Invicta Vlogs
World School Day 3 - Toyko
Mrs Brewster:
Today, we were up and ready to leave for Tokyo at 6.30am, as we were going to spend the day at Kanto International High School before meeting our host families for the start of the four-day home stay. The excitement hit a high as we arrived into the city by coach via the Tokyo Harbour Bridge. The skyscrapers were huge and sun was shining on the sea. In the distance, we could just make out Mount Fuji in the distance.
As we dragged our suitcases up the hill to Kanto High, we were amazed to find every student at the school at the windows cheering and waving to us. It was the warmest welcome I have ever received! We were soon in our Homeroom classroom, where we shared lunch and the traditional English biscuits that we had bought with us (custard creams, chocolate digestives, bourbons and iced rings). The Homeroom is like an Invicta Tutor Group. The students (aged 16) practiced their English with us and listened to our Food and Culture presentations again.
A visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Office followed, with many speeches, lots of bowing and exchanges of presents. We were taken into the main congress room, where laws which apply to Tokyo were discussed and brought into being. This was a very prestigious event for World School as normally only members of the congress where allowed to enter this room and sit on the chairs!
We were then given a tour of the shops in the Shinjuku area before returning to Kanto School to meet our hosts. I am full of admiration for the Kanto students. Many travel for over an hour by train to get to and from school. My host, Aika takes between 4 and 5 trains depending on the time of day just to get home from school. She is then up again at 6.00am to return to school. Many students in Japan also attend school on a Saturday.
Aika’s family have made me very welcome. They took me to a sushi restaurant and we had a fantastic meal. I think they were a little disappointed that I like wasabi. I think they were hoping it would make steam come out of my ears!
