Nanka Fukuoka Kenjinkai

Sho

Today is the first day in Japan. We ate breakfast at Green Grass. Breakfast was French toast, sandwich, corn soup, and salad. The French toast was really delicious. Next, there was a meeting discussing the schedule. The meeting took a long time so after the meeting was lunch. Lunch was salad, miso soup, rice, noodles, and hambagu. After lunch was another meeting where we made a project for a school. There were 6 groups. Each group had to explain different things about where they came from. My project was about the United States and Canada It was specifically explaining Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver, Canada. After the meeting, we went out for the Tanabata festival. There were food stands so I bought cheese covered balls and takoyaki. Later, I went to Elm's forest shop and bought small gifts for my cousin. Finally, the tanabata festival started. It was time to light the lanterns. It was kind of fun lighting the candles with lighters. If you look at the lanterns from above, you can see the lanterns. The lanterns look better from above than below. Next, we had dinner. It was burdock, carrots, curry, chicken, and Jell-O. The jello was delicious.

Kiyomi

今日からいろんな行事を体験します。

まずは、オリエンテーションで自己紹介。
今回の参加者は7カ所の県人会より、19名の子弟、10名の引率者、10名の留学生です。

午後からは10日（水）に訪れる那珂小学校での発表資料作りをしました。
私達はカナダ、サンフランシスコとグループです。

この日、グローバル　アリーナでは七夕祭りが行われており、カラフルな2000本のろうそくに皆でチャッカ－マンで火を付けました。

夜は虹のようでとても綺麗でしたよ。 誰となく見つけた体育館でドッジボールが始まりました。

自然に英語圏の子供達が多く集まって来たようです。

Sho

Today is the second day in Japan. Breakfast was sandwich, noodles, and soup. It was delicious. Next was free time. After free time was an event where we meet small kids. We made a newspaper shooter out of a bamboo. For lunch, we made rice balls. We also did suika-wari. I got a turn, but missed the watermelon. It was fun and the watermelon was tasty. Trying to hit the watermelon was hard because you aren't allowed to look and nobody was helping. Dinner was next. It was omelet, Jell-O, and noodles. It was an okay dinner.

Kiyomi

今日は宗像市のジュニアー　ラグビー　チームとガールズ　スカウトの子供達、約20名がこのグローバル　アリーナに来てくれての交流会です。

飯盒炊爨で炊いたご飯でおにぎりを作り、肉じゃがなどのおかずも頂いてお昼です。

竹を使った流しそうめんも楽しめました。 子供達は"竹鉄砲作り方"を教えてもらい、誰のが遠くまで飛ぶか競争していました。

竹馬のりにも挑戦、始めはぎこちなくてもちゃんと乗りこなしていました。 ラグビーチームとのゲームで汗を流した後は、スイカ割り、今日は日本を満喫です。

Sho

Today is the third day in Japan. Breakfast was cereal, egg, and spam. Next, we went to visit the governor of Fukuoka. We also visited the chairman. I gave both of them presents. The present was a box of chocolates. Next was lunch. It was rice, miso soup, salmon and salad. Then we went to visit the shrine. I bought fish food to feed the koi. I also bought a piece of paper that says my fortune. It said I would have good luck. Then I tied the paper to the rope. Afterwards, we were aloud to do shopping so I bought stickers for my cousins. Next we made umegamochi. It was easy and tasty. Soon it was time for the welcome party. I ate meat, hamburger, French fry, and sausage. It was a really fun day.

