日本!
Our team has finally arrived in Japan!
After meeting at LAX on Thursday morning, May 10, 2012 (flight at 11:05 am), we arrived in Narita, Japan at 3:30 pm on Friday. from there, we had to take a two hour train ride towards Tokyo, and then another train to make it to hibarigaoka. finally we got to meet Barbara Suzuki, whose son (Masa) goes to Westmont. She would be the one to take care of us while we partnered with Jiyu Gakuen. She is an English teacher to high school and college students at the school, and her husband also used to be teacher at the school.
Jiyu Gakuen goes from kindergarten to four year college and was originally established as a Christian school. However, the school today has strayed from its initial, Christian roots and devotion. But this did not discourage or intimidate our team, rather it motivated us even more so to go to this school and genuinely love and care for the people we would come into contact with.
After meeting at LAX on Thursday morning, May 10, 2012 (flight at 11:05 am), we arrived in Narita, Japan at 3:30 pm on Friday. from there, we had to take a two hour train ride towards Tokyo, and then another train to make it to hibarigaoka. finally we got to meet Barbara Suzuki, whose son (Masa) goes to Westmont. She would be the one to take care of us while we partnered with Jiyu Gakuen. She is an English teacher to high school and college students at the school, and her husband also used to be teacher at the school.
Jiyu Gakuen goes from kindergarten to four year college and was originally established as a Christian school. However, the school today has strayed from its initial, Christian roots and devotion. But this did not discourage or intimidate our team, rather it motivated us even more so to go to this school and genuinely love and care for the people we would come into contact with.
Why we came to Jiyu Gakuen:
During our first ten days in Japan, we will be staying at Jiyu GAkuen, in the college dormitories. Unfortunately, Luke will be flying solo staying at the boys' dorm, while the ladies will be staying in the girls' dorm. one big difference between these two dorms: girls have lot of rules, boys have none. girls must wake up at 6:00am every morning and do morning chores. Upon arrival, we learned we would be pulling weeds every morning, no excuses, from 6:15-6:40, followed by breakfast. we also would have to abide by a 10:00pm curfew. though these rules seemed intimidating and unfamiliar at first, we would soon learn that the home cooked breakfasts and lunches would more than make up for all of the sacrifices and "strictness" ;) mmm, mmm, MMM. Luke's dorm does not provide him with breakfast, so He will be eating at the Suzuki household every morning, which had its own perks as well.
but besides living arrangements and dorm life, our team will be allowed to be somewhat, exchange students and teachers' aides, while here at Jiyu Gakuen. We have prepared music to play, dances to teach, and activities and games to lead. We will be working with jr. high school boys, jr. high and high school girls, and college boys and girls. Our schedules will be hectic, and very susceptible to change and alteration, but we are ready to meet with and love on the students of Jiyu Gakuen!
but besides living arrangements and dorm life, our team will be allowed to be somewhat, exchange students and teachers' aides, while here at Jiyu Gakuen. We have prepared music to play, dances to teach, and activities and games to lead. We will be working with jr. high school boys, jr. high and high school girls, and college boys and girls. Our schedules will be hectic, and very susceptible to change and alteration, but we are ready to meet with and love on the students of Jiyu Gakuen!
I love you forever...
Never could our team have imagined the amazing students that we would encounter and come to love during our short week at Jiyu Gakuen. in just seven days, we each created lifelong friendships and by God's grace, will, and power, changed some spirits and hearts at the school...