Out and About in Komatsu Day

After breakfast we hit the road and went straight to the Mayor's office where we received a warm welcome from the Mayor, Shinji Wada.  He talked to the students about Komatsu and the culture here.  He also talked about how he also believes in the People to People mission of Peace through Understanding and how in Japan they call it "heart to heart, hand to hand, mouth to mouth, and eye to eye."  He talked about how important cultural exchanges are to global relationships and making the world a smaller place.  Miss Kathi and Miss Lauren (Denver) gave thank you speeches to Mayor Wada in Japanese.  We all hoped they appreciated the sentiment and the gesture trying to speak their language, even through we may have messed up a few words here and there.  We took several pictures with the Mayor for the local newspaper (which we should get a copy of before we leave).  Then it was off to Marunouchi Jr. High School.

The students were greeted warmly once again by some of the local students who explained about how their school was run.  Our students were surprised to hear that most Japanese students for to school from 8 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m.  Once we finished our orientation, we made wishes for Tanabata (the Star Festival) and had them hung with the rest of the students of the school.  Then we broke into groups and visited different classrooms and interacted with the students.  Again, the our students were surprised at how the Japanese students continued with their studies until their teacher told them it was okay to talk with us.  After visiting the classroom, we were led into the gymnasium where the entire student body was waiting for us and made us feel like celebrities.  We were ushered onto the stage and they sang Edelweiss and the school song for us and then we had a question and answer period.  At the end of the assembly, one of the Japanese students presented Kennedy with gifts for our delegation and Kennedy gave a thank you speech, again in Japanese.  Once all of this was done, we were able to enjoy lunch with the students as they would if they attended that school.  After lunch, we said our goodbyes and made our way to the kabuki museum.

At the museum, we split into 4 groups and had 4 different experiences.  We learned 2 traditional kabuki dances, we made paper cranes to leave at the Peace Memorial tomorrow in Hiroshima, had our faces painted with Kabuki paint and learned to play traditional Japanese instruments, and tried Japanese tea with sweets.  The students had a the best experience with the Japanese traditional dancing - it was quiet the show!

Once we got back to the hotel the students received letters from the students at the high school, so we had them take pictures with their letter so the Japanese students could who they wrote the letters to. 

The talent show was tonight and the students had a variety acts for everyone to watch.  The delegate who got the most vote by her peers was Jaelin, for her rendition of a love song.

Off to Hiroshima in the morning, the students are really excited about the train tomorrow!  Hopefully videos tomorrow of speeches.  Internet no cooperating this evening for uploading them.