Field trips in Japan

Field trips in Japan:

"We went to the Akita Prefectural Museum in Akita city by bus. We first toured a 450-year-old traditional house. Most of it is still original and it was very cool. ... We went to a park next to the museum. First area had a big fountain. They only turn it on during the weekend but they turned it on just for us…..and….it…was….the…..best thing anyone has ever done for the students"

I doubt B played in the water, and he's not in this picture, but the fountains are pretty neat.

"We did paper dye activity. Each of us got a rice paper. We folded it in square, and then in triangle, and then, it was time to die! I meant ... dye!! We dipped the folded paper in several different inks, then ironed the paper, done! The paper really turned out beautiful! You can frame it when we get home!"

This is a Buddhist Temple they visited and learned how to meditate.

"The very act of the meditation, becoming 'nothing,' is the act of god and act of enlightenment. Becoming 'nothing' is not that you are not thinking about anything. Thoughts come and go, but you are not supposed to chase after each thought that enters your mind. Instead, you focus on breathing and sounds around you. Students meditated for 10 minutes. Took a short break, and did another 10 minutes. They were very respectful, stayed still and tried to reach the state of 'nothingness.' It was a really cool experience and we hope they all learned how to let go of their thoughts. Students are SO busy all the time; school, homework, friends, clubs, sports, college ... it is overwhelming. We hope that this experience will help them get through hectic time to come."

Here B is eating soup that we assume he made because E said they're all sitting in the school's home ec room. He does love soup.

Not sure what's going on in this photo - the photos are posted typically a day before sensei writes about them - but the students are at a cultural center where foreigners go to learn the Japanese language and culture.

At the cultural center, talking to his classmates.