Well, here I am in Iwamizawa! Coming to this smaller city has definitely shifted my daily routine from taking buses and trains to walking almost everywhere. I have noticed that there are fewer trains and buses available, which has encouraged me to explore the city on foot. Don’t get me wrong, though! I am really enjoying the peacefulness of this city. Instead of hearing police cars and fire engines, I mostly hear the sound of the wind. It has been a nice change of pace!
Now, off to the school! One of the highlights of our school visits has been experiencing Japanese school lunches. We get to eat alongside the students, and the meals usually consist of rice, soup, a small serving of protein, and salad. There have definitely been some favourites, such as shoyu ramen and Japanese curry! Overall, having school lunch has also saved me time in the mornings and evenings, allowing me to focus more on preparing for our school visits.
During my school visits, I mainly work with students in Grades 3–9, where we participate in English conversations and conduct short interviews. At times, I have noticed that some students feel nervous about practising their English. Whenever this happens, I remind them that making mistakes is completely okay because we are all learning. Beyond the English activities, I have also had the opportunity to visit a Grade 1 music class, where we watched the students play their instruments and joined them in singing traditional songs and participating in games. We also took part in a Grade 5 printmaking activity, which was a lot of fun!
Honestly, some of my favourite moments have come from the simplest interactions, whether they happen during lunch, in the hallways, or throughout the school day. These little conversations have allowed me to connect with the students beyond structured activities and have made my experience in Iwamizawa even more meaningful.
