station.

They met their families in the classroom.

Some stayed with a family with small children, some stayed with a retired couple.
They spent two nights with their host family.

Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum _ Thursday, May 21

We visited the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum (日本民家園ーNihon minka en).  This museum was almost next to Senshu University.  

We divided into two groups and I was with Yoshida-san's group.  Mr. Yoshida spoke very good English and explained about houses in the museum (park).

There are many old houses from across Japan.

 The houses at the museum were well preserved.  We spent more than two hours there.  Again, I wish we had more time to see details.  Students were so enthusiastic to know about the Japanese history.

We thank you all who worked hard to provide us this wonderful half day trip!

Canadian Embassy in Tokyo_ Wednesday, May 20

There was a conference at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo from May 20 to 22.  I spent all day at the embassy on May 20 and pent a half day on both May 21 and 22.

Here are some photos which I took at the Embassy.

The gentleman in the middle is Mr. Jon Heese who was born in Canada and became a Japanese citizen in 2007.  He was also in "Nodame Cantabile".  If you did not watch the "Nodame" series?  You have to watch them!

Nihon Minkaen information_Tuesday, May 19

I was too busy to post photos on Tuesday, but I found something which I should have posted in the past, so I post them now.

We will go to "Nihon Minka-en" (Open Air Architectural Museum "Nihon Minkaen" in Kawasaki )
on Tursday, May 21.

This museum was open in 1967.
You will see very old fashioned Japanese houses (late 18c, according to the information in Japanese).

Info in English
Official website:
http://english.nihonminkaen.jp

Meiji jingu (明治神宮) _ Monday, May 18

We went to Meijijingu today.

We get off the train at Sangubashi station on Odakyu Line.
The sign at the station was very - extremely clear.

However, two students missed to get off the train and had to come from Harajuku Station.

Second Sunday _ Sunday, May 17

This was our second Sunday in Japan.
Many students joined the sports event organized by the Senshu students.  I heard that many students from UofC went out somewhere in the afternoon.

Kamakura _ Saturday, May 16

Our another busy day started in the eating area in the International House (dorm).  

We were told that there were two extra tickets for this trip. Why??  It took us more than 20 minutes to find out that two students were still in their bed at 9:00am - our meeting time!!!!  

Roughly speaking, two students from UofC and three students from Senshu made one group and  spend  a day together. 

Okonomiyaki & Home Visit Orientation_Friday, May 15

Cooking is always fun!  These are some photos from the cooking class today.

Students received information for their host family today.  It seems that quite a few students will stay with a retired couple.  I saw one family with three children.  I am sure that staying with a local Japanese family will be another eye-opening experience for students.

Edo Tokyo Museum _Thursday, May 14

Fourteen students plus one student from Indonesia went to Edo-Tokyo museum today.

It was so easy to walk in group.  We all know which side of the street we have to walk.

And we know we can sit in the train if we take so called "section" - semi express trains.

I took a picture here when we were separated on the way to Asakusa last Friday. They looked very worried last time but they look so relaxed this time.

Okonomiyaki group #1_Thursday, May 14

It was very hot in Tokyo today - about 29C.

Half of students had "Okonomiyaki" cooking class.  Okonomiyaki is like pancakes but people in Japan add vegetables, meat, or fish, whatever they want to put - or I would say whatever you have in your fridge/freezer.

Rush Hour video_May 13

Thomas posted an interesting video on his group blog.
This is a live video of their first of thirst day in Japan.

Please take a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=11&v=BYFF0ww-PFo

Typhoon_Tuesday, May 13

The typhoon approached to Japan and went through the Tokyo area last night.  It was not too bad after all we had a very hot day today.

I am not sure how many noticed but there was a small earthquake at 6:15am.  If someone felt it, then this would be the first one since we came to Japan.

I went to Shubuya today.  My original plan was to go to a book store before meeting my mother and sisters, however, I got lost and spent too much for exchanging money from the travellers' cheques to Japanese yen (cash), I did not have much time to do anything except seeing my family.

It seems that Japanese banks stopped dealing with traveler' cheques. I went to one of largest bank in Japan in Shibuya first and spent more than 30 minutes to wait to see if the branch could deal with cheques from Canada.  Surprisingly, after 30 minutes, that brunch declined to deal with it.  Well, they are so polite to me so I have nothing to complain though...

And then, I got lost completely and walked somewhere.  I walked though a narrow street which I went a couple of times about 30 years ago but it did not help to find the way at all.

I had very nice Sushi for lunch.  I also had so called "Sashimi salad"

This was only 800 yen (about $8 CAN)!!

Students started Japanese lessons today.
There was no report of any incidents, which was really good.

We will go to "Edo-Tokyo museum" tomorrow afternoon.  14 students will go together. I am sure that this is going to be another adventure.

Calligraphy_Tuesday, May 12

It was another busy day.  There was a calligraphy class in the afternoon.

Since they already experienced Calligraphy in Canada, they seemed very comfortable to use brushes. - Teachers at Senshu University thought that many of you are gifted since you look very proficient.

Opening Ceremony and Party_Monday, May 11

All students wrote a placement test and had an interview in the morning and the Opening Ceremony was followed.

This is Sasaki-sensei, a coordinator of this course.  She used Japanese.

This is a police officer.  He spoke very fast and fluent (of course!) Japanese. 

I hope that students picked up some words - Chikan (a sexual offender), Yopparai(a drunk person), or Keisatu (police) etc.  

Here is our another group photo.

The following parties were not so bad, I suppose.  

Many CAs(Campus Advisors) came to greet students. 

Opening ceremony on campus:

Tea Party at the dorm:

After the tea party, many of them went to the third party.  Today was a "Party Day".