-Whanau Meeting!-It has been scary from stage one to stage three. Applications and forms before and after being accepted. Tears(all nervous and happy) before and after selection. But one thing that I know will never change, is the support and love I get from family and friends.
So to acknowledge the support from our families and to share the details of our journey we had a family dinner. Mr Ali gave our families a presentation about the trip, including details of the itinerary, luggage details, what we should expect and more information about Jishukan High School. We also had a grasp from Gabby, who went last year, and her mum. Gabby warned us about the robot toilets but they both ensured me and my family that the experience in Japan and New Zealand would be lovely. Then I ended us with a prayer and we had a small shared dinner...Mr Ali always gets me to do the prayer! Don’t get me wrong! I am a religious person buts it’s ALWAYS ME! And he waits till we done. *looks at me with a evil smile* “Memory can you end us in prayer please” And of course I won’t reject the request....but he put me on the spot...AGAIN...wait till we get to Japan😈 But the night was awesome! I met some of the parents and mad the trip seem scarier and fun. 😁Arigatou & Meitaki Ma'ata😁 😊Thank You😊 Memory
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Soooooooooooooo if your wondering what are the happpps.. HERE YOU GO! First of all, NO ONE is actually sleeping, I just suck at taking photos. Anyways everything happens in this little office for two but we expanded it for eight. Or we go to c10. Every Thursday 3:30pm-5pm I have exchange prep along with all the other ambassadors. And these sessions are basically to prepare us for Japan before we take flight. Not every week is the same. In these sessions, we cover things like the itinerary of our trip and the formalities so we are prepared. Talk about our buddies and host families. Eat Mr Ali's lollies. Are our passports in check? Are we ONLY taking 20kgs in the luggage? Learn more about Jishukan. Work on our blogs and a cultural dance that we will be presenting in Japan. Things that we need to know that will not only keep us safe but ensure that we enjoy our time in Japan. The most important thing, to ensure that we are going with the right intentions and that is to make the most of the opportunity of embracing the Japanese culture. "That was my TED talk for today." 😁Arigatou & Meitaki Ma'ata😁 😊Thank You😊 Memory Firstly i want to thank Yumiko Sensei (Ms Yumiko). Every Friday she does a wonderful job. Making sure we have slides ready, worksheets ready, and she ensures everyone has the support we have to ensure we are learning Japanese. Our classes have been absolutley amazing. Its only one hour but we learn so much, in so little time. Yumiko Sensei goes a little more than a mile every week. I know my peers learning Japanese find it very fun and interesting (thanks to Sensei Yumiko).
Every lesson we learn diferent things. From greetings, easy phrases, and general-knowledge about Japan. Every week our vocabulay and japanese knowledge grows. So far I can confidently say hello, my full name, what I prefer to be called, one of my interest, my age, where im from, daily greetings (both formal and casual) and formal commands. Im still trying to get my head around the language structure. It was our second lesson and Sensei Yumiko was holding up a chart while explaing the vowels in the japanses language. Everyone was able to pick up the vowels and follow Sensei "A-I-U-E-O! KA-KI-KU-KE-KO...." Unlucky for me, it took a little while to pick up. Learning that the vowels were different from A-E-I-O-U. Also learning they didnt use R. Before I leave or at the end of my last class, I will post my full personal introduction and greetings. Again these experiences are very amazing. Being able to learn the beauty and importance of another culture is a very blessed opportunity. 😁Arigatou & Meitaki Ma'ata😁 😊Thank You😊 Memory I would start with "It was a warm and lovely day, leaves blowing around, my friends smiling and laughing"...But no! It was a hot day and I'm trying to draw a perfect circle and straight lines. Still shocked that I had passed 2 out of three stages. THEN this small slip came for me. It read "Finalist, please meet at BBOA at 2 pm". I panicked. Too scared to go, I scrunched my slip up and put in my pocket. Bell rings and I'm not feeling anxious until I reach the glass doors. Unknowingly I sit at the very front. Everyone sat around the room in the space behind me. I tried not to make eye contact with Mr Ali nor talk to anyone. I just breathed and smiled while I waited for him to give his speech. Although it was heartwarming, in my head I was thinking "I wasted time, its gonna be a no, I'm up against strong and lovely people..."...Then with a big smile "Memory"..he hands me a white envelope. I grab it shoving into my bag, unsure what to do with it. Blurr to tears... I say from blur to tears because I remember walking through school, heart racing as the adrenaline rushes through me. Only to end up at the P.E department. I ask someone dear to me, to open it as I hand him my envelope...he takes a deep breath tearing it open. Then..."Ohhh" My heart IMMEDIATELY sinks before "YOU got it!" My heart immediately starts pumping again, as I feel my eyes tear up. This is an experience of a lifetime that I will never take for granted. I'm extremely grateful to have received this scholarship. Not only will I be travelling to a beautiful country, but I get to experience a culture that seems so different from mine but are actually very similar. I hope to learn from my experiences to help me become a better person and to share the love of diversity while making many lifetime memories and friends. 😁Arigatou & Meitaki Ma'ata😁 😊Thank You😊 Memory |
AuthorHey Guys! My Name is obviously Memory and im a year 12 student. Archives
July 2019
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