Tipperary students embark on their first ever Japanese exchange adventure

In the early hours of Friday, February 9, eleven Presentation Secondary School students, accompanied by our Principal, Ms O’Callaghan and teacher Ms Glascott, departed for Japan, for what would be a trip of a lifetime.

Our travels consisted of an 8-hour flight to Dubai followed by another 10-hour flight to Tokyo.

We arrived in Tokyo at 17:30 local time and stayed in a hotel overnight. The following day, we flew up to Sapporo, Hokkaido, the city in which we would be living in and attending school in for the extent of our amazing trip.

Sapporo is the fifth most populous city in Japan, known for its world-famous Snow Festival, its Olympic legacy, and is the Northern capital of Japan.

Upon arrival at Sapporo Airport on Sunday, February 11, we were introduced to our host students and families with whom we would be living with.

Then we went home with our respective host families until we would meet again the next day for an exciting action-packed day at Takino Snow World.

En route home, we stopped off at Sapporo’s Snow Festival where we saw extravagant and detailed snow sculptures.

On Monday, February 12, we visited the winter paradise of Takino Snow World. First, we went snow tubing.

Zooming down the 200m course in an inner tube was a thrill for every age and a fun activity for all.

After that we took to the slopes. It was exhilarating and fun forfirst time skiers, and for those familiar with this popular sport.

With the help of our host students, we made it down the slope each time in one piece!

Tuesday February 13 was our first day in Fuji Girls Junior and Senior High School.

The welcome we received was incredible. Seeing girls smiling brightly, waving, and screaming with excitement to see us Irish girls was a surreal feeling and something we will never forget.

Our day began with a welcome assembly with all the school in attendance. Their Principal, Ms Ishikawa greeted and introduced us. Their amazing orchestra played beautiful tunes, and one girl, a world champion Irish dancer, performed for us. Ms O’Callaghan followed with a greeting, then each of us students introduced ourselves.

During the day, we had Japanese culture lessons with Fuji women’s university students, followed by a trip to Sapporo Station shopping area.

On Wednesday, February 14, we attended classes, and then we had a seminar about Japan and made origami, a Japanese art of paper folding.

In the afternoon, we were fitted with a Yukata, which is a type of kimono in beautiful colours and patterns.

After school we attended a beautiful flower arrangement class where each of us made colourful bouquetsthat we could bring home to our host families.

On Thursday, February 15, we had a Japanese calligraphy lesson where we practised drawing kanji symbols, a type of Japanese writing.

Then we took a trip to Odori Park and Sapporo TV Tower. This was a fun afternoon around in the city. Friday February 16, was our last day of school. We had a special tea ceremony lesson.

This is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha powdered green tea. Each of us were given the opportunity to make our own green tea, which was a wonderful and unique experience. This was followed by our farewell ceremony.

The school Principal thanked us for our visit to their school and city.

Ms O’Callaghan thanked the school for welcoming us with open arms to their homes, their school and beautiful country.

Each of us students said a short thank you message, followed by our performance.

We recited Irish poetry, performed traditional Irish dancing, sang a traditional Irish song, played the tin whistle, and danced An Dreoilín.

In the afternoon, we visited Fuji Chapel, followed by a trip to the Hokkaido Jinju, the main Shinto shrine for all the Hokkaido region.

While there, we got caught in a snow blizzard, more snow than any of us have ever seen before in our lives. At the end of the day, we said our final goodbyes and even signed autographs! On Saturday, February 17, we visited Otaru, a small harbour city famous for glass making.

We had time to explore this traditional Japanese town and snow filled shopping streets with our host students.

On Sunday February 18, we said goodbye departed on our long journey home.

Overall, this cultural exchange was a trip that none of us here at Presentation Thurles will ever forget. We got to experience a completely different culture at the other side of the world.

It was a trip of a lifetime to the land of the rising sun and most certainly an unforgettable experience.

On behalf of all the students, I would like to say a huge thank you, or as you would say in Japanese “Arigato gozaimasu” to Ms O’Callaghan and Ms Glascott for organising and looking after us on this amazing trip.

We had an incredible and unforgettabletime. Pres Thurles provides us with a world of opportunities, but never did I think I would get the opportunity to see the other side of the world.

Written by Emily Carroll Presentation Thurles Fifth Year Student