Kiyomi

今日は県庁に出掛けました。

見晴らしの良い県知事室に迎えられ、小川県知事と面談できました。

その後、松本議長、新村副議長との懇談でした。 議員会館の中も案内してもらいました。

昼食は県庁内のレストランで日本庭園を見ながら"幕の内弁当"大満足。

午後からは大宰府天満宮への参拝。 "学問の神様"と知ってか？、知らずか？　幾つもお守りを買っている子供がいました。

梅が枝餅作りも体験、やはり、自分で作った焼きたてのお餅は最高に美味しかった。 夜はIPホテルで家族会の皆さんと歓迎会でした。

Sho

Today is the fourth day in Japan. Breakfast was pancake and pancake sandwich. It was better than yesterday's meal. Next, we went to Nanka elementary school. It was fun and the kids taught me different things. The kids taught me how to make an origami lantern. A newscast came to ask questions and they asked me a couple of questions. For lunch, we ate with the kids. It was miso soup, rice, milk, and meat. Then it was time for the tea ceremony. The tea was delicious and the candy was too. Afterwards we got to watch and play taiko. This school reminds me when I was little. Later we went back to the Global Arena. Dinner was soup, vegetables, and meat.

Kiyomi

今日訪れて那珂小学校は1学年が10クラスもあると言う、マンモス校で生徒数が1200名だそうです。

花田先生を始め、諸先生の事細かなスケジュールのお陰で多くのことを経験することができました。

まずは、体育館での歓迎セレモニー、子供達の自己紹介は母国語と日本語でした。

まだ、日本語が得意でない子供達も回を重ねるごとにうまくなってきました。

1年生の教室では折り紙したり、給食を頂きました。

机や椅子があんなに小さかったんですね。

5年生の教室ではお習字を習ったり、私達の住んでいる国の紹介をしました。

これをきっかけに、那珂小学校の子供達がいろんな国に興味を持ってくれるとうれしいですね。

日本の運動会には必ず出てくる、綱引きや玉入れなどのゲームや茶道、竹下太鼓との交流と、盛りだくさんの一日でした。

Sho

Today is the fifth day in Japan. Breakfast was sausage, salad and eggs. Today was exciting because we are going to see the Toyota motor plant. First, we learned how they made cars in one building. We also got to see models of cars in the same building. Then we went to another building to watch them make cars. It was really cool. We got to watch them put on doors, paint the cars, and put on the engine. Next was lunch. It was like an egg, but had corn and mayonnaise. Dessert was ice cream. It was delicious. Next we went to Kitakyushu. The castle was awesome. I got a souvenir for my brother and me. Next was the Riverwalk shopping mall. There was an arcade so I played 400 yen. I tried to get a stuffed animal, but my friend got it. I also got a stuffed animal for my brother. Right after my friend got it a girl from Peru got it too. Then she kept on following us. It was creepy. Dinner was spaghetti, but it was different than some people because we were aloud to choose which one we wanted. I was raining so we couldn't take a cable cart at Mt. Sarakura. When we got back to the Global Arena, I was wet.

Kiyomi

朝はトヨタの自動車工場見学でした。

日ごろ見ることの無い車が作られていく行程を説明を聞きながら見るのも楽しいものです。

働き者のロボットもかわいかったですよ。

トヨタを後に、小倉に向かいました。 昼食は小倉でお好み焼きでした。

自分で焼いたからでしょうか？子供達には大好評でした。

ランチを済ませて出たころから雨が降り始め、小倉城見学、リバァー　ウォークショッピングモールでのお買い物は出来たのですが、サラクラ山からの夜景は雨の為、見ることができませんでした。

Sho

Today is the fifth day in Japan. Breakfast was cereal, salad, miso soup, bread, and jam. It was fun at Jiiyuugaoko-minami school. It brought me memories of Higashihanahata elementary school. There we made a dog using a balloon. We also made a magical booklet that tells your month and the season you were born in. Next we went to the Fukuoka Citizen's Disaster Prevention Center. We got to use fire extinguishers, experience big earthquakes, and strong winds. We also got to experience a house on fire. We tried to escape and not breathe in the fake smoke. It was fun. Dinner was ramen, meat, and vegetables.

Kiyomi

今回の自由が丘南小学校は1学年3クラスの小さい小学校でした。

歓迎会を体育館で受けた後、5年生の教室に向かいました。

子供達は"変わり絵"、別名、"パタパタ"作りをしました。

お昼からは百地にある防災訓練所で地震の揺れや台風の強風などを体験。

消火器の使い方もこれで大丈夫。

Sho

Today is the sixth day in Japan. Breakfast was tomato hot dog, eggs, and crescent. Today we went to Yame traditional craft museum. There we made fans. My fan has lots of decorations. Next we had sushi for lunch. Lunch was really good. This was the best lunch because I like sushi. After lunch was the Kawabata shopping street. First we watched Hakata Yamakasa Next, I bought a couple of stuff. Then, it started raining. I was totally wet. Dinner was pasta, salad, pudding, and rice.

Kiyomi

八女では"うちわ作り"を体験、 自分で和紙をすき、その上に押し花でデザインして作りあげたうちわは好評でした。

八女への行き帰り、雨が激しく、時折、雷もなり始めました。

ちょっと遅れ気味の昼食は"すし幸"のお寿司でした。 座敷の舞台で集合写真、ざっと見ても30個のカメラのシャッターがパチリ！。

川端商店街で山笠見学。 今日は初山車見せだそうで、最初の千代流の山車には小川知事の姿を確認。

でも、雨が激しく、傘をさしながらの見学はちょっと大変。

Sho

Today is exciting. It is the day we meet our host family. I am staying with my grandparents. Breakfast was bread, sandwich and soup. When my grandparents picked me up, we went to a shrine. There I fed the pigeons. It was fun. After the shrine we went to Marine world. It was like a museum. We got to see different kinds of fish and also saw a dolphin show! When we were going to leave, it was pouring! We wore gift bags on our head when we were going to the car. We had lunch at marine world. I got udon with vegetables. Dinner was sushi. It was really delicious. There was even a train coming when you want a specific sushi. Later we did fireworks.

Kiyomi

今日はアクロスの国際交流センターでホストファミリーと対面。

皆、それぞれのホストファミリーのところへ散って行きました。

テレビのニュースでは昨日、行った八女の町は大雨で矢部川が氾濫し、避難勧告がでたそうです。

一日違っていたら、どうなっていたのでしょう？？

Sho

Today is the second day in my grandparents' home. Breakfast was salad bread and eggs. Today we went to a water park. There were water slides and pools. It was really fun. I liked the water slide. Lunch was spam, sausage, and rice ball. For desert were oranges. After the water park, we went home. My uncle came so I went to the backyard and played baseball with him. Dinner was different meat and vegetables dipped in cheese and omelet. It was really delicious. Today we also did fireworks.

Kiyomi

今頃は皆、ホストファミリーとどんな時間を過ごしているのでしょうか？

お土産探しに、天神の町を歩いて見ました。新天町は30年前とあまり代わりが無い感じで、懐かしいお店もいっぱい。

Sho

Today is the day leaving my grandparents. Breakfast was eggs, jam, bread, and salad. It was time for the farewell party. The food was delicious. Lunch was French fry, chicken ice, and salad. It was sad saying good-bye to my grand parents. We went back to the global arena. Before going we went shopping on the way. In the global arena, we had to answer questions on a sheet of paper. It was easy to pack because I packed at the home stay. Tomorrow is the day we go back.

Kiyomi

中州のIPホテルにてお別れの昼食会です。楽しい時間はアッと言う間に過ぎて行き、皆さん、名残惜しそうでした。

今夜はもう一日、グローバルアリーナに宿泊、明日の帰国を前にパッキングが待っています。

このアリーナの中のベーカリーの朝食はとても美味しく、楽しみの一つでした。

そこで気になっていた"夏みかんのソフトクリーム"心残りが無いように頂きました。 満足！

Kiyomi

いよいよ最終日、フライト時間の違いで3グループに分かれてここを出発します。

ブラジル、ペルーなどは早朝4時半のチェックアウトだったらしく、寝ずに出掛けたそうです。

私達は国内線のターミナルで国際線に向かうハワイ組と別れ、スタッフの方々や留学生、ホストファミリーのお見送りを受けてLAへの帰路につきました。

長いようでアッと言うまの11日間です。スタッフの皆さん、留学生の皆さんのサポートのお陰で楽しい旅になりました。感謝しています。